Sportsmen Calls Needed TODAY!
Senate Bill 2035, introduced by Senator John Tassoni (D-Smithfield), would prohibit keeping a dog in a pen, cage, or other shelter for more than 14 total hours in a 24 hour period regardless of the size of the pen or shelter. This would virtually eliminate the commonly accepted practice of keeping dogs in outdoor kennels, regardless of the size of the kennel. In addition, the bill would prohibit tethering a dog for more than 10 total hours in a 24 hour period.
Sportsmen calls are urgently needed! The bill could be voted on by the full Senate as early as tomorrow (Thursday).
“Keeping dogs in outdoor kennels is a commonly accepted practice used by some of the nation’s best, and most respected, dog breeders. This bill will put many responsible dog breeders out of existence,” said Jeremy Rine, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance in-house counsel. “All sportsmen need to call their state senators immediately to oppose this bill.”
Outdoor housing and tethering have long been utilized by hunters, field trialers, and others who take great care of their dogs. Additionally, the bill is so poorly written that it could be interpreted to prohibit keeping a dog in a person’s home for more than 14 total hours a day.
While the bill does include an exemption for sporting dog owners, it would only apply when the dog was actively engaged in hunting, training, or field trialing or while being transported to or from these activities. The exemption does not provide any protection to sporting dog owners while they are at home.
Take Action! Rhode Island sportsmen should immediately contact their state senators and ask them to oppose Senate Bill 2035. Tell them the restrictions imposed by the bill are unnecessary and would create an unwarranted hardship for responsible sporting dog owners. To find your state senator’s contact information, please visit www.sportsmensalliance.org/LAC.
For more information, contact the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance at 614-888-4868 or email info@sportsmensalliance.org.
