January 2nd, 2020 by WCBC Radio
A bill pre-filed by a Maryland House member would set standards for animal shelters, with the goal of reaching a “save rate” of 90%. The bill, sponsored by Del. Mark Chang, would require shelters to take a series of steps to reunite animals found as strays with their owners when possible.
The bill would require shelters to make an attempt to identify an animal by checking for license tags or microchips within 24 hours of housing the animal. They would also have to prominently post their hours and the process for owners to recover pets who end up there.
When a shelter decides it must euthanize a pet, the bill would require a series of steps, including checking with other facilities that may have room, or making “reasonable attempts” to find foster care when permanent placement isn’t available.
The proposal would also bar shelters from banning the transfer of an animal based on its breed.
Maryland lawmakers will head back to Annapolis for the General Assembly session on Jan. 8.
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January 02, 2020 at 3:57 pm, Steve said:
This seems like a NO BRAINER, isn’t these steps being done already??
January 02, 2020 at 5:47 pm, Peter said:
I tried to introduce a similar Legislation in 2014 and 2015, the Companion Animal Protection Act (CAPA) with Delegate Miele as main sponsor. What came out of it was the The Maryland Animal Shelter Standards Act http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/legislation/details/hb0626?ys=2017rs
Unfortunately HSUS, ASPCA and several Animal Shelters in MD were fighting as with tooth and nails. The outcome was a heavily redacted Bill which was signed by the Governor on October 2016.
January 02, 2020 at 7:03 pm, mac said:
No dog or cat leaving a shelter or a breeder should be allowed to leave without a requirement that they be spayed or neutered. This is the only way that I know of that will keep the shelters from continuing to fill up.
I understand that enforcing this will be problematic but what other choice is there to reduce the surplus population?
My dog has been spayed and chipped. I prefer to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.