Arkansas SB777 entitled "An Act Concerning Aggravated Cruelty to Dogs, Cats, and Horses; and For Other Purposes" has passed the Senate and been assigned to the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development in the House of Representatives. The full text of this bill as it was amended by the Senate can be found at
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/b ... /SB777.pdf .
This bill is being strongly opposed by the Arkansas Farm Bureau and the Arkansas Cattleman's Association. There is good reason for this opposition. While the intent of those legislators sponsoring this bill and the people supporting it most likely is honorable, this bill is one of the most egregious examples of outrageous public policy that I have seen introduced this year as far as animal bills. With the exception of few words and phrases, proposed Section 5-62-102(a) is constitutionally void for vagueness. Without a doubt in my mind, the ambiguous and subjective language of the definition of felony animal cruelty will most certainly have unintended consequences to the responsible, law abiding owners, breeders, and fanciers of dogs, cats, and horses in the state of Arkansas. The current codified A.C.A section 5-62-113 that gives arrest powers to humane societies should be repealed immediately before it results in the death of a human being. To pass a felony animal cruelty law while this statute is in place will surely result in a preventable tragedy. If this bill passes, Arkansas citizens and animals will soon find themselves in the same position that we Mississippi citizens and animals find ourselves in right now...with an animal cruelty law struck down as unconstitutional and an animal seizure statute that has proven itself to be an invitation to abusive animal seizures.
I urge you to read and study the text of this bill quickly and write emails and make phone calls to your Representatives now OPPOSING this bill. The contact information for all members of the Arkansas House of Representatives can be found at
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/scripts/A ... sp?Mtype=R .
SB777 is on the agenda for tomorrow (Friday) morning's meeting of the House Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development committee. It is scheduled at 8:00 am. Names and contact information for the members of this committee are listed below. Please contact them immediately and ask them to kill this bill in committee before it goes any further.
It is urgent that you take action now. Bad animal laws are bad for animals and bad for the citizens. This is most surely a bad animal law.
PERMISSION GRANTED TO FORWARD AND CROSSPOST TO ALL CITIZENS OF ARKANSAS.
Linda Chance
Legislative Chair
Mississippi Canine Coalition, Inc.
AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT- HOUSE
Legislative Members
Chair: Representative Tommy Dickinson
Vice Chair: Representative James Norton
Representative Stan Berry
Representative Lenville Evans
Representative Benny Petrus
Representative Sandra Prater
Representative Scott Sullivan
Representative Mike Kenney
Representative Curren Everett
Representative Roy Ragland
Representative Eddie Cooper
Representative Gregg Reep
Representative Monty Davenport
Representative Lindsley Smith
Representative Mike Burris
Representative Bill Sample
Representative Robbie Wills
Representative Nathan George
Representative John Lowery
Representative Fred Allen
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