animal advocate
January 30, 2011 Find us on Facebook

Aloha Pet Ohana,

 

With the opening of the 2011 Legislative Session, we are poised to pass incredible policies to help people and their pets.  Now is your chance to be heard.

 

A number of animal welfare bills have been introduced including House Bill 1133 and Senate Bill 1194 to increase the penalty from a misdemeanor to a Class C felony for people practicing veterinary medicine without a license.  Mahalo to Representative Blake Oshiro and Senator Clayton Hee for supporting these bills.

  

Why is this bill important?

State licensing boards across the country are waging war against lay persons performing veterinary medicine, but with attorneys unwilling to prosecute and little means of enforcement, the problem continues to grow. Many states have passed laws making it a felony to practice veterinary medicine without a license - to not only serve as an incentive to prosecute cases, but to deter offenders.

 

Veterinarians are seeing more and more horrific damage done to animals by people who have no idea what they are doing - from sterilization surgery to ear cropping and tail docking.  Most often, licensed veterinarians are sought after the irreversible damage has been done and the life of the animal is at stake.

 

Some pet owners choose a non-licensed person because they learn that a medical procedure can be performed at a reduced cost, not fully understanding the risks facing their pet.  Lacking the education, skill set and knowledge of veterinary medicine, animals suffer from botched procedures that are done without the necessary and appropriate anesthesia, furthering the pain suffered by the pet.  In cases where controlled substances are used, prescription drugs are secured illegally and dispensed and administered inappropriately.

 

Here in Hawaii, we are seeing a rise in cases in underserved, at risk and rural communities where our pet owners are struggling to care for their pets during tough economic times. Hawaii needs to join other states in stopping the unscrupulous and callous actions of people that are cashing in on the pain and suffering of pets.

 

To learn more about the animal welfare bills introduced this legislative session, go to the PDP Homepage and click through to the bill's status report for access to bill language, hearing notices, testimony, and how your elected officials voted.


The PDP Ohana

 capitol 

The Animal Advocate Newsletter

PDP is an all volunteer 501c3 that was organized to help people and their pets. One of the best ways to kokua is through policy change. The Animal Advocate is a newsletter created to keep our pets and their ohana up to date about animal welfare legislation and hopefully engage them in the policy making process.  Please join us in creating a more positive place for people to enjoy their pets.
Please kokua! 
Testimony Needed on Bills! 

 

HB 1133 and SB 1194 (the Vet Bill) will be heard in both the House and Senate this week! Don't delay. Get your testimony in today.

 

House Committee on Consumer Protection/Commerce - Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2:05 p.m., room 325

 

Senate Committee on Commerce/Consumer Protection -Thursday, Feb. 3, 9:00 a.m., room 229

 

Submitting testimony is easy!  Go to http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/emailtestimony to submit your testimony online or to upload a document. Committees request that your testimony be submitted 24 hours before the hearing, but they will accept late testimony.

 

House Judiciary Hears Animal Cruelty Bills

PDP is also testifying in support of the following bills:

  • HB 243 strengthens the animal cruelty statute by including the killing or attempting to kill the animal of another person without that persons consent as first degree animal cruelty.
  • HB 108 establishes animal cruelty penalties for dog fighting.
Watch KITV 4 News Coverage About Vet Bill
 
Last year, PDP worked with KITV 4 news reporter, Jodi Leong, to break the story about a Pearl City man illegally practicing veterinary medicine from his home.  Services being poorly performed on pets include ear cropping, tail docking, voice box modification, and spay/neuter surgery - all without a license or even any veterinary technician experience.  Procedures were also performed without the necessary anaethesia. The man simply hog ties dogs using duct tape. Neighbors complained about hearing dogs crying and whining all day long but many feared possible retribution if they complained.

Since then, PDP has learned about more incidents in which other "backyard vets" have tried to sterilize dogs and perform other procedures that only a licensed veterinary is capable of doing.  Watch the KITV 4 news stories and learn more about why we need to increase the penalty for practicing veterinary care without a license: