Tennessee Panel to Hear Bill Banning Outside Dogs
House Bill 2034 only exempts hunting, training and field trials if actively engaged in those activities. Without the continued presence of all three items at all times, a person who tethers a dog outside on a mild 70-degree day for even 5 minutes would be subject to criminal penalties under the state's animal-cruelty law.
"This proposal doesn't take real-world dog ownership into consideration, and opens the door to mindful dog owners being criminally cited," said Dillon Barto, manager of state services at Sportsmen's Alliance. "Dogs are perfectly comfortable outside, and tethers can be used humanely to keep them from running at large. Animal-cruelty laws should be based on the health and welfare of the dog in question, not on arbitrary items and timeframes that criminalize law-abiding dog owners when no danger exists."
Tennessee sportsmen should contact members of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and ask them to vote NO on HB 2034. Emails should be sent to:
Chairman Representative Michael G. Curcio: [email protected]
Vice-Chair Representative Jerry Sexton: [email protected]
Representative Carson W. Beck: [email protected]
Representative Scotty Campbell: [email protected]
Representative Vincent Dixie: [email protected]
Representative Clay Doggett: [email protected]
Representative Andrew E. Farmer: [email protected]
Representative Bruce Griffey: [email protected]
Representative G.A. Hardaway: [email protected]
Representative David B. Hawk: [email protected]
Representative Dan Howell: [email protected]
Representative Bud Hulsey: [email protected]
Representative William G. Lamberth: [email protected]
Representative Debra Moody: [email protected]
Representative Lowell Russell: [email protected]
Representative Paul Sherrell: [email protected]
About the Author : Sportsmens Alliance
Visit authors website | View more articlesThe Sportsmens Alliance protects and defends Americas wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits hunting, fishing and trapping that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmens Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible.
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