Biscuit was a dog who spent three years in a shelter — not because she couldn’t find a loving home, but because she was stuck in legal limbo.

When animals are lawfully seized in cruelty cases, they often remain in shelters for months or even years while criminal proceedings slowly move through the courts. During that time, there is often no clear legal process to determine the animal’s long-term placement. The result? Overcrowded shelters. Strained taxpayer resources. And animals waiting, confused and confined, for a future they cannot control.

Biscuit’s Bill (H.B. 87) offers a compassionate and balanced solution.

This bill would allow courts to review animal placements earlier in cruelty cases, giving judges the ability to determine whether an animal should be forfeited and placed in a safe, permanent home before the criminal case concludes. Importantly, the bill preserves due process. The burden of proof remains on the petitioner, and the underlying criminal case is not altered.

What it does change is the endless waiting.

Shelter workers and volunteers see firsthand how prolonged confinement affects animals’ physical and emotional well-being. Dogs like Biscuit deserve stability, safety, and the chance to bond with a loving family — not years in a kennel because of courtroom delays.

Biscuit eventually found a happy ending. But countless other animals are still waiting.

We call on the Utah State Senate to pass H.B. 87 and give seized animals a clearer path to permanent placement. This bill supports responsible shelters, respects due process, and most importantly, prioritizes the well-being of animals who cannot advocate for themselves.

No dog should lose years of its life to paperwork and postponements.

Pass Biscuit’s Bill. Give animals a faster chance at the safe, loving homes they deserve.

Sign this petition to stand up for Utah’s shelter animals.