Email Insights: Del Marsh files animal protection bill
From the office of the Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh. Below you will find a press release from Marsh’s office regarding Senate Bill 61 which was filed March 05, 2019. The bill summary says, “This bill would provide that a person who rescues a domestic animal from a motor vehicle when the person holds a good faith belief that the domestic animal is in imminent danger of suffering bodily harm unless removed from the motor vehicle is immune from liability for property damage or injury under certain circumstances.” , “This bill would provide that a person who rescues a domestic animal from a motor vehicle when the person holds a good faith belief that the domestic animal is in imminent danger of suffering bodily harm unless removed from the motor vehicle is immune from liability for property damage or injury under certain circumstances.” Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh announced today that he has filed a bill that would give immunity to a person who rescues an animal from a car if they believe that the life of the animal is at risk. If enacted, this bill would only allow for immunity from prosecution if a person believes the life of the animal in a hot car is in danger and breaks into the car to rescue them. Before attempting the rescue, a person must contact police or animal control to inform them of the situation, and remain at the scene until authorities arrive to investigate. “This is a simple bill, but one that is critical especially as the weather begins to warm up here in Alabama,” Marsh said. “As I travel around my district and even across the state, I have heard from many people that this is an issue that is very important to them.” “This bill is to protect people who are doing the right thing and trying to rescue an animal whose life is in danger.”
Alabama “puppy mill” bill gets a name — Atti’s Bill
Man’s best friend has two new allies in the Alabama Legislature — Jacksonville-Republican state Rep. K.L. Brown and Bessemer-Democrat state Sen. Priscilla Dunn. The duo introduced bills drafted by the Alabama Puppy Mill Project, HB45 and SB17, in their respective chambers, which require commercial breeders of dogs and cats to be licensed and inspected annually in hopes to put an end to inhumane practices like puppy mills. On Thursday both bills finally got a name, and face, of their own — Atti’s Bill. Named after rescue pup Atti, short for Atticus Finch, along with her sister from a breeder in Troy, Ala. The bill now carries Atti’s name. According to the Alabama Puppy Mill Project, “they were riddled with parasites and had Parvo. They did everything they could to give them every ounce of veterinary care they could to save their lives. They were both fighters but Atti succumbed to the Parvo and died several days later.” The bills have now been renamed in her honor and memory. While neither bill directly refers to “puppy mills” they would apply to cat and dog breeders who have more than 10 female animals. They’d have to be licensed and inspected by the Alabama Dog and Cat Breeders Commission, which the legislation also creates. The state Department of Agriculture and Industries would have jurisdiction over the commission and funding would be covered through breeders’ licensing fees. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASCPA), Alabama is one of only 20 states that doesn’t have regulations for puppy mills — a large-scale commercial dog breeding facility where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs. HB45/SB17 hopes to put an end to that.
Petition to keep felony rap for killing animals gathers momentum after dog slaying
A new petition to keep felony penalties attached to malicious animal killings is circulating on Change.org after the grisly slaying of an American Staffordshire Terrier named Rufus by a divorce-aggrieved Birmingham lawyer. In July 2012, police said, James Stewart Robinson slit Rufus’ throat in retaliation against his now ex-wife amid a bitter custody battle over the dog. According to court reports, the Vestavia County Sheriff’s Office said that Robinson then texted his estranged spouse a photo of the Rufus and threatened to harm her as well, texting her “Your day is coming girl.” He was convicted on harassment charges by the Vestavia Hills Municipal Court, but appealed those charges in Jefferson County Circuit Court where he now lives and is set to face trial in January. According to the Change.org petition, presiding Judge Jonny Rochester has asked prosecutors to pursue misdemeanor charges instead of more serious felony charges, though Deputy Dwight Sloan, who investigates animal cruelty for the Jefferson County Sheriff, worked passionately to secure the more serious category of charges. “Faced with the violent nature and sheer cruelty of the crime, both the Prosecutors and Deputy Sheriff in charge of the investigation are sticking to their guns and refusing to allow Robinson a mere slap on the wrist,” the petition reads. “However, the Judge is standing in the way of Rufus getting his day in court.” “Please let Judge Rochester know that pets are family members, and the murder of one should be punished appropriately, as a FELONY, not reduced to a misdemeanor. By signing this petition, you are asking Judge Rochester to respect the police finding of this crime as a felony.” The petition as of publication time had gathered 3,0110 signatures.
