In a rare showing of bipartisan unity, about half of House Republicans joined nearly all House Democrats in passing a Senate bill imprisoning pet owners should they fail to secure a certain standard of medical treatment for their pets. Critics say the bill will disproportionately impact those too poor to afford certain vet bills.
Senate Bill 1047, sponsored by Republican Senator TJ Shope, issues animal cruelty changes to pet owners who “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly fail to provide medical attention necessary to prevent unreasonable suffering to their animals.”
Should a pet owner violate that requirement, they would be guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor. That entails a sentence of up to six months in prison.
When the bill was introduced originally, this medical care provision wasn’t part of it.
The bill came to be in the wake of the infamous “Chandler House of Horrors” case involving serial animal abuser April McLaughlin. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell supported the animal cruelty bill as originally written, citing McLaughlin’s crimes.
“Anytime that we can further narrow the definition of words like ‘water’ and ‘food’ and ‘shelter,’ and make it more explainable, it’s going to help us be more successful in prosecution,” said Mitchell. “So it’s not just ‘water,’ it’s ‘water that’s fit for consumption,’ as an example, so we’re removing the ambiguity.”
Initially, the bill only made the effort to further define prior statutory requirements for “necessary food, water, or shelter” that pet owners were obligated to provide.
As initially written, the bill only issued the additional stipulations that food be given daily, species-appropriate, and fit for consumption; water be suitable for drinking; and shelter access for all dogs excepting those that reside primarily outdoors. For the latter, outdoor-residing dogs had to be given shelter that has a natural or artificial cover accessible throughout the year; sound structure; a constant state of good repair and maintenance that minimizes disease, infestation, and parasite risk; and enough room to stand, turn around, lie down naturally, and maintain a normal body temperature.
One of the lawmakers to vote against the bill, Representative Alexander Kolodin, characterized the legislation as a criminalization of the poor. The lawmaker characterized the medical treatment provision as both “cruel and insane.”
Kolodin further told the Arizona Daily Independent that the near-unanimous Democratic support proved that his counterparts were also entirely unprincipled.
“The bill is like the cruelest thing I’ve ever read in my entire life. The Democrats really have no principles at all,” said Kolodin.
The @AZHouseDems just voted to criminalize being poor if you have a pet. Cruel and insane! pic.twitter.com/3GW8BkSEBc
— Rep. Alexander Kolodin (@realAlexKolodin) April 3, 2024
Among others to be in opposition to the bill were the ACLU of Arizona and Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice.
Similar to Kolodin, a representative with Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice pointed out during last month’s House committee hearing on the bill that the homeless and poor would be criminalized for not securing certain medical care for their pets.
Shope has disputed that the medical care amendment to his bill criminalizes the poor. The senator indicated during last month’s committee hearing that those unable to afford medical care for their pets should secure assistance from animal rights organizations. Shope didn’t elaborate on what those pet owners could do to avoid criminal charges should they be denied medical treatment or coverage for the full cost of care.