State of Georgia - Feb 2nd 1999

Georgia is trying to pass a new animal cruelty law that would make docking and cropping totally illegal within that state.

LEG. ALERT: STATE OF GEORGIA February 2, 1999, Tuesday Last week, two bills of concern to animal owners were introduced in the Georgia House of Representatives. HB 362 Cruelty to animals; comprehensive revision of provisions authored by Representative Scott Dix from Gwinnett County in the Atlanta area would rewrite the entire state cruelty law, distinguishing between owners and non-owners and creating a complex system of multiples "strikes" (as in "3 strikes") using prior convictions from both Georgia and other jurisdictions. Representative Dix was quoted, " and I am proud to say that docking and cropping are now criminal." Anticipating opposition from the Georgia Coalition of Dog Clubs, he vowed to divide the coalition so that it would fall. The full text of the bill can be seen here.

In 1998, The Animal Council prepared an extensive Comment on proposed regulations by the Georgia Department of Agriculture under the Georgia Animal Protection Act which has already subjected Georgians to extensive and burdensome regulation of breeders and rescue. Despite the rural South Georgia hunters and agricultural interests, ideological animal interests have a firm foothold in the urban areas making Georgia a bell weather state for detrimental legislation. The Georgia Coalition of Dog Clubs is developing its own email distribution list and Georgia residents, those with ties of any kind in Georgia and also Lists should be included by contacting: Becki Buss, President, GA Coalition of Dog Clubs, Inc.

*a service of THE ANIMAL COUNCIL, P.O. BOX 168, MILLBRAE CA 94030

emailto: sharonacoleman@compuserve.com