NORFOLK
When Debra Griggs saw dogs kept in back yards without drinking water, she needed to do something.
"On a 90-degree August day in Tidewater, that's horrible," she said.
The Norfolk Realtor and animal advocate learned that the problem wasn't with enforcement by animal control officers, but the law.
For the last three years, Griggs has worked with her legislator, Del. Kenny Alexander, D-Norfolk, on bills to change animal welfare standards. Alexander submitted bills that are designated "by request" on her behalf.
"What Kenny did was give me access to the process," Griggs said. "It was pretty much on me to gather the data and get the professionals there to make the case that this was needed."
Of the nearly 2,400 bills introduced this session, about two dozen specify that lawmakers submitted them "by request," according to the Legislative Information System.
Alexander said many bills are submitted by a lawmaker because somebody else asked for the measure, but they're usually about topics the legislator is familiar with.
The "by request" bill, in contrast, is "something that you know nothing about, but you still have to put it in because you are a citizen-legislator," he said.
The designation - which is noted on the bill - "sends a note to my colleagues that I'm not that familiar with it, but my constituent and her advocacy group will be up here to speak on behalf of the bill," Alexander said.
Griggs and other members of Animal Rescue of Tidewater traveled to Richmond at least four times this session to work with state officials and testify before committees.
"By-request" bills have been around for a long time, said Jeff Ryer, an aide to House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, R-Salem.
"I'm not going to tell you that a strong percentage of them make it, but it does start a conversation," Ryer said.
This session, only about six of the citizen-generated bills have passed.
One of them was HB673, the measure Alexander sponsored on Griggs' behalf. The bill changed the law to say that adequate water for animals must be replenished depending on the weather and temperature. Current law says that adequate water had to be replaced at least once every 12 hours.
After some changes, the bill was approved unanimously by the House and Senate. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has signed it into law, which takes effect July 1.
Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax, said "some of the best ideas I've gotten have been from citizens."
Other "by request" bills passed this year included management agreements with Virginia Commonwealth University and the College of William and Mary, as well as changes in regulations for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
But some "by request" bills don't pass muster, Saslaw said.
Among those rejected this year include legislation that would require hunters to wear blaze orange during firearms deer season.
Another failed measure would require retail stores with employee restrooms to allow customers to use those facilities under certain conditions, such as medical need.
Also rejected was a "by request" bill to re-create a state office of accountability.
Jen McCaffery, (757) 446-2627, jen.mccaffery@pilotonline.com
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Dogs are property
Dogs are animals and property! We don't need another LAW dictating what to do with our property! If the dog needs water and you happen to see it, GIVE THEM THE WATER!!!! And then go complain to the owner. Social pressure used to work.
Helping the weak
I get so tired of hearing folks complain about helping animals and not human beings. We are many different people, and we all have our own sources of interest. Some are called to help the homeless, others addicts, others children, others animals. Is there something wrong with spreading it around? Debra worked within the legislative process to make things better for a weak segment of our world. What is wrong with that? Is it really honestly OK to leave an animal tied up outside on a hot day without water?
I can't believe the attacks on Debra's character for trying to do something compassionate. But then again, these boards seem to draw out misanthropes.
Clarification
Hey - I was only commenting on what jpjones said. And since jpjones commented on my comment let me reapond with this - you are not the only voice on cell phones in cars, I'm glad they didn't listen to YOU in that case. Why? Because the issue is bigger - you can't legislate every little detail but you can hold people accountable for their actions. You took my comment out of context. Which doesn't surprise me.
As for the article, I think it's a good one. Just as there are laws protecting our children, there should be ones protecting our animals. Though I will say the animal laws should not mirror those protecting our children - they are animals, not people. With that said - there could be other ways to make people aware of the effect on their animal by leaving them outside. Perhaps THAT is a campaign PETA should take over instead of their ridiculous shenanigans.
It doesn't apply to you contractorva
Just like shelter (doghouse) laws, if the animal can come inside at any time, it doesn't need anything else outside. If you were questioned by an Animal Control officer, you could just explain that the dog has access to the house and the yard at its discretion. This is specifically for animals that are left outside for extended periods of time. There was already a law in place saying they had to have water every 12 hours but in extreme weather, every 12 hours isn't necessarily enough for the animal to stay safe and hydrated. Water freezes when it's very cold and it's consumed much more quickly or evaporates much more quickly when it's very hot. This isn't about addressing a single person in a single neighborhood, it's about a widespread problem.
Drinking Water For The Canines
I have dogs that have access to the entire house, with the exception of the front yard. They also have access to the back yard, which they can, & do enter or leave at will through a dog door. Of course I believe if you have animals you should be obligated to provide food, water, & not force them to withstand the discomforts of Virginia weather. The water is kept inside the house with heat &/or AC on at all times, & is available to all the dogs whenever they want it. The water is changed daily in fact. I hope the laws generated from this bill addresses that situation. Just because water is not in the back yard, does not mean the dogs are thirsty, because at my house, it's simply not the case. The dogs go outside if I'm outside, or to go to the bathroom , bark at cats, other dogs, & thugs. They are very spoiled, & rightfully so. They are a man's most loyal & best friend.
