system: You are Avrama Gingold, a caller on a 1990s BBS posting in the Dogs message echo. Write like a real BBS user of the era — plain, direct, in your own voice, no modern polish.

user: You are replying to All about "Legislative update--other".

They wrote:
A> LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (AUGUST)    OTHER LEGISLATION
A>
A> MASSACHUSETTS: WORCESTER has passsed a VERY restrictive ordinance
A> that prevents people from walking their dogs in any city park or
A> on ANY city street in the downtown area.  The Canine Legislation
A> department is waiting to receive a copy of the new ordinance,
A> and will be working with area fanciers and the MassFed to try
A> and improve the situation.  [Question: what are people who
A> live in the downtown area supposed to do: carry their dogs?]
A>
A> NEVADA: Senate Bill 310 became law on 7/16/97.  The bill prohibits
A> spca's, shelters, and other temporary shelters from releasing
A> certain animals for adoption unless surgically sterilized.  An
A> agreement for surgical sterilization is to be required upon
A> release of any animal to a new owner, the agreement to include
A> a clause that upon failure to comply, the new owner may be
A> required to return the pet to the releasing agency upon five
A> days written notice.
A>
A> NEW JERSEY:  Assembly Bill 287 has passed out of the Assembly
A> Committee on Environment, Scient, and Technology.  It requires
A> "local inspections of kennels, pet shops, shelters, and pounds
A> by certified animal control officers and local health officers
A> and requires training therefor."  A kennel is defined as any
A> establishment where the business of boarding, selling, or
A> breeding dogs for sale is conducted.
A>
A> NJ Assembly Bill 482 passed both houses.  It extends the authority
A> of and requires additional training for animal control officers.
A> Gov. Whitman has until the end of the summer to pass it.
A>
A> NJ Senate Bill 118, concerning the reorganization of the NJSPCA,
A>  includes a provision that makes it illegal to debark a dog
A>  unless determined medically necessary by a licensed veterin-
A>  arian.  It has passed the Senate and is in committee in the
A>  Assembly.
A>
A> NJ Senate Bill 807 provides immunity from civil liabilities
A> for persons performing animal rescue and authorizes the
A> formulation of emergency animal rescue services.  Rescue
A> refers to natural disasters or accidents.
A>
A> NEW YORK STATE:  Senate Bill 72, making the theft of dogs and
A> cats a crime of grand larceny in the fourth degree (in certain
A> instances), passed the Senate and is in Assembly committee.
A>
A> OHIO: Senate Bill 26, that amended the code to exclude the
A> care and raising of dogs and cats from the definition of
A> "agriculture" in the township zoning laws, was introduced by
A> Sen. White to prevent a shelter from opening in his district.
A> It was defeated by the full House by a vote of 43-54 on 6/18/97.
A> The House representative has not yet filed to have the bill
A> reconsidered.
A>
A>              FEDERAL NOTES
A>
A> More DDAL PETITION COMMENTS:  USDA is -still- opening and
A> logging in written comments on the petition for rulemaking
A> filed by the Doris Day Animal League seeking changes in
A> USDA's Animal Welfare regulations.  USDA has received more
A> than -36,000- comments.  There are no further developments
A> regarding the next steps.  USDA has until November to
A> analyze and respond to the comments.
A>
A> FEDERAL HOUSING LEGISLATION UPDATE: The Senate recessed for
A> the month of August without acting on S.462, but the
A> housing subcommittee expects action "soon" after Labor
A> Day.  Section 124 of S. 462 assures residents of public
A> and publicly assisted housing the opportunity to keep
A> common household pets.  [See posting on dangerous dog
A> laws and response in NYC for why section 124 is needed.]
A>
A> The delay in acting on the legislation has given the housing
A> managers' lobbyists time to address their most important
A> issues and turn their attention to lesser issues such as
A> Section 124.  The NEW YORK TIMES editorialized against
A> Section 124 in July [sob--my letter was not printed :-) ]
A> and opposition lobbying has begun on Capitol Hill.  This
A> increases the chances that someone will propose an amend-
A> ment to scale back or eliminate Section 124 when Senate
A> floor consideration of the bill finally occurs.  This means
A> we should redouble our efforts to counteract any amendments.
A>
A> During the August recess, all Senators will be spending time
A> back home and many of them will be holding office hours and
A> town meetings.  THIS IS A GREAT TIME FOR GRASS ROOTS
A> LOBBYING.  Call your Senator's home office and find out
A> when s/he will be in the area.  ASK YOUR SENATORS TO
A> SUPPORT SECTION 124 OF S.462, AND TO OPPOSE ANY AMENDMENTS
A> TO LIMIT OR DELETE THIS PROVISION.   (Remind your Senator
A> that you vote!)
A>
A> Avrama & Shomer
A> avrama@moondog.com
A>
A> ... nfx v2.7 [C0000] Love creates hostages to fortune.
A>
A> ... nfx v2.7 [C0000] People have all the theories;dogs have all the facts.
A>

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assistant: ... nfx v2.7 [C0000] Responsible dog ownership or no ownership!