Home » From The Readers, Letters to the Editor » Arizona Senate HB 2150 Allows Animal Cruelty

Sedona AZ (March 16, 2015) – The following is a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor:

For those of you who are animal lovers you should be more than annoyed about the legislation that some AZ politicians are supporting. I have sent a letter to the president of the AZ senate indicating that this legislation is an embarrassment to AZ families overall, represents a total lack of humane perspective for all living creatures, and any legislative person who supports it will be openly opposed by those of us how passionately care about all living creatures.

You can access the legislative names on the email below and hopefully will take a few minutes to contact a constituent and inform them of your perspective.

Dr. Jan Jones

VIA Associates, Inc.

Surprise AZ

​Dear Dr. Jones,

Despite opposition from EVERY major animal welfare AND law enforcement organization, including Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the Arizona Senate will be voting on HB 2150 this week. Despite opposition from EVERY major animal welfare AND law enforcement organization, including Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the Arizona Senate will be voting onthis week.

Bottom line, this misguided bill weakens our laws against animal abuse.

It’s absolutely unacceptable, and here’s why:

– HB2150 reduces the felony penalties for various acts of cruelty to farm animals, including horses.

– HB2150 omits the crime of “abandonment” of farm animals, which is currently a felony.

– There is no mention of the requirement to “provide medical attention necessary to prevent protracted suffering” to farm animals.

– Theoretically, under HB2150, a person could abandon his injured horse in the desert, and let it suffer to death, without penalty. It’s appalling.

But that’s not all.

– The measure also prevents any city or county from enacting laws tougher than this watered-down bill. For example, the City of Phoenix enacted an ordinance that banned home slaughter of livestock, following an investigation of people slaughtering goats and other animals in apartment complexes.

If HB2150 passes, local governments would be powerless to address issues facing their communities.

Please help protect Arizona animals. Your support will make a difference.

Sincerely,