Animal cruelty exception set for herding dogs

State senators have voted to limit the ability of cities and counties to enact animal cruelty regulations affecting dogs used in herding livestock. The preliminary approval came over objections from Sen. Paula Aboud, D-Tucson. She said the exception is so broad it would allow a rancher to impose any punishment on an animal, "even to the point of killing their dog' and being shielded by this legislation. But Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, said Aboud is misreading the measure. He acknowledged that HB2780 would bar local cruelty regulations involving activities "directly related to the business of shepherding or herding livestock. But Gould said that bar would apply if "the activity is necessary for the safety of a human, the dog or livestock." And Gould said it would not protect the activities like that of one Southern Arizona rancher who had left his dogs outside for several days -- and whose complaint led to this change in the law. When the owner complained to Rep. Peggy Judd, R-Willcox, she crafted legislation to create an exemption from both state and local laws for "any activity involving the possession and training, exhibition or use of a dog in the otherwise lawful pursuit of ranching or farming work activities." When that proved too broad -- and Judd admitted she had not been given all the details of what had been involved -- the measure was altered for the narrower exception...more