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Arizona Bill
Would Lower Greyhound Cruelty Penalty
Greyhound Network News and ADLA are tracking a bill that would
reduce the penalty for mistreating racing greyhounds from
a felony to a misdemeanor. The language is included in HB
2015, a prison reform bill in the current special session
which proposes a wide range of penalty reductions to ease
overcrowding. To access HB 2015 click
here.
HB 2015 is sponsored by Rep. Bill Konopnicki, (R-5) Safford,
and Rep. Carole Hubbs, (R-4) Sun City West. It reduces the
penalty from a class 6 felony to a class 1 misdemeanor for
altering tattoos or subjecting a racing greyhound to "grossly
inhumane conditions" or "severe mistreatment".
"Severe mistreatment" is defined as "the infliction
of physical pain, suffering or death on a greyhound used or
bred for racing purposes in a manner that is either wanton
or with reckless indifference to pain or suffering."
Arizona has a long history of greyhound abuse, second only
to the state of Florida. If passed, HB 2015 would overturn
the Humane Treatment Act for Racing Greyhounds, enacted in
1993 in response to the Chandler Heights killing field where
the bodies of 143 racing greyhounds were discovered in January
1992. The dogs had been shot to death and their ears cut off
to prevent identification.
In a recent Arizona Republic article, Rep. Konopnicki defended
the billI. However, Rep. Hubbs stated that the bill was "put
together for me too quickly" and that she will not support
a penalty reduction for animal cruelty. Click
here to access the article.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Contact Representative Konopnicki at (602) 926-5409; Fax:
(602) 417-3105; Email bkonopni@azleg.state.az.us;
and let him know that you oppose the penalty reduction for
greyhound cruelty included in HB 2015.
- Points
to make:
The felony penalty for greyhound abuse is necessary. For
a Fact Sheet* of Arizona greyhound deaths email karen@adlaz.org
(*Fact Sheet courtesy of GNN)
- The Dept
of Racing director opposes the penalty reduction because
it weakens regulatory authority and removes a deterrent
to animal cruelty.
- The bill's
only other sponsor, Rep. Hubbs, refuses to support the penalty
reduction.
We will continue
to track legislation and provide updates. For more information
on greyhound abuse go to Greyhound Network News at: www.greyhoundnetworknews.org.
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HELP ADLA WITH BASHA'S 'THANK YOU' CARD
ADLA and Graham County Spay/ Neuter Hotline are part of Basha's
grocery stores "Thanks a Million" Charities. Until
April 2004, Bashas' customers can link our ID numbers to their
Thank You Card and a portion of every purchase is donated
to our group. The Graham County Spay/Neuter Hotline has already
earned over $187 since September. You can link up to 3 organizations
to your card.
ADLA's ID number is 23282. The Graham County Spay/Neuter Hotline
ID number is 28012. To sign up for a Basha's Thank You Card
go to: http://www.bashas.com/tyc_app.php
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