Montana - Animal Hoarding Bill - FAILS in Committee
Gazette Opinion: Cruelty bills meet death by committee in Helena
The 2009 Legislature could have strengthened Montana animal cruelty laws in several ways. Lawmakers introduced two bills to increase penalties for animal cruelty, a bill to increase penalties for abandoning horses and a bill written to address the unique aspects of animal-hoarding cases. All failed.
Senate Bill 346, introduced by Sen. Rick Liable, R-Darby, perished in Senate Judiciary Committee. Senate Bill 167, sponsored by Sen. Ryan Zinke, R-Whitefish, died in House Agriculture Committee. House Bill 349, sponsored by Rep. Dan Villa, D-Anaconda, and Senate Bill 221, introduced by Sen. Mitch Tropila, D-Great Falls, were tabled in House Judiciary… More
Mar 20, 2009 - Bill to limit animal hoarding draws mixed response
HELENA — A bill to limit hoarding of animals in Montana drew praise and concern Thursday during a three-hour House Judiciary Committee hearing.
The bill’s main sponsor, Sen. Mitch Tropila, D-Great Falls, said the new law would get animal hoarders mental health help, and might help authorities intervene sooner than under existing animal cruelty laws.
Tropila said cruelty cases involving large numbers of animals sometimes can cost communities hundreds of thousands of dollars to prosecute the offender and care for seized animals.
He said the proposed law might be used a few times each year in Montana because of the imposed restrictions.
“We have set the bar extremely high,” Tropila said.
Opponents included hobby and animal breeders, who worried they might fall under the anti-hoarding law.
Bob Myers, a Helena area breeder of Brittany pointing dogs, wondered whether a new neighbor from out of state might use the law to try to shut down his dog-breeding operation.
“This bill is poorly written,” said breeder Jan Breitenfeldt of Whitehall. “If animals are properly cared for, it should not matter how many we have.”
Tropila said the bill would not apply to people who properly caring for their animals.
“If they’re starving them, then yes,” Tropila said as to whether the bill would apply. “If they’re caring for them, not at all.”…More
Feb 27, 2009 - Animal Hoarding Bill Passes to Senate
By KFBB News Team
“…The bill would not only provide state courts and law enforcement with more tools to address and prosecute animal hoarding cases, but it would allow for the treatment of mental illness suffered by most of the people who hoard companion animals. The bill will now be moving on to the House…” More including video
2 years ago