Proposed bills aim at protecting abused animals

Updated: 1/27 10:18 pm | Published: 1/27 9:51 pm

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – Animals lovers in Utah are putting their support behind three proposed bills aimed at stopping animal mistreatment.

Senator Gene Davis sponsored all three bills.

One bill would prohibit the sale of dogs or other animals on the side of the road. The second would make it illegal for owners to tie up dogs or other pets for longer than ten hours. The third bill would make cockfighting a felony.

Utah is the only state in the west where cockfighting is a misdemeanor. The illegal sport involves placing spurs on roosters then the animals fight until the death.

Davis said the two bills supporting dogs were created because most dogs bought from a parking lot end up neglected or taken to a shelter. He said tethering a dog for a long period of time is abuse.

“What we want to do is make sure these animals are not forgotten about, but are truly part of a family,” Davis said.

The three bills have the support of the Best Friends Animal Society and the Humane Society of Utah.

The 2013 Utah Legislative Session begins Monday.

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Dennis - 1/28/2013 12:58 PM

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Too bad there aren't any proposed bills aimed at stopping taxpayer mistreatment. But since the legislature loves nothing more than to find new ways to tax people, I suppose the abuse will continue unabated by that inhumane society, which has very few friends beyond its chamber doors of the two-legged, featherless and furless variety who are much more easily plucked and skinned at the pleasure of that august body. But at least its good to know that some animals merit their consideration. :(

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