SENATE BILL REPORT
SSB 6560
As Passed Senate, February 16, 2004
Title: An act relating to animal cruelty.
Brief Description: Concerning animal cruelty.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Parks, Fish & Wildlife (originally sponsored by Senators Oke, Fraser, Swecker, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Jacobsen, Thibaudeau, Fairley and Winsley).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Parks, Fish & Wildlife: 2/2/04, 2/3/04 [DPS].
Passed Senate: 2/16/04, 48-0.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON PARKS, FISH & WILDLIFE
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6560 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Sheahan, Vice Chair; Doumit, Jacobsen, Morton, Spanel and Swecker.
Staff: Vic Moon (786-7469)
Background: The method of using treble hooks covered with rabbit fur to snag coyotes has been used in some states on the east coast. That practice appears to be legal in the state of Washington and does not violate the Fish and Wildlife Code. A dog was caught on one of these baited treble hooks in Olympia in 2003.
Summary of Bill: The animal cruelty statute is amended to provide that the malicious use of a hook in a manner that the hook purposefully pierces the flesh of a bird or mammal constitutes animal cruelty in the first degree.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.
Testimony For: A dog was almost killed by ingesting a hook that was purposely baited to catch coyote. This practice is barbaric and has no place in today's world. This is one of the consequences of I-713; there are likely to be more and more problems until we correct the mistakes of I-713.
Testimony Against: The definition of animal cruelty in the second degree is too vague, and is not needed.
Testified: PRO: Rob Kavanaugh; Ed Owens, Hunters Heritage Council, Cit. for Responsible Wildlife Mgmt.; Steve Pozzanghera, WDFW.
House Amendment(s): A separate violation of the animal cruelty code is created. The unlawful use of a hook is a gross misdemeanor.