Colo. May OK First Pet Companionship Law

guardian ^ | 2/9/03

[knak]

DENVER (AP) - Several Colorado lawmakers are supporting legislation to elevate the status of cats and dogs from property to companions.

The measure would allow people in Colorado to sue veterinarians and animal abusers and seek damages for ``loss of companionship,'' up to $100,000.

Colorado has more than 2 million dogs and cats in 1.6 million households. Current law classifies them as property, and pet owners can seek only ``fair market value'' in a lawsuit.

If passed, it would be the first such companionship law in the nation, said lawyer Josh Pazour.

A related ordinance, making pet owners guardians so pets will not be seen as property, was recently passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. ``We're really trying to get to the heart of trying to treat animals more humanely and promote guardianship,'' said Matt Gonzalez, the board's president and chief sponsor of the ordinance.

Eshelman said Boulder was the first city to make pet owners guardians, followed by others including Berkeley and West Hollywood in California and the state of Rhode Island.

The Colorado measure is opposed by the state Veterinary Medical Association, which contends the proposed changes would increase the cost of veterinary care.

``Veterinarians will have to pass on to consumers the increased costs of doing businesses, including time spent responding to frivolous lawsuits and additional diagnostic tests that will now be required to practice defensive medicine,'' the association said in a statement to its members.

Colorado already is among 14 states legally recognizing dogs and cats as beneficiaries and allowing people to leave money and property to their pets.

``If you can leave something to your animal, they're obviously a status beyond property,'' said state Rep. Mark Cloer, the chief House sponsor of the companionship measure.

Republican Gov. Bill Owens, who owns a springer spaniel named Hannah, would not say if he would sign such a bill into law if it passes. But he added: ``Hannah is very much in favor'' of the bill.

[bluzcat]

This is taken very seriously by Me. My wife owns and operates a dog grooming shop here in oak grove Missouri. If My state ever passes a silly law like this, then the real small business affected by this would be dog grooming shops. I could see our insurance tripling, and we would have to get a whole new set of papers for customers to sign, in case if something horrible happened. Nothing ever has, of course, but the thought of someone being able to sue for a hundred grand because of thier "feelings" is a scary thought for any dog groomer, pet trainer, kennel operator, etc... Also, even if the animal died of natural causes (you guys would be shocked at the lengths some pet owners will go to to keep thier dog alive, many look like the walking dead) but the owner decided to blame somebody, which they will, the jury will ALWAYS side in the favor of the pet owner, after an emotional speech by some sleazeball lawyer, reminding them all of thier first dog as a child.
Laws such as these are a very slippery slope....and they are on thier way.
By the way, I have 4 dogs and 2 cats myself, and if somebody was to hurt them intentionally, I have my own personal laws to deal with that. :)

[wku man]

Good. I hope you cost him his license. Somone that cruel doesn't need to be around pets at all, much less be responsible for their health.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[F16Fighter]

Scrolled down and back up again to make sure this story wasn't from 'The Onion'...

I swear -- supporting then electing candidates from crack houses and asylums can't help but be an upgrade from these socialist twits who've taken to subverting the halls of our government.

[Kevin Curry]

Where are they going to draw the line--pet skunks? Skinks? Snakes? Lizards? Chickens? Ant colonies?

[Osage Orange]

You wrote:

"police officers regularly shoot dogs"

#################################################################################

Would this be regularly once a week? Or regularly once a month? Or regularly every day? Or bi-weekly? Bi-monthly? Bi-annually?

Could you be more specific..?

[coloradan]

Your post seems to be implying that I wrote "periodically" but I didn't. I wrote "regualarly" meaning, it is not irregular when dogs are shot, it is usual.

[Hoverbug]

Oh goodie! Does that mean I can use the "Family Leave Act" to stay home and take care of my 'companion'? </sarcasm>

[Tall_Texan]

Willing to sponsor legislation to be a computer "guardian"?

Willing to have Computer Welfare Services invade your home to see if you are properly caring for your computer?

Willing to have your computer licensed?

How cruel of you if you leave it chained to the desk all day and all night....

[Hoverbug]

...better than many humans teat their children.

I certainly hope this was a typo. (/humor)

[PatrioticAmerican]

Now what are cops going to shoot?

[PatrioticAmerican]

"By contrast, how does one "back up" a cat?"

Feed it a bad mouse?

[DugwayDuke]

Making pet owners guardians? My Great Dane and English Mastiff laugh at the idea that I'm their guardian. For some strange reason they seem to think that they are the guardians around here.

[Kevin Curry]

Now what are cops going to shoot?

If the dog is attacking you or your child, not a thing. They wouldn't want to harm your sensibilites as the pooch is ripping your kid's face off.

[PatrioticAmerican]

When was the last report of a cop shooting a dog to save a human? Care for link showing a cop shooting a dog for no reason? Haven't been around much, have ya?

[jimkress]

Yeah, 'treat'.

[supercat]

People have recourse through existing laws concerning property and damage to it. If those are not sufficient, then make them more punitive. Do not assign a legal status of 'human' to animals.

Didn't I advocate in post #26 exactly what you're calling for here?

[shhrubbery!]

The measure would allow people in Colorado to sue veterinarians

Oh, great. That's all we need, is for vets' fees to rise as high as doctors' due to skyrocketing malpractice insurance.

[NEWwoman]

What a sad story. My sympathies for your loss.

[shhrubbery!]

SO 15 yeras ago when the vet had my cat drugged up, spread eagle and cut open, he decided to go tend to a Horse with a bad tooth. Cat dropped dead after 4 hours of laying there bleeding.

How did you find out this had happened? Was the vet upfront about it?

[JoeSixPack1]

No. The vet simply stated the cat didn't survive the surgery. One of his assistants pulled me over to the side and told me.

In a town of ranches losing out to tourism, ranchers own the vets. I don't know if this clown is still practicing and I have made my peace with the memory.

Eventually I ran into the vet at a Disney night concert, the vet got a dental bill by my hand, I got subpeoned. The vet didn't prove his case. I walked. My cat didn't. It's an old story now, but explains my sentiments on the above mentioned legislation.

His jaw & eye socket hurt for a short time, but the cat stayed dead.