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The Monthly National Legislation Reporthttp://mnlreport.typepad.com/Page 88 of 3307/5/2010WISCONSINMadison – (1/30/10) – Deadlline nearing for dog sellers advisory committee nominations. Feb. 10 is the deadline for nominations to an advisory committee that will recommend rules tocarry out a new law regulating dog breeders and animal shelters in Wisconsin. "If you are among those who will be covered by this new law, this is your chance to have a voice in shapingthe standards that you will need to meet in order to get and keep your license," said Dr. Yvonne Bellay, the state humane veterinarian who is overseeing the rule-writing process for theDepartment of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. "You'll have the opportunity to represent and speak for a segment of the industry, rather than just your own interest. This is avitally important group for both the protection of animals and legitimate businesses." The advisory committee membership will include retail dog sellers, breeders who sell dogs eitherwholesale or retail, sporting groups, humane societies, animal control facilities and breed rescue groups. Members must be nominated by an organization involved in working with dogs.Members must be people who will be licensed under the new law, but must speak for their organization as a whole rather than their individual interests. The group will meet about once amonth from March through December. Public hearings on the proposed rules will be held in the spring of 2011, and the law will take effect June 1, 2011. To receive nomination materials, call608-224-4872 or email DATCPanimals@wi.gov The department's Division of Animal Health received the regulatory authority under a law passed and signed late last year. The 12-memberadvisory committee will recommend provisions for administrative rules that will actually put the law into practice, including standards of care for dogs and facility standards. The new lawrequires licensing and inspection for breeders, retailers, shelters and pounds that sell or transfer at least 25 dogs a year. Breeders are exempt if they sell dogs from three or fewer litters in ayear. The law also requires that puppies be at least 7 weeks old and certified by a veterinarian before sale. The rules are to set standards for housing, feeding, watering and exercise for thedogs in these facilities. License fees range from $125 to $1,000 a year, depending on the type of operation.Monroe County - Zoning Committee - proposed exotic animal ordinance to regulate wolf-dog hybridsOmro – (2/2/10) – Omro looks for clarity on dog rules. The issue of whether dogs on leashes should be allowed in Omro parks is unclear in the minds of city residents and officials alike.Both groups are expected to gain a little clarity during a discussion of the topic at the Omro Common Council meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the lower level of City Hall, 205 S. Webster Ave.The matter came to the council about a year ago and then "bounced back and forth" between the council and the parks committee without any clear understanding of what is permissible.The current ordinance, which was never amended, allows dogs only in certain designated areas such as boat mooring sites, where dog owners are allowed to transport their pets from theirvehicles to their boats. Tuesday's agenda item is for a discussion and final decision regarding an amendment to the local ordinance.LEGISLATION IN OTHER COUNTRIES OF INTERESTAUSTRALIA(1/30/10) – Calls for uniform laws on pit bulls. POTENTIALLY dangerous pit-bull terriers are continuing to exist in Queensland because of inconsistent laws across the state. Crossbreedpit-bull terriers are banned on the Gold Coast, but permitted on the Sunshine Coast where an 84-year-old grandmother was mauled by two suspected pit-bull crosses yesterday. Thestate's peak animal protection agency, the RSPCA, said the State Government needed to review laws on the dogs – and the identification of their cross-breeds – to make regulations uniform. Itcalled for an overhaul of regulations for the breed, which it says is not inherently dangerous. The state has these model laws, but quite often councils adopt their own version of them," RSPCACEO Mark Townend said. "If you move to Logan, move to Brisbane or to the Redlands, they all have different laws. No wonder people get confused." But Mr Townend said the breed should not bebanned entirely. He said the Government should focus on ensuring proper breeders.