
There are two very important bills being heard this Wednesday morning, February 24. The Pet Store bill, HB1581 will be heard at 9:00 a.m. in the House Business and Commerce committee and the Anti-tethering bill, HB1580 will be heard at 10:30 a.m. in the House Judiciary (Criminal) committee. We are recommending strong support of both bills, and we need you to contact the members of both committees and ask them to vote yes. We need to get as many calls and emails into these committee members as possible and before 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning, February 24.
HB1581 – Prohibiting pet stores from selling dogs or cats
Sponsored by Representative Mickey Dollens (D-Oklahoma City) this bill would prohibit the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores, but does not restrict a pet store from providing a space for the display of dogs and cats by an animal rescue organization or a public animal shelter for adoption. You can read his proposed committee amendment here: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20COMMITTEE%20AMENDMENTS/House/HB1581%20FULLPCS1%20MICKEY%20DOLLENS-AMM.PDF. PLEASE CONTACT THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE BUSINESS AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE (LISTED BELOW) AND ASK THAT THEY VOTE YES ON HB1581 PROHIBITING THE SALE OF COMMERCIALLY BRED DOGS AND CATS IN PET STORES. OKLAHOMA, THANKFULLY HAS BEEN FREE OF PUPPY SELLING PET STORE CHAINS FOR MANY YEARS UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN TWO PETLAND STORES WERE OPENED IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA. THE SERIOUS ANIMAL WELFARE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH PETLAND’S OUTDATED AND INHUMANE BUSINESS MODEL ARE LEGEND AND ARE CAUSING MORE AND MORE LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS TO TAKE ACTION TO PROHIBIT THE SALE OF COMMERCIALLY BRED DOGS IN PET STORES. OKLAHOMA WILL CONTINUE TO ATTRACT A GROWING PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF STORE MOVING TO OUR STATE AS OTHER COMMUNITIES TAKE ACTION TO MOVE THEM OUT. THIS BILL IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TO PROTECT DOGS, CATS AND CONSUMERS IN OKLAHOMA.
HOUSE BUSINESS AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS –
*Important note! The links that appear after the telephone number and email of the committee member give more detailed information about each member of the committee including the cities, counties and zip codes they represent. It is appropriate for citizens to contact all committee members, but additionally impactful is for these committee members to also hear from their own constituents. If someone knows they are a constituent of a committee member, please let that member know.
Representative Kevin McDugle – Chair (R-Broken Arrow) 405-557-7388, kevin.mcdugle@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=12
Representative Trey Caldwell – Vice Chair (R-Lawton) 405-557-7307, trey.caldwell@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=63
Representative Rhonda Baker – (R-Yukon) 405-557-7311, rhonda.baker@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=60
Representative Steve Bashore – (R-Miami) 405-557-7399, steve.bashore@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=7
Representative Meloyde Blancett (D-Tulsa) 405-557-7334, meloyde.blancett@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=78
Representative Regina Goodwin (D-Tulsa) 405-557-7406, regina.goodwin@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=73
Representative Gerrid Kendrix (R-Altus) 405-557-7369, gerrid.kendrix@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=52
Representative Mark McBride (R-Moore) 405-557-7346, mark.mcbride@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=53
Representative Judd Strom (R-Copan) 405-557-7402, judd.strom@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=10
Representative Tammy Townley (R-Ardmore) 405-557-7326, tammy.townley@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=48
HB1580 – Prohibiting persons from chaining or tethering a dog under certain circumstances
Sponsored by Representative Mickey Dollens (D-Oklahoma City), the proposed bill would stipulate tethers meet certain requirements; provides conditions for which a person may confine a dog outside; requires access to water and shelter, provides shelter enclosure requirements, prohibits leaving a dog outside in certain weather conditions; provides exceptions; prohibits certain cruel and inhumane actions; and imposes penalties. You can read the full language of the bill here: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20INT/hB/HB1580%20INT.PDF. PLEASE CONTACT THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY (CRIMINAL) COMMITTEE AND ASK THAT THEY VOTE YES ON HB1580. THE BILL WILL ESTABLISH IMPORTANT PROTECTIONS FOR DOGS LIVING OUTDOORS. MANY RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS AND ANIMAL SHELTERS HAVE EXPERIENCED FIRST HAND THE CRUELTY AND DANGER OF CHRONICALLY CHAINING A DOG IN EXTREME TEMPERATURES AND WITHOUT ADEQUATE SHELTER. WE ALSO KNOW THAT CHRONICALLY CHAINED DOGS RARELY TAKEN OFF A CHAIN, CAN BECOME ANXIOUS AND AGGRESSIVE. RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL FOUND THAT CHAINED DOGS ARE 5.4 TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN UNCHAINED DOGS TO BITE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 12.
HOUSE JUDICIARY (CRIMINAL) COMMITTEE MEMBERS
*Important note! The links that appear below the telephone number and email of the committee member give more detailed information about each member of the committee including the cities, counties and zip codes they represent. It is appropriate for citizens to contact all committee members, but additionally impactful is for these committee members to also hear from their own constituents. If someone knows they are a constituent of a committee member, please let that member know.
Rande Worthen – Chair (R-Lawton) 405-557-7398, rande.worthen@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=64
Gerrid Kendrix – Vice Chair (R-Altus) 405-557-7369, gerrid.kendrix@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=52
Carol Bush (R-Tulsa) 405-557-7359, carol.bush@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=70
Jose Cruz (R-Oklahoma City) 405-557-7397, jose.cruz@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=89
Ross Ford (R-Broken Arrow) 405-557-7347, ross.ford@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=76
Jason Lowe (R-Oklahoma City) 405-557-7367, Jason.lowe@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=97
Stan May (R-Broken Arrow) 405-557-7338, stan.may@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=80
Lonnie Sims (R-Jenks) 405-557-7340, lonnie.sims@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=68
Danny Sterling (R-Tecumseh) 405-557-7349, danny.sterling@okhouse.gov
https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=27
Judd Strom (R-Copan) 405-557-7402, judd.strom@okhouse.gov