Please email the above mentioned bills to me.

I ask that you oppose Substitute HB 53. The change requiring that a prohibition on future animal ownership by the owner of zoo animals can be imposed only if there is a history of convictions for animal cruelty or abandonment is step backward in the Commonwealth's commitment to humane care of animals and ties the hands of the courts in holding abusers accountable for their actions. It cannot be denied that there have been--and are likely to be in the future--cruelty crimes so particularly heinous that they merit an immediate ban on animal ownership.. Such a ban on owning animals in the future should not be off the table if the current circumstances warrant, regardless of past actions. In fact that limitation should also be removed with respect to agricultural animals. Residents of Virginia expect the General Assembly to strengthen protections for animals not weaken them.

The Humane Society of the United States strongly opposes HB 53, which seeks to change the requirements for seizure and impoundment of zoo animals to that of agricultural animals. This change is unnecessary and dangerous. The HSUS monitors U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection reports for a variety of animal exhibitors, including zoos. It is not uncommon for the USDA to cite these facilities for failure to provide animals with adequate veterinary care, failure to have appropriate public safety barriers, poor sanitation, and failure to have knowledgeable and experienced employees present during periods of public contact. But it is extremely rare for the USDA to revoke the license of chronic violators and citations and fines do not necessarily translate into improvements in animal care. And yet, HB 53 would seek to provide even fewer protections for zoo animals. Our neglect statute would no longer apply to animals kept at a zoo, despite the fact that captive wildlife and other exotic animals require specialized care. HB 53 would also remove the discretion of our courts to prevent ownership of these animals by only allowing a prohibition if there's evidence of a "pattern" (i.e. repeated behavior) of abuse or cruelty. There is no legitimate reason to alter Virginia law in this way. We urge the committee to oppose HB 53. Thank you for giving these comments your consideration.

I OPPOSE HB 53 and 1301. I SUPPORT HB 141, 508, 523, 715, 1266, and 1350. I don't have a stance on HB 351 or 1267, but I do feel it necessary to point out that a zero-emissions vehicle still drives (no pun intended) horrifically unsustainable land use patters by perpetuating suburban sprawl and can still kill a human being if it collides at 35 miles per hour. There is entirely too much emphasis on electric cars when we need to be shifting our main method of getting around away from the car in favor of walking, cycling, rolling, bussing, and rail.

Please DO NOT support this bill

I Strongly oppose HB53, Animals need our protection, not people who don't know how to properly care for them and don't have their best interests at heart.

This bill makes it harder to protect animals being abused and makes it easier for their abusers to evade justice. It restricts law enforcements' ability to prosecute cruelty cases and allows offenders to destroy evidence. Delegate Campbell attempts to introduce this bill every year and its a blatant kickback to the Natural Bridge Zoo in Rockbridge, a notoriously cruel place with a long history of documented abuse.

On behalf of the Richmond SPCA, I ask members of the subcommittee not to report HB53. We oppose this bill because it loosens protections for zoo animals, many of whom are exotic and not native to this climate. HB53 seeks to change the requirements for seizure and impoundment of zoo animals to that of agricultural animals, which is not appropriate. Zoo animals must be afforded the protections given to companion animals in code for adequate shelter, food, water, space, exercise, enrichment and emergency veterinary care when needed. You will hear from a group advocating for "ownership" rights for animals, but we remind you that while animals are property under the law, a living creature is unlike other possessions. Animals feel pain and when their suffering is at risk, a higher standard must apply so that law enforcement has appropriate tools to protect their wellbeing.

As someone who has committed her life to wildlife conservation, education and animal welfare, I am asking that the committee support HB53. Currently in the Commonwealth the animals that are known, care for and loved by me, my staff and team of veterinarians are 1. Not recognized by the state as having their own unique needs, 2. Not defined as an industry (like agriculture), and 3. Not protected from unconstitutional and inhumane confiscation or even euthanasia - as the Virginia Animal law unit and animal control officers have demonstrated they are willing to perform during previous zoo raids -and those involving household pets. All zoos open to the public in the Commonwealth of Virginia are required to be licensed and permitted by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources as well as the United States Department of Agriculture -under the animal welfare act. Roer’s Zoofari has been in good standing with both of the agencies, as well as the United States Fish and Wildlife, who permit us to hold a migratory bird permit. Additionally, we are accredited by the Zoological Association of America and have recently been certified by American Humane. We clearly are committed to exceptional animal welfare and there is existing infrastructure in place for proper oversight. HB53 ensures that these measures are considered and that the people providing oversight are included in due process when there is evidence of animal abuse. Without HB53 the animals in our care are at risk of being pulled from the people they know and trust, moved out of state, or even euthanized at the hands of animal control police officers under the direction of the animal law unit or other state agencies that, frankly wouldn’t know an Anoa (dwarf water buffalo) from and Anole (small lizard). All animals in Virginia deserve to have their day in court and be represented by their veterinarians, owners, caretakers, zookeepers, and inspectors BEFORE they are confiscated under the PRE-CRIME language that is written into the existing law. I thank you for your consideration and again, ask that you support this measure in the name of animal welfare. Respectfully, Vanessa Roer

Please DO NOT support this bill - on behalf of our donors, volunteers and supporters of the Humane Society of Fairfax County, we do not want to weaken any attempt by the authorities to identify animal abuse.