(1/31/10) – Pet Owners Face Soaring Vet Bills. PET owners are being hit with dramatically different vet bills for the same procedures. And some pet owners claim they were chargedmore than triple the usual cost for after-hours emergency surgery in the absence of any pricing regulation of the unregulated vet industry. Veterinarians say climbing fees are theprice of technological advancements, putting pet care almost on par with human care for the first time. But owners fear the rising trend of pet specialist referrals is leading to unreasonablefees. Veterinary costs are unregulated and no price guides are available. Pet owners must rely on shopping around.Inquiries by The Sunday Mail have found desexing an adult female cat can cost from $144 to $235, depending on the veterinary surgery. Desexing a male dog can range from $157 to $330.Vaccinating an adult female cat can cost from $54 to $87 and microchipping from $42 to $69.Jimboomba dog breeder Helma Dressler said her records showed caesarean costs had tripled in a decade. Costs for a caesarean can vary from $660 at Warwick to $1500 in Brisbane and $900 at RedbankPlains, according to breeders. But Australian Veterinary Association national president Dr Mark Lawrie said while vet fees had risen "dramatically" in the past decade, competition laws made price regulation orissuing price schedules dangerous. He attributed rising costs to advancements such as the rise in MRIs, CAT scans and chemotherapy for animals. "There have been a lot more services available, such as 24-hour clinics that are very well-equipped and cost a lot of money to run," he said.Animal specialists now exist for dozens of conditions, with vet surgeries able to refer pet owners to specialists in cancer, dermatology, internal medicine, diagnostic imaging and a range of other fields.At the Australian Animal Cancer Foundation facility in Albany Creek, north of Brisbane, pet owners pay an average $2500 to $3000 to have cats and dogs treated for cancer by Dr Rod Straw. Some pet ownershave spent six-figure sums on cancer treatment at the facility. One owner spent almost $100,000 on vet bills over six years to save two 12-year-old pet boxers from cancer. Government subsidies might havecurbed the cost of human medical advances, but pet owners have been left struggling to foot spiralling vet bills. Some pet owners said they were shocked by bills of more than $4000 for after-hours surgery.Deception Bay dog breeder Debbie Creagh was hit with a $4400 bill for an emergency after-hours caesarean on her labrador retriever Brooke this month after the 20-month-old swallowed a dogtoy.Among the cost was a $50 fee for a surgical dog gown. Mrs Creagh said she paid for an emergency caesarean for another dog months earlier costing $2200, but has paid as littleas $600 for the same procedure during normal consultation hours. Another pet owner was shocked at a $954 animal emergency centre bill to save a cat with a blocked bladder.Sunshine Coast pensioner Ralph Huddy spent close to $7000 to have specialists fix cruciate ligament problems in his cattle dog's hind legs.CANADA(1/27/10) - Liberal MP calls for terror investigation of PETA. A Liberal MP thinks the federal government should investigate a U.S.-based animal rights group under Canada’s antiterrorismlaws after a pie was pushed into the face of Fisheries Minister Gail Shea. Gerry Byrne’s outrage follows an incident Monday in which Shea was hit in the face with a tofu cream pieas she was about to deliver a speech in Burlington, Ont. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has taken responsibility for the incident, saying it was part of a campaign “to stopthe government’s ill-advised sanction of the slaughter of seals.” In interviews Tuesday, Byrne called on the federal government to actually investigate whether PETA is acting as a terroristorganization. “There has to be a review whether or not PETA has crossed the line now by attacking a federal minister of the Crown for the purpose of public intimidation of an office-holder,”Bryne told CBC News. PETA dismissed Byrne’s criticism on Tuesday. “Mr. Byrne’s reactIon is a silly, chest-beating exercise,” president Ingrid Newkirk said in an email to The CanadianPress. “It is unlikely to impress anyone who has a heart for animals or who is bright enough to spot the difference between a bomb and a tofu cream pie.” Meanwhile, in an Ontario court, thewoman responsible for the pie incident was ordered to stay out of Canada except for her next court appearance. Emily McCoy, 37, of New York City was taken into custody and charged withassault with a weapon after the incident in Burlington. McCoy was granted bail on Tuesday. She’ll be back in court Feb. 24. There is a publication ban on evidence from the hearing, asrequested by McCoy’s lawyer. After the tofu cream pie was pushed into the minister’s face, a woman started shouting as she was led away by officials. Malpeque Liberal MP Wayne Easterdescribed the protester’s actions as “outrageous.” He said it would have been a much different outcome if it had been an American public official being assaulted by a Canadian protester.“They constantly misinform the public on the seal hunt,” he said. “And they do these types of things to keep the issue alive and to raise money for themselves.” Shea, who represents the
