Hello supporters, It's been a crazy couple of days. We're all exhausted and frustrated. This is where we are on SB872. The following summary was written by my colleague, Daphna Nachminovitch: As you may know, Sen. Lionell Spruill Sr. is carrying Senate Bill (S.B.) 872, which—as initially introduced—sought to give desperately needed protection to dogs who spend their lives trapped at the end of a chain 24/7. In its original form, S.B. 872 prohibited the tethering of dogs outdoors during specific extreme-weather conditions (e.g., freezing or oppressively high temperatures and when warnings have been issued by the National Weather Service). It also raised the bar for tethering standards by requiring that tethers be longer and lighter than those required in the past. The bill passed in the Senate by a vote of 33-7 (showing great bipartisan support) before heading to the House. We knew that the bill would face opposition by some members of the House Agriculture Subcommittee, because a few weeks ago, House Bill 646—which included additional restrictions on tethering—was killed by five of this subcommittee's members, despite compelling testimony from a veterinarian, the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia, an animal control officer, and animal-protection organizations. Spruill made significant concessions in an effort to get the bill through its next steps, but on Monday, February 19, the same members of the House Agriculture Subcommittee gutted it, stripping it of the very language that would have spared chained dogs suffering and even death. Nothing remotely meaningful is left of this basic commonsense bill, which would have made a huge difference to countless dogs in Virginia. In fact, amendments made to S.B. 872 went as far as to remove existing protections for dogs, such as the current requirement that a tether cannot weigh more than one-eighth of an animal's body weight. I know that you find it difficult to understand why anyone would oppose a measure that would afford chained dogs sorely needed protection. I do, too. Reasons given by members of this subcommittee for opposing tethering bans and restrictions—including the very basic severe weather–only restriction in S.B. 872—range from not wanting people to be prohibited from walking dogs on a leash to falsely claiming that affording tethered dogs extra protection would take existing protection away from dogs who are kept outdoors in pens. These reasons are illogical and spurious—neither of the concerns listed above would occur as a result of increasing protections for tethered dogs. Continuous tethering is a merciless way to restrain a dog regardless of the weather. But all dogs everywhere—of any size or breed—are in serious danger when their tethers become tangled and they can't reach water or shelter for hours or even days. In severe weather, they struggle in vain to escape rising floodwaters or the crash of a falling tree. Their water freezes or is knocked over. But their owners—who have the luxury of putting on a coat and boots, not to mention staying indoors, to escape the elements—are somehow able to forget their dogs' plight. And the animals are left to struggle to stay warm or cool or even to survive in weather that their owners can't bear for even a few minutes. The amended version of SB872 - as suggested by Delegate Bobby Orrock - went to the full committee this morning at 9am (see my included video). An exchange between Orrock and AG Michelle Welch ensued, which ultimately resulted in the chairman's decision to send SB872 BACK to the subcommittee. In short, we have made absolutely no progress. We are waiting to hear which agriculture subcommittee (there are 4 of them) will be assigned to our bill. When we know more, I will update all of you - most likely with a call to action. Thank you for your continued support. Gary