FAIRFIELD, Conn. TheDailyFairfield accepts signed, original letters to the editor. Send letters to gcanuel@thedailyfairfield.com.
To the Editor;
Though the session focused on budget adjustments and education reform, there were a number of additional policies to help Connecticut residents. In particular, current and future pet owners received a number of new protections as the legislature worked to expand animal rights, giving common sense guidelines to enforce the humane treatment of animals. All three bills now await the Governor's signature.
One bill, which has been named the "Pet Lemon Law" (HB 5409), will protect the wallets and hearts of Connecticut families who bring pets into their homes.
I have been working on this bill since it was introduced, and I had an opportunity to testify on the bill during a public hearing in March. This bill is simply about accountability, basic human compassion for animals, and frankly, consumer protection.
This bill enables new pet owners to either seek reimbursement for certain veterinarian expenses for a dog or cat that suffers from an illness or congenital defect shortly after the sale. The bill allows the owner to receive a fair financial compensation for their animals hardship without having to return their pet.
I hope this bill will set a higher business standard for pet stores, decreasing the use of puppy mills. Holding stores accountable by having them foot the bill for the costs they would typically pass on to the consumer will hopefully encourage the sale of healthy animals.
The House unanimously passed HB 5289, which elevates the penalties for multiple offenses of animal cruelty to a $5,000 fine and up to five years in prison. This sends a clear message that animal abuse will not be tolerated in Connecticut. The types of abuse are defined broadly to cover cases of neglect, poor living conditions, causing injury or harassing.
A third Animal bill is HB 5446, which requires new animal control officers (ACOs) to complete at least 80 hours of initial ACO training. The training is reimbursable, so the new law will not come at a high cost to these new officers. The law also establishes a voucher system for paying veterinarians who vaccinate and sterilize impounded, quarantined stray dogs and cats. By law, people acquiring an unspayed or unneutered dog or cat from a pound must pay the pound $45 for a voucher to sterilize and vaccinate the animal. The bill allows a pound to take responsibility, have the animal sterilized and vaccinated before releasing it to the person adopting or buying it, and the person can then pay the voucher.
I'm proud to have worked on legislation that protects animals, improves their quality of life and those who care for them. I'm a long-time volunteer with local animal rescue groups that give abused or abandoned animals a second chance, like my beagles Maggie and Wally that my husband I adopted from a rescue.
State Rep. Brenda Kupchick (R-Fairfield)
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