Bill > H5025

This bill amends existing animal abandonment laws to clarify that trapping, spaying or neutering, and releasing unowned feral or free-roaming cats is not considered abandonment, provided two specific conditions are met: (1) any medical or surgical procedures are performed by a licensed veterinarian, and (2) the cats are returned to the location where they were originally trapped. The bill essentially provides legal protection for individuals and organizations engaging in trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs, which are commonly used to humanely manage feral cat populations by preventing reproduction while avoiding euthanasia. By explicitly stating that such actions do not constitute abandonment, the bill removes potential legal barriers that might discourage people from participating in these population control efforts. The bill will take effect immediately upon passage, and it modifies the existing section of law dealing with animal abandonment in the state's general laws.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Health and Social Services, Justice

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