Committee to Protect Dogs Continues Fight for Dog Welfare Laws, Says All Options on the Table

22 July 2006

Proponents of a ballot question to protect dogs pledged to redouble their efforts today, after the Dog Protection Act was removed from the 2006 ballot by the Supreme Judicial Court. The measure would have strengthened laws against dogfighting, increased criminal penalties for harming service dogs, and phased out dog racing.

"Dogs play an important role in our lives and deserve to be protected," said Nicholas Gilman, director of Animal Welfare and Protection of the Animal Rescue League of Boston. "We are not giving up, and will fight until we pass stronger laws to promote the welfare of dogs."

Over 150,000 citizens signed the Dog Protection Act, and recent surveys indicated that it was likely to be approved by voters.

"We strongly disagree with the ruling handed down by the Supreme Judicial Court," said Christine Dorchak, chairperson of the Committee to Protect Dogs. "Nevertheless, we are looking forward not backward. We are rolling up our sleeves and getting back to work."

The Committee's first priority will be securing passage of legislation pending in the state House of Representatives (H. 1765) that will strengthen laws against dogfighting.

"Dogfighting is a barbaric spectator sport, in which dogs are drugged, placed in a pit, and forced to attack one other," said Kara Holmquist, director of advocacy for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "The law should provide no tolerance for this criminal conduct."

The Committee also announced their intention to file legislation next session to increase penalties for harming guide dogs and phase out dog racing. "The public supports these humane reforms, and we are confident that if they are given an up or down vote lawmakers will support them," said Dorchak. "However, if lawmakers do not address these issues we are prepared to use other means. Everything is on the table."

At Massachusetts dog tracks, thousands of dogs are confined in small cages barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around for long hours each day. Over six hundred dogs have been injured while racing in Massachusetts during the past four years, including dogs that suffered broken legs, cardiac arrest, spinal cord paralysis and a broken neck. Three quarters of these injuries were fractures.

For more information, visit http://www.protectdogs.org.

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Source: usnewswire

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