Arizona legislative committee meets on animal care standards – Fronteras: The Changing America Desk

Maricopa Animal Care and Control

A dog at a Maricopa County Animal Care and Control shelter.

An Arizona legislative study committee held a meeting Monday, Nov. 13, looking into animal control facility standards, or lack thereof.

Dr. Nancy Bradley, who's worked for years with Maricopa County shelter and Arizona Humane Society, testified that there are no licensed shelters in Arizona.

"If theres any oversight from the Veterinary Examining Board thats going to be only if its a larger shelter, like say Maricopa County or Humane Society, where they actually have veterinary hospitals."

She says dog euthanasia is increasing. City and county shelters also aren't required to have a vet on staff, and overcrowding has led to disease and mass euthanasia.

The meeting comes amid two high profile animal cases in Arizona.

Chandler officialsare close to expanding the citys animal-cruelty ordinance to include the crime of animal hoarding. The update would make it illegal to keep any number of animals at such quantities and circumstances that the health and welfare of any animal or person is harmed. The Chandler City Council is expected to vote on a final adoption of the ordinance next month.

In September, Chandler police said they rescued a senior and 55 dogs from filthy conditions at one womans home. The case against her is ongoing.

San Diego Humane Society

Several small animals from the San Diego Humane Society are prepared to be transported to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona in Tucson.

In August, the San Diego Humane Society transferred 300 small pets to their Southern Arizona counterparts. Those animals were later sent to an individual whose business includes selling live and frozen animals for reptile feed. While several animals were eventually returned, most were not and remained missing.

The Humane Society of Southern Arizona fired its CEO last month and also accepted the resignation of its chief operating officer.

Its board reportedly did not learn of the reptile farm owner's involvement until weeks after the animal transfer.

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Arizona legislative committee meets on animal care standards - Fronteras: The Changing America Desk