Outside Dog — Always keep an eye on your pets when they’re outside! (The Bama Buzz)

There could soon be a new standard of care for outdoor pets in Alabama.

SB361, more commonly known as Beau’s Law, is making its way through the Alabama legislature. Supporters of the bill say an updated standard is needed for the health + wellness of dogs across the state.

The bill currently includes mandates for:

Proper shelter
Adequate food and clean water
Humane outdoor care standards
Ending the use of heavy chains and harmful choke or pinch collars

The Greater Birmingham Humane Society says this is the furthest any dog protection law has advanced in Alabama since 2000.

Keep reading to see what has to happen next for the bill to be signed into law + what you can do to show support.

Beau’s Law

Sen. Garlan Gudger has been the bill’s sponsor and he will present it to the Alabama House Agriculture & Forestry Committee. If it passes committee, it will move to the House Rules Committee which will decide if it gets a vote on the House floor.

“If Rules does not place Beau’s Law on the calendar, it never receives a vote. No explanation. No record. It dies. And dogs will die with it. In the final weeks of the legislative session, many bills compete for limited floor time. That is why this moment matters, and why we need your voice right now.”
Greater Birmingham Humane Society

According to the annual U.S. Animal Protection Laws Rankings Report, Alabama ranked as the second worst state in the country. The report noted several areas of improvement needed for our state including:

General cruelty
Veterinary reporting
Civil enforcement

The new bill is hoping to make improvements in all three of those areas.

“These basic standards will give law enforcement and animal control the tools they need to address neglect more effectively—helping keep dogs safe in their homes and out of already overwhelmed shelters. Most importantly, it will create meaningful change for animals currently living in unacceptable conditions.”
Two by Two Rescue