SB 604

Abstract

Animal cruelty; companion animals; penalty. Clarifies that animals are not considered companion animals only when actively involved in bona fide medical or scientific experimentation. Current law exempts animals from the definition of companion animal if they are regulated under federal law as research animals.

Animal cruelty; companion animals; penalty. Clarifies that dogs and cats in the possession of a person who or an entity that breeds dogs or cats for sale or transfer to an animal research facility are considered companion animals for the purposes of animal cruelty statutes. The bill also provides that breeding dogs or cats for sale or transfer to a research facility, or breeding dogs or cats within a research facility, does not constitute bona fide scientific or medical experimentation for purposes of animal cruelty statutes. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act and do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2023 Session of the General Assembly.

Animal cruelty; companion animals; penalty.Clarifies that dogs and cats in the possession of a person who oran entity that breeds dogs or cats for sale or transfer to an animalresearch facility are considered companion animals for the purposesof animal cruelty statutes. The bill also provides that breedingdogs or cats for sale or transfer to a research facility, or breedingdogs or cats within a research facility, does not constitute bonafide scientific or medical experimentation for purposes of animalcruelty statutes.