Pet Friendly Laws

2007 saw some pet-friendly state laws passed. Here are just some of the highlights.

Arizona passed a law requiring that engine fluid must include a bittering agent to keep pets and children from drinking it by accident.

Indiana signed a bill that makes killing an animal in order to threaten, intimidate, coerce or terrorize a household family member a class D felony, punishable by up to 3 years in prison and a fine.

Iowa passed a law prohibiting 'internet hunting.' Apparently, hunters were setting up web cameras to spot their targets from a distant location. One click on the computer and they could shoot their target.

Many states also enacted legislation that would require disaster plans for evacuating, transporting and sheltering service animals and household pets.

On the federal level, the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act was signed into law. This provides felony penalties for interstate and foreign animal fighting. Since dog kennels rely on transporting their fighting dogs across state lines, the new law should make it more difficult to participate in the dog fighting trade.