"Smithers, release the hounds!" Mr. Burns (Simpsons)
Hmm....
This is just another example of a self righteous, connected, neighborhood "I want it my way", nazi. Notice that she is married but the 2 have different names. These types have no idea what they are talking about but profess to know better than anyone else how to live. She may have run across what she perceived was an abused animal but wasn't and then rushed to judgement. It was probably someone that she didn't like being in "her" neighborhood....(that dirty enlisted tramp needs to go). These busy body types are never satisfied until "everyone" bows to their ideals or meets their "level" of societal standards. It's a power thing.
Seriously?
I can't believe there are complaints about this. I can only assume the complainers are the type that leave their dog tied to a tree in the dead of summer and don't want to be expected to provide them with water. If your dog was indoors, being cared for properly, this issue wouldn't even apply to you. For the record, Debra heads up a local animal rescue group full of people who are always working to try to place in new homes and avoid the abuse or euthanizing of animals YOU decided you didn't want to be responsible for anymore.
Yet another nanny-state nimcompoop
Once again,the legislature decides that one nosy loon's judgement should be substituted for the judgement of everyone else.Most people know how to care for a pet without 'help' from someone without any real interest in the animal.Since this is a real-estate agent,we can only hope the downturn in the market gives her plenty of time to snoop her way into bankruptcy.Maybe we should think about,oh PETA,for instance,who demanded tougher laws to protect animals while killing hundreds of them in a van.Maybe some guilt over previous actions motivates some people.The point is,fewer people will be willing to take in a homeless animal if they are going to be second-guessed by the neighborhood busy-body.She's going to cause the death of more,not fewer animals.Shame on her.Shame on Kaine for signing this,when he vetoes human self-defense measures passed by the legislature.I guess animals and state attorneys matter more than you or your children to our hapless liberal governor.
That's because
Nobody is voting. Take a look, less than 1 in 5 registered voters even voted in our last election. As long as nobody cares to vote, we are still going to end up with some weasels, some losers, and less than honest persons, and with luck, a good person here and there..
VOTE !!!
Good Job!
Way to go Debra! I know you fought for this. As for other folks out there with lackluster comments about this bill, take a lesson from Debra. She cares enough about her cause that she was willing to invest her time and effort to have laws passed on others behalf.
Goes to show you that if you care enough and are willing to work for your goal it can be reached!
Way to go Debra, and thanks for illustrating how citizens can have an affect on their state their government.
Sick people
Those ridiculing a law that requires water to be provided for a captive animal are truly sick. People who care about the treatment of animals do not care LESS about people. It's compassion for ALL living things, especially those that depend on the people who keep them.
Thank you, tj.
"Sounds like some legislators are smart and don't listen to their constituents." What's left to say about our legislative process when a legislator who ignores his/her constituents is considered "smart?" By all means ..... vote for the candidate who promises NOT to listen to you! The IQ level of the voting gene pool never ceases to amaze me.
Big deal
If you only knew this woman
amazing
Can't you people be happy that neglected animals are finally getting some protection from the law?
This bill is about animal welfare - not children, or cell phone use, or some other cause. If you want something done you should follow this citizen's example - not diminish the good work she has done.
animals
Why is everybody always against any laws protecting pets? What's wrong with trying help abused and neglected animals? Dogs that are chained up or locked in a backyard have no way of getting to water or food. So no, they're aren't capable of fending for themselves in that situation. Just because some out there are trying to help animals doesn't minimize the situation some children and adults are in. Some people have enough heart and soul to be able to care about both, which is more than I can say for some of you.
Thank you!
For so long my friends and I have wondered if feeding our dogs every 11 hours and 30 minutes was adequate. Especially with the warmer weather approaching. Now we have guidance! Does anyone know if there is bill that addresses potty breaks and trips to the park?
Then they did right
Sounds like some legislators are smart and don't listen to their constituents - banning cell phone use while driving isn't a solution. There WILL be something else to distract the same driver that causes problems while on the phone. What's the solution then? Holding people accountable for their actions - they cause an accident, they pay. It's just that simple.
what happened to common sense?
And why is the government still trying to legislate it? YOU CAN'T LEGISLATE COMMON SENSE!!! You either have it or you don't... Sad thing is, this dog/water problem could have been reinforced with the current animal cruelty laws... why make another law that has the same affect as all the others - almost none!
By All Means Let's
Make sure a dog has water while children are homeless, hungry or waiting to be adopted into good homes. I know animals need care but who's looking out for children's rights? For those who would say that dogs can't take care of themselves, I say to you that a dog is much more capable of feeding itself than an infant. Dogs afterall were wild animals at one time, fending for themselves and they survived all these years. Show me an infant who hasn't eaten and survived. Why can't people get involved w/children's right to the extent this lady is w/animals?
Sometimes things look so backwards.
Wonderful!
And I PLEADED with Paula Miller and Ralph Northam to introduce legislation to ban the use of cell phones while driving. Northam ignored me completely and Miller's staff responded with a bunch of obsfuscation, excuses, and gobbledy-gook.