Hello Supporters,

SB272, our bill to protect animals from being tethered in extreme weather, during weather advisories, or between 10 pm and 6 am, passed the Virginia Senate last week. Now, it must be heard by the House, and that will happen this Wednesday, February 19.

However, as always, there are some complexities with the process. The Virginia House passed its own version of an extreme weather bill: HB1552. BUT, that bill passed after being watered down considerably. The final language reads as follows:

Tethering animals; adequate shelter. Provides that outdoor tethering of an animal does not meet the requirement that an animal be given adequate shelter (i) unless the animal is safe from predators and well suited and well equipped to tolerate its environment or (ii) during a heat advisory or during the effective period for a severe weather warning.

While this sounds like it helps animals in extreme weather, it really doesn't. There are no exact temperature parameters nor specific hours to guide an Animal Control Officer in making a decision on whether or not certain conditions can be considered cruel or illegal.

The Senate bill, SB272, is the better bill, and it's what we've been working toward. The fear is that the House may try to conform the language of the Senate bill to the language of THEIR bill that was already passed. If that happens, it will effectively kill any progress for Virginia's animals and take us back to the beginning, where legal/illegal becomes a gray area and must be left to the discretion of the individual officer - and nine times out of ten, the officer does not rule in favor of the pet's welfare.

We NEED definitive, irrefutable language. SB272 has to pass as written.

If you are in Virginia, here is how you can help:

If your delegate is on the House Agriculture Committee, and especially if they are on the Agriculture Subcommittee, please give them a call and ask that they support SB272 – particularly ask that SB272 move forward as currently drafted.

You can find the members of the House Agriculture Committee here: https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php?committee=H01&ses=201

You can find the members of the Agriculture Subcommittee here: https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php?subcommittee=H01001

There is a Democratic majority this year, and that's helpful. But it's not a silver bullet. PLEASE contact these delegates and share this update on social media!!!

I'll keep you posted, and thank you for your support.

Gary