Animal Shelter Standards, Animal Cruelty Bills Approved By State House

HARTFORD, CT — Two bills regarding regulations on municipal animal shelters and protecting animals and holding abusers accountable were approved by the state House of Representatives this week.

State Representatives Dorinda Borer (D-West Haven) and Craig Fishbein (R-Middlefield, Wallingford) held a joint news conference in support of the bills, which they worked together on and helped push through committees.

“Acts of animal cruelty are acts of violence that should be taken very seriously,” Borer said in a statement. “They are a marker for future violent crimes and have a strong link to other family violence. We read the stories and disturbing details and the public is outraged, and we as legislators are equally outraged. It is upon us to put laws in place that protect innocent, defenseless animals and hold those responsible for these cruel acts. This not a partisan issue, and that’s why Rep. Fishbein and I have joined forces to introduce these bills, and I thank him for his dedication to getting these bills passed."

The two bills are:

• HB 5575: An Act Requiring the Department of Agriculture to Revise Municipal Animal Shelter Regulations – This bill, which passed in the House today, requires municipal animal shelter standards that have not been updated since 1963 to create humane minimum and maximum temperatures, provide for standards on sanitary and housing conditions, and requires the Department of Agriculture to provide the Animal Control Officer a report of findings of an investigated complaint within five days. Further, the report of findings must go to the chief elected official of the municipality. This will provide transparency and accountability at all levels.
• • HB 6714: An Act Concerning Cruelty to Animals – This bill redefines the crime of bestiality, requires that veterinarians report suspected incidents of dog fighting with the option of anonymity, and prohibits those convicted of animal cruelty from volunteering, possessing, or working with animals for five years from the date of conviction, so that someone who has been convicted of torturing or maliciously killing an animal cannot readily repeat those offenses.

"Protecting those who cannot protect themselves is one of our top priorities in the legislature, and these measures will provide stronger protections for animals while assisting law enforcement to track and identify abusers and hold them accountable for their heinous actions," Fishbein said. "I want to thank Rep. Borer for her advocacy on these important issues and I look forward to all of our colleagues supporting these bills and seeing them signed into law."

HB 5575 passed through the house this afternoon, and HB 6714 received unanimous support from the Judiciary Committee.

The bills now move to the Senate. The legislative session must act on all bills by June 7.