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Alabama
proposes bill to legalise Greyhound killing
GREYHOUND RESCUE organisations and dog lovers across the world
have been outraged by a Bill proposed in the USA by the Alabama
Legislature which effectively legitimises the culling of Greyhounds
by any person who chooses to do so.
Under Alabama's House Bill Number 37, which only requires the
signature of the State Governor to become law, Greyhounds are
to be re-classified as livestock.
This means that culling by shot or fatal injection can be undertaken
by any unlicensed individual, rather than by veterinary professionals,
who are, of course, bound by a code of ethical conduct.
Bad legislation
Ann Bollens of the Greyhound Pets of America Emerald Coast Chapter
attacked the Bill as bad legislation. "This is like saying
these dogs aren't worth anything," she said.
The bill authored by Representative James Buskey of Mobile also
prescribes lethal injection as the method of killing greyhounds.
But it doesn't say what can or can't be used. Baldwin County
District Attorney David Whetstone whose preparing to prosecute
a Lillian man under the existing statute for killing thousands
of greyhounds, says it could affect his case.
Whetstone says he has real problems with this bill.
"Nor does it allow the dog the privilege of being executed
by a vet, anybody can do it! So there are some real problems
with this bill."
The bill was passed in the House under a Tourism and Travel
Committee and in the Senate under a Tourism and Marketing Committee.
All members of the Mobile and Baldwin County Legislative Delegations
voted in favor of the bill except Senator Pat Lindsey and Representatives
Mitchell and White who were not on the floor when the votes
were taken.
Toby Hart, who is campaigning against Bill 37 told OUR DOGS:
"At no point has the State Governor, or the proposer of
the bill, James Buskey of Mobile, offered any explanation or
justification for this extarordinary law, which sits well in
Alabama's long tradition of illiberal and oppressive legislation."
To contact the State Governor to register protest contact:
http://www.governor.state.al.us/email/contact_form.htm
To add to the international appeal for support, which is being
collated by a local TV reporter, Randy Wood e-mail to: rwood@WKRG.com
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