Bill Addressing Adequate Shelter for Animals - Proposed Legislation

VT House Judiciary Members 2015-2016

Maxine Grad                        496-7667                        Moretown

Willem Jewett                388-0320                        Ripton

Thomas Burditt                438-0031                        West Rutland

Charles Conquest                757-3803                        Wells River

William Frank                899-3136                        Underhill

Martin LaLonde                863-3086                        So. Burlington

Marcia Martel                748-9134                        Waterford

Betty Nuovo                        388-2024                        Middlebury

Barbara Rachelson                861-2563                        Burlington

Vicki Strong                        754-2790                        Irasburg

Gary Viens                        323-2183                        Newport

(Kate Wilson                        828-2257                        Committee Assistant)       

Please ask the committee to take up the bill that addresses dog sheltering currently before their committee and to let you know when it will be discussed. 

We are proposing that the language be added to the bill that follows.

Vermont Legislative Council 
115 State Street • Montpelier, VT 05633-5301 • (802) 828-2231 • Fax: (802) 828-2424 

MEMORANDUM 

To:        Rep. Viens     Date:        January 28, 2015 
Subject:        Adequate Shelter for Animals 

VT LEG #305171 v.1 
(dr req 15-697 — draft 1.1)        
1/28/2015 - MUG - 12:34 PM 

1        Introduced by Representative Viens of Newport City 
2        Referred to Committee on 
3        Date: 
4        Subject: Crimes; animal cruelty; shelter 
5        Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to amend the 
6        requirements for the sheltering of dogs. 
7        An act relating to adequate shelter for dogs housed outdoors 
8        It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 
9        Sec. 1. 13 V.S.A. § 365 is amended to read: 
10        § 365. SHELTER OF ANIMALS 
11        (a) All livestock and animals which that are to be predominantly 
12        maintained out-of-doors must be provided with adequate shelter to prevent 
13        STRIKE: direct exposure to the elements. 
14        (b) STRIKE Adequate natural shelter, or a three-sided, roofed building in good repair with 
15        exposure out of the prevailing wind and of sufficient size to adequately 
16        accommodate all livestock maintained out-of-doors shall be provided. The 
17        building opening size and height must, at a minimum, extend one foot above 
18        the withers of the largest animal housed and must be maintained at that level 
19        even with manure and litter build-up. The animals will be kept free from entanglement with         equipment and exposed to other hazardous situations. Nothing in this section shall control 
20        dairy herd housing facilities, either loose housing, comfort stall or stanchion 
        ties, or other housing under control of the department of agriculture, food and 
        markets Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. STRIKE: this section shall not 
        apply to any accepted housing or grazing practices for any livestock industry. 
        (c)(1) A dog, whether STRIKE:  chained REPLACE with: tethered or penned, shall be         provided living space no less than three feet by four feet for 25 pound and smaller dogs, four         feet by four feet for 26-35 pound dogs, four feet by five feet for 36-50 pound dogs, 
        five feet by five feet for 51-99 pound dogs, and six feet by five feet for 100 pound and larger         dogs. 
        (2) The specifications required by subdivision (c)(1) of this section shall 
        apply to each dog, regardless of whether the dog is housed individually or with 
        other animals. 
        (d) A dog or cat confined in a living space shall be permitted outside the 
        cage, crate, or structure for STRIKE:  an opportunity of at least  ADD: two hours of daily 
        exercise, unless otherwise modified or restricted by a licensed veterinarian. 
        Separate space for exercise is not required if an animal's living space is at least 
        three times larger than the minimum requirements set forth in subdivision 
        (c)(1) of this section. 
        (e) A dog maintained out-of-doors must shall be provided with suitable 
        housing or shelter that assures ensures that the dog is protected from wind and 
        draft, and from excessive sun, rain, and other environmental hazards 
        throughout the year. The housing or shelter shall be enclosed and fully insulated with covered         blue board with  an "R" value of at least 13. The portal shall be of a sufficient size to allow the         dog unimpeded passage into and out of the structure. The portal shall be constructed and         maintained with a secure baffle such as "freezer doors" or other means of keeping wind,         precipitation, and the elements out of the interior. 

        The dog houses shall be elevated to prevent run off from melting snow or rain from entering the         shelter at all times.
        STRIKE: Inadequate shelter may be indicated by the shivering of the dog due to cold 
        weather for a continuous period of 10 minutes or by symptoms of frostbite or 
        hypothermia. 
        The shelter shall be constructed of insulating material that assures that the ambient temperature         of the inside of the dog house or the outside body temperature of the dog, as measured by a         thermal laser device, shall be no less than 55 degrees Fahrenheit and no more than 80 degrees         Fahrenheit.   STRIKE: of 0.9 or greater (re "R" Value)
        The shelter shall contain clean, straw bedding material of sufficient quantity to assure that the         dog can, at all times, fully burrow into the  loose bedding in order to retain the dog's normal         body heat to allow the dog to meet the minimum requirements of this statute.
        A plastic or metal barrel shall not be considered as adequate shelter for a dog.
        A chain shall not be used as a tether.
        
        (f) A dog STRIKE: chained: REPLACE with "tether" to a shelter shall be on a tether 
        STRIKE: chain at least five times the length of the dog as measured from the tip of its nose to         the base of its tail, and shall allow the dog unobstructed access to the shelter. The STRIKE:         chain or tether shall be attached to both the dog and the anchor using swivels or similar devices         that prevent the STRIKE: chain or tether from becoming entangled or twisted. The  STRIKE:         chain or tether shall be attached to a well-fitted collar or harness on the dog. 

          A dog shall not be tethered outside unattended for a period of more than 5 hours in a 24-        hour         period.
        
        (i) Failure to comply with this section shall be a violation of subdivision 
        352(3) or (4) of this title. Law enforcement shall issue a citation for each violation for each         animal of this section if not brought into compliance with the statute within 24 hours.
        (j) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, an animal may be 
        sheltered, STRIKE: chained, confined, or maintained out-of-doors if doing so is directed 
        by a licensed veterinarian or is in accordance with accepted agricultural or 
        veterinarian practices. 
1        Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE 
2        This act shall take effect on July 1, 2015. 

VT LEG #304998 v.                                CT law prohibits the use of chains