Latest news with #ArizonaHumaneSociety
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hoppy Easter! Bunnies become animal ambassadors at Phoenix Zoo to promote proper pet care
Three new bunnies at the Phoenix Zoo were hopping into a bigger role. After being recently adopted from the Arizona Humane Society, the bunnies — Pepper, Lavender and Benjamin — were being asked to help promote proper pet care by taking on the position of animal ambassadors in training, the zoo announced April 18, just in time for Easter. Through the animal ambassador program, the zoo hoped to inspire and encourage people to care about the planet and nature. For the newly promoted ambassadors in training, they will be tasked with helping to educate the community about rabbits. 'They will be going out on programs, so they get to represent the zoo for people who can't make it to the zoo,' Beckey Mansel of the Phoenix Zoo said in a video posted to Facebook. 'So, they're going to go to schools, they're going to go to libraries, they're going to go out and about and give people opportunities to meet these animals up close.' By connecting the animals to the community, the animal ambassadors can help people understand the species' natural history and see what responsible pet ownership looks like, Shelby Brose, the Humane Society's senior manager of education and outreach, said. Rabbits, according to Brose, are oftentimes misunderstood animals. 'There's a lot of misconceptions about rabbits, and one of the biggest ones is the overall care that they require," Brose said. 'Oftentimes, people think that rabbits are very much a starter pet, something you can set and forget, when in fact their care requirements are more comparable to that of a cat or a dog.' According to the society, a pet rabbit should have a large enclosure so it can nest. It also needs daily exercise and a healthy diet, comprising hay, pellets and leafy greens. Carrots should also be given as treats. Rabbits can make great house pets, are social, and can be trained to do, 'Fun and exciting natural behaviors,' Brose stated. But before bringing a rabbit home, she encouraged families to study up on its needs and care requirements. 'The opportunity for Pepper, Lavender and Benjamin to be Animal Ambassadors and live together at the Phoenix Zoo is a great fit for them," said Brose. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 3 bunnies named Phoenix Zoo ambassadors, just in time for Easter
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arizona Senate passes bill that will crackdown on domestic animal cruelty
The Brief The Arizona Senate is working to protect domesticated animals from abuse. SB 1234 is looking to get tougher on people who mistreat animals by expanding the rules for charging someone with animal cruelty. PHOENIX - Arizona's Senate passed SB 1234, a bill that aims to crackdown on animal cruelty, on March 17. "Senate Republicans are working to protect the health and well-being of Arizona's furry, four-legged friends with legislation broadening the conditions under which animal cruelty can be charged. This legislation, aimed at strengthening protections for innocent pets from harm, moves to the House of Representatives for consideration after passing the Senate with bipartisan support today," said a news release from Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus spokesperson Kim Quintero. Senator Shawnna Bolick sponsored the bill, and says it'll help protect domestic animals from neglect and abuse. If the bill becomes law, it'll add penalties for anyone who intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly fails to prevent the suffering of domestic animals. Anyone convicted of animal cruelty could face a penalty ranging from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 5 felony. What they're saying "This legislation sends a strong message that animal cruelty and neglect will not be tolerated in any form in the State of Arizona," Senator Bolick said. "These innocent animals are voiceless, but when they suffer, it speaks volumes of the type of individuals we're dealing with who are causing this despicable harm. I am strongly committed to reinforcing the importance of maintaining healthy environments for our pets. By expanding the definition of cruelty and neglect, we are making it clear that having a pet is a responsibility, and these animals should not experience any unnecessary suffering or cruelty. Individuals who refuse to provide basic care for these living, breathing, loving creatures should not have access to them. As people, we have a moral obligation to care for all living beings and to hold those accountable who choose to commit heinous acts of abuse. I applaud both my Republican and Democrat colleagues for their support in passing this bill out of the Senate, and I call on the House to do the same, for the sake of the millions of animal lovers, and vulnerable pets, in Arizona." The Arizona Humane Society backs this bill, too. "The Arizona Humane Society strongly endorses SB 1234 and is working in partnership with Senator Bolick, the Arizona Police Association and the Maricopa County Attorney's Office to advance this important legislation," Arizona Humane's website says. Not all animals are protected What about farm animals? Well, farmers took issue with a previous similar bill, so they're not included in this bill. "In response to concerns raised by the agricultural community on a similar bill last year, Senator Bolick sponsored SB 1234, which applies only to domestic animals," Quintero said. What we don't know The news release didn't go into detail about why the agricultural community took issue with the 2024 bill. FOX 10 reached out to learn more about why farm animals wouldn't be protected under this bill. What's next The bill now heads to the Arizona House. If it's passed there, it'll head to Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs' desk for approval or rejection.