[stylist] OT: PA Bill to protect service animals passes House

[Judith Bron]

This is progress.  However, what happens if a dog is at some open place like 
a park and another dog  wants to playfully spur with the dog?  These animals 
are not vicious, but can cause injury to another animal they think they are 
just playing with.  As a former dog owner I know that tame dogs can 
sometimes cause inadvertent injury to another animal.  Judith
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
To: <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>; "Writer's Division Mailing List" 
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 11:33 AM
Subject: [stylist] OT: PA Bill to protect service animals passes House


> Hi Friends,
> This was posted to the NFB of PA list yesterday.
> Donna
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 8, 2011
>
> Evans' Bill to Help Protect Service Animals Receives House Endorsement
>
> HARRISBURG, PA - Legislation that will help protect service animals from 
> attacks by other animals has won the endorsement of the Pennsylvania House 
> of Representatives, said Rep. John Evans (R-Erie/Crawford), author of the 
> measure.
>
> "Service animals, in particular, are trained not to fight back in an 
> attack with another animal, and as a result, can suffer even greater 
> injuries," said Evans, who has been working to obtain legislative approval 
> for this bill for the past three sessions.
>
> Specifically, House Bill 165 would set criminal and civil penalties on 
> individuals who own or co-own a dog that kills, maims or disfigures the 
> guide dog of an individual who is blind, a hearing dog of an individual 
> who is deaf or audibly impaired, or a service dog of an individual who is 
> physically limited.
>
> If found to be in violation, the offender would face a first-degree 
> misdemeanor and face up to $1,000 and/or jail time of up to two years. In 
> addition to any other fine or penalty, a person convicted under this new 
> law would be required to make reparations for veterinary costs in treating 
> the guide, hearing or service dog and, if necessary, the cost of a 
> replacement dog.
>
> "These service animals reflect a significant investment of the time, 
> training and expense of their owners," Evans said. "For owners of dogs 
> that are prone to attack to recklessly and willfully allow their animals 
> to seriously injure a service dog and then to escape civil and criminal 
> liability is unfair. Our laws must address this type of irresponsible 
> behavior on the part of these pet owners."
>
> Evans pointed out that his legislation is not designed to punish 
> responsible pet owners, but to add teeth to state law so that owners who 
> purposely allow their dogs to run loose will be more accountable for their 
> dog's actions.
>
> The legislation now heads to the state Senate for consideration.
>
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