UPDATE March 21, 2017:
HB 626 is still being considered in Maryland’s Senate. The Senate Education, Health & Environmental Affairs Committee has scheduled a hearing for the bill on Tuesday, March 21.
If you live in Maryland haven’t taken action yet, please do so now!
UPDATE March 3, 2017:
We are happy to say that HB 626 has moved forward and is now with the Maryland House of Delegates for a third reading and a vote.
Please take action again and tell your legislators to vote YES on the bill.
Original Post:
The Maryland House Environment and Transportation Committee is considering a bill that would let it do more to protect the wellbeing of shelter animals. The bill, HB 626, would give the Department of Agriculture the authority to enforce basic humane standards of care in public shelters. Some shelters in the state don’t meet those standardsand right now there is no way to ensure that they do. This bill would change that.
HB 626 would require shelters that are county-operated, county-owned, or receiving state funds for spay and neuter to follow established protocols for veterinary care and for owners to reclaim lost animals. A 2016 law required that these shelters establish such procedures, but didn’t provide a method to ensure shelters were following them. HB 626 would rectify this by giving the Department of Agriculture authority to enforce those required protocols through inspections.
All shelters should have basic humane standards to keep their animals safe and healthy. This bill would be a strong step in the right direction.
If you live in Maryland, tell your legislators to support the bill and quality care for Maryland’s shelter animals.