Report Title:

Pet Sanctuary; Animal Cruelty

Description:

Allows the counties to establish pet sanctuaries where animals are not destroyed until a permanent home may be found for them.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2620

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to pet sanctuaries.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a growing sentiment that dogs, cats, and other pets should be valued as family members. Every week more humane societies, animal welfare groups, animal control authorities, and concerned citizens are committing themselves to the goal of bringing an end to the killing of domestic animals.

The purpose of this Act is to allow the counties to establish pet sanctuaries where homeless animals are sheltered and not destroyed except in cases of terminal or painful illness.

SECTION 2. Chapter 143, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§143-   Pet sanctuary. The council of each county may establish and maintain pet sanctuaries for homeless domestic animals. The pet sanctuaries shall house the domestic animals until they can be placed in a suitable permanent home unless the animal is suffering from a terminal or painful illness, when compassion demands euthanasia because there is no reasonable alternative."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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