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Common sense': Advocates say tougher animal cruelty laws will prevent egregious cases in AZ
The Brief Senate Bill 1234 seeks to set parameters to define what adequate food, water and shelter is for companion pets. The bill is in response to increasing animal cruelty cases and aims to prevent future incidents. SB-1234 passed with bipartisan support and passed through the Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee. PHOENIX - State lawmakers want to strengthen animal cruelty laws through Senate Bill 1234, which defines food and water fit for companion pets, and what counts as adequate shelter. Animal advocates say if this had been law in 2023, law enforcement could have acted much sooner in a deadly animal hoarding case and other similar cases. What they're saying Tracey Miiller, Arizona Humane Society's director of field operations, is back at the Capitol for the 2025 legislative session, hoping to fortify animal cruelty laws. "I've been on too many calls for service where domestic animals have algae for water, maggots in their food, and the only way they can seek shelter is to dig a hole under an abandoned car. Currently, those are all legal," said Miiller at the committee hearing on Feb. 19. She says last year, her team handled 16,000 calls for service. More than 10,000 were for animal cruelty over a two-year span and Miiller says there's been a 29% increase in cruelty calls. "It is much more in the news as we have seen, as I've spoken with you on multiple occasions, on things that have just shocked not only our team, but the community as a whole," said Miiller. "We want to see some sort of resolution to this." What we know SB-1234 is a bipartisan bill, sponsored by Republican state senator Shawnna Bolick. If passed, animals must be provided food fit for consumption, and safe, drinkable water. Shelter must be covered and have enough space for the dog to fit in comfortably while keeping a normal body temperature. Last year, FOX 10 investigated Puppy Luv Animal Rescue where Miiller and her team made a handful of site visits after evidence surfaced showing dogs living in their own waste. Phoenix Police did not cite the owners despite what appeared to be city code violations. They're still investigating the case as no charges have been recommended. "If the state law had been in place while we were investigating Puppy Luv, it would clearly show that the water that we found that had urine and feces in it was not suitable for drinking. Unfortunately, the way the state law reads right now, as long as that pet has water, that's all that is necessary," Miiller said. Dig deeper Back in September 2023, AHS seized 55 special needs dogs at the Chandler home of April McLaughlin. Authorities also discovered five dead dogs and McLaughlin's elderly mom living in squalor. "The reason I'm speaking in favor of this bill and asking you to vote positive is the Chandler 55 case of September 22nd was an egregious animal abuse case," said Dr. Steven Hansen, president & CEO of Arizona Humane Society at the committee hearing on Feb. 19. "Veterinarians were not able to adequately document abuse because food, water, and shelter was not clearly defined. So, this bill will allow us to do that." Why you should care Months earlier, Rebecca Arizmendi with Yaqui Animal Rescue had alerted Arizona Humane, wanting to check on the condition of two dogs placed in McLaughlin's rescue. AHS made its first of three visits two weeks before police obtained a search warrant, documenting clusters of flies and an extreme smell of ammonia, but the agency was not allowed inside by McLaughlin. "It is really, really sad and frustrating, because what if those two weeks could have made a difference? Maybe not. Maybe their injuries were already too far gone and too far severe. But we don't know right?" said Arizmendi. McLaughlin is awaiting trial for cases of animal cruelty plus fraud and theft. Arizmendi says strengthening state law to save animals is common sense. "It is very common sense that an animal needs to have suitable drinking water. It is very common sense that an animal needs to be fed every single day. It is common sense that an animal needs to have shelter from the elements," she said. Local perspective According to proponents of SB1234, it will not criminalize poverty or people experiencing homelessness. The bill unanimously passed out of the senate regulatory affairs and government efficiency committee last week. The next step is the committee of the whole.
