MISSOURI LEGISLATURE
OUT OF SESSION
ALL ANIMALS ARE SAFE!
We are elated to announce that the animals have prevailed against an all-out assault at the state capitol. In the closing days of the session there was an onslaught of harmful bills intended to undermine our animal welfare laws. House leadership had indicated that the Legislature was only going to work on the budget and COVID-19 related issues in the final two weeks of the Session. Instead, House members took advantage of the distraction of the pandemic and amended numerous bills with language intended to remove vital protections for animals.

These attacks against our animal cruelty laws were done at the behest of the puppy mill industry, agricultural trade groups, and other animal industries who sought to protect the worst actors in their respective trade groups. 

Fortunately, the animals triumphed due to your letters, emails, and phone calls to your state senators.

All of you who reached out to your state senator can feel very proud because you truly made a difference for every animal in the state.  

These are two of the bills that posed the greatest threat to the animals. These bills were amended onto numerous other pieces of legislation that we were able to defeat with your help. 

HB 2111 sought to eliminate a civil disposition trial for abused and neglected animals. HB 2111 would have resulted in abused and neglected animals being left in the hands of their abusers until a criminal trial. This legislation was sought by the Missouri Pet Breeders Association (MPBA). It is understandable that the MPBA would vehemently oppose a process that could remove animals from abusive and neglectful situations.  The president of the MPBA, Kevin Beauchamp, has been fined $6,000 by USDA and has had his federal license suspended in addition to having a “cease and desist” order issued against him for a continual failure to provide care to sick and injured dogs .
DEFEATED HB 2111
MPBA President Kevin Beauchamp and HB 2111 sponsor, Rep. Sonya Anderson

HB 1752 – promotes animal cruelty by prohibiting counties and municipalities from banning animal events that are inherently cruel such as hog-dog contests, horse tripping, bloodless bullfights or any animal event regardless of the potential cruelty inflicted upon the animals. HB 1752 also sought to make it difficult to regulate the care of all animals such as dog breeders and farm animals in addition to carriage horses. HB 1752 would also jeopardize zoning ordinances on dog breeders, farm animals, and exotic animals. This legislation would have even prohibited municipalities and counties from banning cruel animal activities that are in direct violation of state law such as cockfighting and bullfighting.
DEFEATED HB 1752 
Without your help, these and other harmful bills would most definitely have
passed into law and the animals would have paid a horrendous price.    
 
You truly made a difference for every animal in the state!
 
PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT OF THE ALLIANCE AND CONTRIBUTE TODAY TO HELP US CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS
TO HELP THE ANIMALS!  
THANK YOU!