The Monthly National Legislation Reporthttp://mnlreport.typepad.com/Page 89 of 3307/5/2010P.E.I. riding of Egmont, didn’t require medical attention and returned to the podium after wiping the pie from her face. Shea said afterward that the incident only strengthens her resolve todefend the hunt. “If this is what it takes to defend the Canadian seal hunt then I’m very proud to do it,” Shea said following the incident. “This actually just strengthens my resolve to defendthis industry.”Edmonton, Alberta – (1/23/10) – Tougher bylaw eyed for vicious dogs. The city wants to put more teeth in its animal control enforcement bylaw and allow officers to immediately seize andquarantine dogs that have killed or severely harmed another animal or person. An amendment to the animal licensing and control bylaw, which is set to go before the community services committeeMonday, proposes to keep an offending dog in a city pound for up to three weeks. Before seizing the animal, officers would have to assess whether it had been acting in self-defence, was provoked, orwas preventing an unlawful act.Ontario – (1/12/10) – Tragic tiger attack begs provincial intervention. The debate over the care and control of exotic animals will reach a fever pitch again following the tragic death of NormanBuwalda over the weekend. He was attacked and killed by one of his pet tigers. People are wondering, quite rightly, why the province and various other jurisdictions can spend so much timecontrolling the likes of say, pit bull terriers, yet allow residents such as Buwalda to keep Siberian tigers, African lions and a Canadian cougar as "pets." The question is even more relevant, as this isnot the first time a tiger has attacked a human on the property near Shedden. Neighbours have asked authorities for years to remove the animals, but the law has failed them. Those animals areperfectly legal, and Buwalda fought and won a bylaw put forward by Southwold Township that would have banned him -- or anyone else -- from keeping them in that municipality. Perhaps it's time forthe province to step up. Organizations such as the World Society for the Protection of Animals say the tragedy should be a wake-up call for the province. The group says Ontario should ban thekeeping of such animals, and charges it is the only province that doesn't even require people to have a licence to keep them. People want to know there is some kind of oversight, and the calls for thatoversight are likely to increase now. (1/28/10) - Southwold Township councillors say if there can be a ban on pitbulls, there can be a ban on having exotic animals as pets. This comes lessthan a month after 66 year-old Peter Buwalda was mauled by his pet Siberian tiger. The Township is sending a letter to Queens Park asking for the development of comprehensive legislationregulating the exotic animal industry. The Township tried to draft its own exotic animal bylaw back in 2004, but the Superior Court struck it down saying it was too broad and an abuse ofpower.Oshawa – (1/23/10) – Oshawa neighborhood says NO to off lead dog park. Off-leash dogs and children playing are a dangerous mix, according to dozens of residents who are pleadingwith councillors to veto any off-leash use at Kedron Park. On Jan. 19, council's community services committee was flooded with opposition to a proposal that would see the north Oshawapark opened to off-leash use during certain hours of the day. Councillors received a 169-signature petition opposing the idea plus many individual letters. Several people also madedelegations, expressing concern about how off-leash dogs would clash with the sports fields and playground already at the park. This week, the committee took a cue from the many angryresidents in its midst, voting again not to allow any off-leash use at Kedron Park. Council will have final say at its next meeting on Feb. 1.Toronto – (12/9/09) – Taking sides on the Toronto Humane Society Controversy. The THS raid was upsetting because of the animal neglect and betrayal it revealed. There is nothing moredreadful and less excusable than leaving animals unnourished, untreated and languishing in cages. A robust and empowered OSPCA swooping down was probably the best friend thesesilent victims ever made. Tragically, the hundreds of witnesses, the veterinarian testimonies, and hard evidence paint a picture of incredible misery for many animals at THS.CHINABeijing – (1/28/10) – Dog and cat off the menu in China? Animal rights advocates and animal lovers in China are engaged in a battle with those who consider eating dog or cat meat atraditional custom in Chinese culture. The focus of contention is a legislative proposal to outlaw the eating of dogs and cats and jail those who do so for up to 15 days. Fines would also beimposed – 5,000 yuan ($735) for individuals and 10,000 to 500,000 yuan ($1,470 to $73,529) for businesses. It is the first time in China that a draft law on animal rights has been presentedto the government. The legislation was drafted by a team of Chinese experts who consulted with the U.S.