This Week in Animal Protection

News and headlines for the week of June 21, 2021

“Wherever we were, he wanted to be, and everything was instantly better when he was next to us.” The First Lady announces that Champ, the Co-First Dog of the United States, has died.

Champ, the co-First Dog of the United States, has died. A new Nevada law prohibits insurance companies from discriminating based on the alleged “breed” of their dog. A similar measure is awaiting the governor’s signature in New York. Texas’ governor vetoes a bill to protect unsheltered dogs on chains. The Broward County, FL, pound is violating the First Amendment rights of volunteers. Orange County, FL, has passed a ban on the retail sale of commercially-bred dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores. ASPCA negligence, corruption, and indifference led to the death of a little dog named Nyla and the emotional torment of Angel Hueca, the young woman who rescued her. And a New Jersey bill to mandate fencing, which would have increased abandonment and social isolation for dogs, is defeated thanks to “massive public opposition.”

These are some of the stories making headlines this week in animal protection:

• Champ, the co-First Dog of the United States, has died. In a tribute from the First Lady, it is clear he was deeply loved and will be sorely missed. Major, the Bidens’ other dog, is now FDOTUS. Although Major is the first shelter-adopted pup to be First Dog, he is not the first rescue to occupy the position.

• Dog lovers of Nevada can now have peace of mind under legislation that was recently signed into law prohibiting insurance companies from discriminating based on the alleged “breed” of their dog. Similarly legislation in New York is awaiting the Governor’s signature.

• Texas temperatures reached 99 degrees this week, but a new law that would have offered dogs protection by requiring shelter, shade, and abolishing restraint by short, heavy chains that do not permit the dog to protect herself was vetoed by the Governor.

• The Broward County, FL, pound is violating the First Amendment rights of volunteers by enacting a gag order preventing exposure of inhumane conditions. Policies like this, though illegal, are being promoted to “shelters” by Best Friends Animal Society.

• Orange County, FL, has passed a ban on the retail sale of commercially-bred dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores. Doing so encourages people to adopt and rescue; educates people about dog, cat, and rabbit abuse in mills; and stops that abuse. 

• “They don’t feel the way most of us feel about animals.” ASPCA negligence, corruption, and indifference led to the death of a little dog named Nyla and the emotional torment of Angel Hueca, the young woman who rescued her.

And finally, after a child was killed by a dog kept socially isolated in a fenced backyard — as one report noted, the dog was “cooped up day and night in his owner’s backyard”; “kept outdoors all the time, even in frigid temperatures and driving snow… [where] Young boys would occasionally taunt him, even throwing stones” — a New Jersey legislator introduced legislation to crack down on dogs who bite. His answer? Require more dogs to be kept in fenced yards. In addition to ensuring that people of limited means relinquish their dogs if they cannot afford to build a fence, the proposed law would have taken New Jersey further, not closer, to increasing public safety. Thankfully, “massive public opposition” derailed the legislation, with the Assembly tabling a floor vote on the measure.