Update 11/09/10: Victory!

The Washington D.C. City Council unanimously voted to send the Wildlife Protection Act to the Mayor's desk. The new law is expected to go into effect sometime next year. The Washington Humane Society praised the bill, saying it will have benefits for people and wildlife alike: "Properly trained and licensed trappers will provide District residents with better customer service, our wildlife will not suffer unnecessary cruelty, and the legislation will protect family pets from being injured or killed in body-crushing traps that are currently permitted in the District."

Thanks for speaking out for wildlife!

Bill #18-0498, the Wildlife Protection Act, was introduced by Council Member Mary Cheh. This humane bill would require wildlife-control operators working in D.C. to be trained and licensed. They would have to pass a test and disclose certain information to consumers. They would annually report their activities to the District Department of the Environment.

In addition to the training and licensing requirements, this bill would prohibit some of the most inhumane euthanasia practices in the industry. Currently, nuisance-wildlife-control operators can kill animals using methods not approved by the AVMA. The Wildlife Protection Act would outlaw drowning animals. It would prohibit injecting animals with acetone (nail-polish remover) as a method of euthanasia. The bill would outlaw the use of leg-hold traps.

A vote is scheduled for Nov. 9, 2010.