Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

1096.0. "buckle-up your dog in Mass?" by WEDOIT::ROBERTS (Steel wheels & wheel Guns) Wed Dec 04 1991 15:13

    
    
    
    

The Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible
Dog Owners needs your help in securing the passage of House
Bill 4020 which outlaws the transportation of any animal in
the back of an unenclosed pick-up except when enclosed in a
crate or restrained effectively by a harness.

House Bill 4020 has passed the House and is presently held
up in the Senate Committee of Public Safety.

Please write or call immediately the Chairman of the
Committee of Public Safety (Senator James P. Jajuga, Democrat)
and urge him to support House Bill 4020 and vote it out of the
Committee.

The Senator can be reached at:

	Senator James P. Jajuga
	State House, Room 216
	Boston, MA 02133
	617-722-1605

Calls or letters from Senator Jajuga's constituents will be
particularly effective!  He serves Amesbury, Haverhill,
Merrimac, Methuen, Newburyport, North Andover, and Salisbury.

The Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association supports
this legislation, as does the MSPCA.

Please Note: sportsmen are against this Bill.  Please politely
note in your correspondence with the Senator that the Bill is
intended only for public roads and not for private roadways.
This Bill is both an animal welfare issue and a public safety
measure, as dogs that fall or jump from pick-up trucks are a
safety hazzard to other motorists.

Here is the Bill:

	Chapter 90 is hereby amended by adding the following
new section after section 13 entitled:
	Section 13A.  No person shall transport any animal in
the back of a motor vehicle in a space intended for any load on
the vehicle on a public way unless the space is enclosed or has
side and tail racks to a height of at least 48 inches extending
vertically from the floor, or the animal is protected by a
secured container or cage, or the animal is protected by a
safe and effective restraining harness device, in a manner
which will prevent the animal from being thrown, falling, or
jumping from the vehicle.  Whoever violates the provisions
of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than
twenty-five dollars.



		UPDATE - 11/27/1991

I have just spoken with the Senator's secretary Ann Dawley,
and was told that the Bill was voted out of Committee
(with a favorable recommendation) and went to the Senate
floor, but met with some objections and confusion,
especially from Senators from the western part of the
state, and rural areas.  It is back in Committee in what
was called "3rd reading", which she explained was an
attempt to make the language clearer and/or explain it
to anyone who had difficulty with it.  It will go back on
the Senate calendar soon, and she urged me to get anyone
from the western part of the state to call their Senator
and voice support for the Bill.

 Sounds like a real serious problem. Thank God every issue has a legislative
solution.

    
    	well I was going to let this fly by in the canine notefiles until
    	I saw the sportsmen are against this....
    
    	I think it's great to treat you hunting partner with the same care
    	as you would grant to yourself.  But this seems to be legislation
    	searching for a problem.           

How about making it illegal to tie a dog to the bumper! Thats been a real 
problem! Gotta love these idiot representatives.

They ought to establish a committee to repeal all laws that did not correct
the perceived problem!

    So like, what about ferrets?
    
    Nothing burns me up like riding behind a pickup driven by an unshaven,
    beer guzzling slob who has a ferret running around loose in the back of
    his pick up.  Don't these people know their ferrets could get injured?
    I blame this problem on the NRA.  
    
    And what about those cat owners with their cats lounging lazily in the
    back window just waiting to be smoooshed against the windshield when
    the driver applies the brakes.
    
    What about using rats to test drugs.  Can't they use college
    students instead?
    
    I better get this senators phone number.    I'll want him to propose
    lots more laws that we should all, as US citizens, help enforce!!!