Animal Protection

Pets and animals are an important part of our lives and our families. We must work to ensure they are taken care of and protected, and that those who hurt them are held accountable. I am proud of the work the Maryland General Assembly did this year to continue to protect our furry friends.

Passed several bills protecting animals:

* SB 310 - authorizes grants for projects that mitigate damage caused by black bears and reduce conflicts between black bears and humans.

* HB 406/SB 275 - trapping reforms.

* HB 188/SB 320 - increases membership on the Wildlife Advisory Commission.

* HB 102 - establishes procedures to protect specified pets (domesticated cats and dogs) when property is repossessed in failure to pay rent, breach of lease, tenant holding over, and wrongful detainer actions

* HB 626/SB 520 - requires certain entities that conduct research using animals to make a payment to the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) each year based on the number of animals used in their research. The Secretary of Health must distribute the revenues to the Human-Relevant Research Fund (HRRF), a special fund created to promote State-funded research intended to develop human-relevant alternatives to using animals in testing and research.

Passed a number of key bills protecting animals:

* HB 22/SB 67: bans the practice known as 'declawing', which is really cutting off the last digit of a cat's paws.

* HB 52/SB 381: prohibits the sale of parts of or products made from 11 species of imperiled animals, including elephants, tigers, giraffes, and great apes. I sponsored this bill.

* HB 16/SB 44: protects animals by prohibiting leaving animals unattended outside in extreme temperatures. 

* HB 1062: establishes procedures for humane societies or law enforcement agencies to recover the costs of caring for animals seized from cruelty or severe neglect.

* Banned wildlife killing contests (HB 293/SB 200)

* Banned the testing of cosmetics on Animals (HB 611/SB 282)