Virginia Legislation News

The VFDCB does not take a position on all bills affecting dogs. Animal rights organizations in VIrginia propose dozens of bills every year, the majority of which would be bad for dogs if passed into law. But for us to take a position we have to determine that the law would either 1) have a direct affect on our members, or 2) have a direct negative effect on the welfare of dogs in general in the state. So there may be bills we feel strongly about, but the Federation does not take a position on. The bills that have been signed by the governor will become law on their effective dates (most of them on July 1 this year) Here is the status of the bills we've tracked this year. Included are several bills that interest dog owners but which we did not support or oppose due to the conditions stated above. PASSED VFDCB SUPPORTED HB655 Dangerous dogs; judicial discretion. Approved by Governor, effective 7/1/08 SB663 Local fees for companion animals. Approved by Governor, effective 7/1/08 HB537 Rabies vaccination certificates; public access; duties of local treasurers. Approved by Governor, effective 7/1/08 VFDCB OPPOSED HB999 Bond for abandoned or cruelly treated animals. Approved by Governor, effective 7/1/08 HB538 - Commercial dog breeding operations; penalty. Approved by Governor, effective 1/1/09 VFDCB TOOK NO POSITION SB 26 RICO; dogfighting. Approved by Governor, effective 7/1/08 SB637 Required reporting of child abuse; animal control officers.. Approved by Governor, effective 7/1/08 HB 5 Gas chambers. Approved by Governor, effective immediately HB207 –– clarifies definition of animal pound Approved by Governor, effective 7/1/08 HB673 Animal welfare standards Approved by Governor, effective 7/1/08 SB592 - Animal protection and fighting; penalty. Approved by Governor, effective 7/1/08 HB656 - Animal protection and fighting; penalty. Approved by Governor, effective 7/1/08 DID NOT PASS VFDCB OPPOSED HB464 –– Humane investigator program reinstated HB1486 Dealer permits raised to $150 HB1570 Mandatory spay/neuter HB217 - Tethering HB691 - ACO inspections for breeders HB690 - Requires Virginia to license breeders who are licensed by the USDA HB306 –– Animal Control Officer additional training SB438 Character education (basically animal rights for school children) HB1232 - Overbreeding of cats and dogs VFDCB SUPPORTED HB1473 - Prohibits Virginia from participating in a mandatory national microchipping plan HB457 Repeal of rabies-reporting-by-vets law VFDCB TOOK NO POSITION SB498, HB40, and HB1289 Prohibit gas chamber euthanasia (became part of HB5) HB533 Driving with an animal impeding vision or controls HB1080 Tax credits for vets etc providing service to shelters HB1267 and HB1365 Tax credits for shelter adoptions HJ163 Study on animal problems SJ69 Humane Education week We did well. Only two that we opposed passed the House and Senate, and only two that we supported failed to pass. If you would like to ask questions or discuss any of the positions we took or what happened with the bills, please join the VFDCB-Leadership email list. Send a blank email to VFDCB-Leadership-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. We are more than happy to talk to any member of any member club about these bills and why we took the positions we did.