-based International Fund for Animal Welfare and Britain's Royal Society for thePrevention of Cruelty to Animals.Singapore – (1/18/10) - Illegal Wildlife Trade Found On The Internet. Illegal wildlife traders are using the Internet to pull in more customers, avoid laws and evade authorities, according toanimal rights activists at the Asia for Animals 2010 conference on Sunday. Everything from rhinoceros horns to live tiger cubs are being marketed on public websites and in onlineadvertisements, said Grace Ge, Asian regional director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The Internet provides illegal traders an anonymous way to market their goodsand offers quick and untraceable sales. While inadequate governing of online companies continues, these black market traders can and will continue to flourish, according to AFP. “TheInternet has facilitated the trading of wildlife, which is having a devastating effect on animals and ecosystems worldwide,” Ge said.DENMARK(1/20/10) – Dangerous Dog Ban Mooted. Vicious dog breeds could be subject to an import ban and neutering policy in order to wipe them out in Denmark. Fourteen breeds of dogconsidered dangerous could be banned in Denmark on the recommendation of a parliamentary committee. The fourteen breeds considered dangerous by the committee include: Pit BullTerrier, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentine, Tosa Inu, Boerboel, Kangal, the Central Asian, Caucaisna and South Russian varieties of Ovcharka, Tornjak and Sarplaninac. The dog breeds inquestion would no longer be allowed to be imported and owners would be forbidden from breeding them through selected neutering. The 10 member committee was not able to fully agreeon one proposal, so another model has also been put forward for approval. This calls not for the banning of dangerous dogs, but the owners’ requirement to keep them on a leash andmuzzle.Vibeke Knudsen of the Danish Kennel Club is one of the committee members who couldn’t agree with the proposal for an outright ban. ‘It’s the Danish Kennel Club’s position that a banmodel is not the right way to go, but we agree that something should be done,’ she said, adding that the club advocated the leash and muzzle option. The committee has also recommendedthat police be given greater means to deal with the extra work brought about by the new legislation. The political revision of the dog laws is expected to be dealt with by March.NEW ZEALAND(1/25/10) - Yesterday MSN NZ polled more than 6000 people and found that 83 per cent were in favour of banning pitbulls from New Zealand. (1/27/10) – Calls for tougher dog controllaws reignited. Former victims, doctors and those at the front line are among those who want more restrictions on dangerous breeds like pit bulls, which account for only 2.3% of the dogpopulation but 12.5% of reported attacks.SWITZERLANDCanton of Zurich – (1/27/10) – Dangerous Dogs Banned in Zurich. Fighting dogs have been permanently banned in the canton of Zurich after the Federal Court in Lausanne dismissedan appeal from three canine associations. They argued that not all dogs of the same breed are dangerous but the court said statistics could not be trusted and sited a similar law in theCanton of Valais which banned 12 dangerous breeds in 2007. The law, introduced in Zurich at the start of the year after a vote in November 2008, prevents the selling and breeding of fourbreeds of dog including the American Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Bull Terrier.Foreign owners of these breeds must keep their animals muzzled and on a leash when they are travelling in the canton of Zurich.UK(12/14/09) – Mirror launches campaign to crack down on the menace of out of control dogs. We want the Government to rip up the Dangerous Dogs Act which covers only four breeds- pitbulls, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Brasileiro - and bring in laws to cover all dogs that attack humans. And we believe every animal should be microchipped soowners can be traced. To get around existing laws, owners are cross-breeding different types. The Mirror wants these animals outlawed. And the police and courts should make more use ofpowers to confiscate savage dogs and ban guilty owners from having more. The RSPCA's Andy Robbins agrees the Act should be torn up. He said: "It is wrong to pinpoint these four breeds.It is as if they are awful and every other dog is fine.
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