Archive for the ‘legislation’ Category

Life just got a little safer for pets in Massachusetts. A new law in the state, An Act Further Regulating Animal Control, was signed into law on August 2, 2012 by Governor Deval Patrick, who said “I am pleased to sign this legislation that strengthens and improves our animal control laws to better protect and care for our state’s homeless animals.” Read the rest of this entry »

In the state of New Jersey, pets must now be restrained while riding in the car or face a fine up to $1000 (yikes!). New Jersey joins a short list of states that have laws governing the issue of dogs in cars. It may sound like a silly law but dogs can be a major distraction on the road and if something were to happen, a loose dog in the car can have dangerous consequences for the dog and humans in the vehicle.

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Not all pit bulls — or any dog, for that matter — are vicious, and some Ohio lawmakers seem to agree.

An Ohio law enacted this week prevents dogs from being branded as vicious solely because of their breed. Now, the only vicious dogs are those who’ve warranted the label. From a Los Angeles Times story:

Previously, state law defined a vicious dog as one that hurt or killed a person, killed a another canine or was simply a pit bull, according to the Associated Press. The change now requires proof that a pit bull is actually vicious.

We follow the gut-wrenching saga of breed-specific legislation here at Pawesome, as difficult as it can be at times to read and write. But here’s hoping more pit bulls will live instead of die over questionable crimes of identity.

Also in Ohio this week, the Cleveland City Council voted to limit the amount of time dogs can spend tied outside, according to a newsnet5.com report. The ordinance came as a result of excessive barking from dogs left alone, dogs found improperly tied up, and dogs left in harsh weather conditions. We spend a lot of time worrying about trapping dogs inside, but let’s not forget that they can be trapped (and harmed) outside, too.

Let’s all of us be extra-kind to doggies today.

Photo: maplegirlie on Flickr.

Animal-rights groups say Asian cat cafes, where in-house cats lounge with cafe patrons, are exploitative and subject the animals to undue stress. As such, regulations on cat cafes are coming down the pipeline soon, according to an AFP story in Malaysia’s Sun Daily. With support from the animal-rights community, the Japanese environment ministry drew up an ordinance banning cats’ display after 8 p.m.

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