2005 Massachusetts Legislation
Local
Phillipston is considering adopting BSL at their June 13 town meeting. We are working hard to help them with an alternative. meeting date TBD
New Bedford is in the process of trying to put in place dangerous Dog laws. They started with BSL and are now working on something a bit more reasonable. Next meeting TBD.
State
There are many bills this legislative session dealing with Dogs! I am going to be following 4 here that I feel are very important. Check this site often for updates of committee assignments and committee hearing dates. Please take the time to get to know your local legislators. Many have local office hours and it would be well worth the time it takes to stop in and share your views on these bills. You may only get to speak with an aid, but rest assured this is quite valuable as well. once you get to know the aids you can easily gain access to your legislator. When bills go to committee it is best to phone and write to each committee member asking for their support. It is also a good time to ask your own legislators to contact committee members and voice their support. When committees hold public hearings, we must turn out in force to voice our support. When you go to a hearing, you must be there at beginning of hearing to turn in your request to speak on a bill even if our bill is last on schedule. They also can change the order of discussion, so do plan your time accordingly. Make you speech very short and to the point, do remember to say what organizations you represent and where you live. You can turn in supporting material and a letter for each of the committee members to look over at a later time. If someone has already said what you were going to say, just stand up, introduce yourself and the organizations you represent, and state that you agree with the statements made by______ and you just want to emphasize your support / objection on the bill.
Please Consider Joining these groups
The Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners
American Dog Owners Association
National Animal Interest Alliance
( They are all working hard on your behalf !!!! )
LOOK UP THIS WEEKS COMMITTEE HEARING SCHEDULES
LOOK UP YOUR BILL HISTORY ( COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS / COMMITTEE HEARINGS / RULINGS )
PLEASE READ THE FULL TEXT OF BILLS AND FACT SHEETS!!!!!
Dangerous Dogs
There are at least 4 bills filed that deal with this issue. The best bill is # H3563 filed by Representative Brad Hill. We should all be pushing this bill as our top choice, and suggest the others be abandoned. Please remember the main focus should be that this will work, not that others ( such as BSL ) are unfair.
Shelter Imports
This is Bill # H3650. It has already been assigned to the Joint Committee on Public Health. It was filed by representative Kay Khan.
Home Owners Insurance
This was filed late by Representative Anne Gobi. Because of this, it has to go through Senate and House of Reps Rules Committees ( and pass ) before getting a bill #. Please support this bill. The other one filed does not say anything about rates, only that underwrighters must insure.
Breeder Licensing
This was filed by Representative Paul Kujawski. The Bill # H1346 has been assigned to the Joint Committee On Environment, Natural Resources & Agriculture . A public hearing is going to be June 20th at 1:00PM