This bill would take dangerous steps backward in Virginia’s efforts to protect animals from cruelty and abuse. It makes it harder for law enforcement officials to seek a warrant when they suspect abuse, allows offenders to destroy evidence by allowing a notice and waiting period even when there is a direct and immediate threat to a zoo animal, makes it more difficult to remove animals from dangerous situations, and makes it harder for prosecutors to do their jobs. We urge you to OPPOSE this bill.

I oppose HB 53. HB 53 is designed to hamper enforcement of Virginia’s animal-protection laws. Raising the standard for obtaining a search warrant to investigate animal cruelty violations from reasonable cause to probable cause, does not do anything to protect citizen's rights, and infringes on animals' rights. Forcing law enforcement to delay seizure of animals facing a direct and immediate threat if they are held in a zoo provides special treatment to zoo owners who have done nothing to earn the right of caring for those animals. It should not remove officers’ ability to obtain a search warrant if a cruelty law is “about to be” violated. If enacted, these changes will lead to animals’ suffering and death, and I oppose that.

HB 53 will make it so much harder for law enforcement officers to do their jobs and enforce the law. It will cause more suffering for animals. This is why I oppose this bill and I hope you vote against it.

I urge support of HB 1029, the greatest threat to wildlife is humans, esp autos. I support HB 1061, HB 1350, HB 255, HB 523, we do not need animal research in the form of dogs cats or other larger animals. If Pigs are used (because of their hearts) they should be treated humanely. I am totally for HB 1175, 1176, HB725. Trapping or snaring animals, esp with a steel trap is vicious and cruel. They should be banned. No civilized country does this. Zoos and Petting zoos (HB53) should be prohibited. There is no need for this and exotic animals should be left alone. Besides if someone wants to see an animal, they can go to the internet. I support HB467, owners need to be held responsible. HB1330, why are all dogs and cats not required to be chipped, they should be. thank you regards Gerald Bowman

I am writing in support of prohibiting snares and steel jawed traps. This method of capture is cruel and non-target animals are too frequently victims. Additionally, I whole heartedly support the banning of fur bearing killing contests. These contests are not scientifically backed in helping reduce numbers, especially in coyotes where the opposite effect can be seen. They are cruel, needless, and serve only to perpetuate misinformed prejudices.

I am Alice Harrington, Legislative Liaison, for the VA Federation of Dog Clubs and Breeders (VFDCB). We were formed in 1971 and represent small purebred dog breeders commonly called “hobby breeders” or “preservation breeders.” WE SUPPORT THE CHANGES BEING SOUGHT BY HB 53. This bill seeks to increase the level of proof required before a person can get a warrant for suspected animal cruelty from the current standard of “reasonable cause” to the more robust requirement of “probable cause.” This change is needed to preserve the rights of all animal owners from the frequent over-zealous, manipulative, and agenda-driven actions of various law enforcement officers and prosecutors. What are some of these actions? 1) Focus on owners that are going through hard times – sickness, divorce, loss of job, death of a family member that helped with the animal program, financial difficulties, etc. - because they are vulnerable. 2) Have a special prosecutor manage the case including bringing in her own judge to preside over the hearings and trial. 3) Use the overly broad Virginia definition of “emergency veterinary care” to charge an owner with animal cruelty for a fairly minor condition (such as dental care) that is already being tended to by the owner’s veterinarian. 4) In a seizure, take ALL the animals (or at least all the valuable ones) whether they are in danger or not. The owner will be charged a daily fee for the maintenance of the seized animals. The higher the fees (usually thousands of dollars) the more likely the owner will be to sign over the animals to avoid bankruptcy. Often an owner gives up because they cannot afford the costs of preserving their ownership rights. 5) Ignore the unique needs of animals being seized from owners of zoos. These are frequently exotic animals that require specialized care. These animals suffer and sometimes die under the care of those who are inexperienced in their routine daily and veterinary requirements. The irony of all this is that it is not necessary to contrive animal cruelty cases – there is plenty of real cruelty out there that needs to be addressed. Please VOTE IN FAVOR OF HB 53 to protect the rights of animal owners in the Commonwealth.

Dear Delegates, please oppose HB 53 as it threatens the safety of animals in zoos and petting zoos. This is a huge step backwards in terms of animal protection and weakens the enforcement of our animal cruelty laws. Also, it potentially allows offenders to destroy evidence by allowing a notice and waiting period when there is a direct and immediate threat to a zoo animal.

I am writing in support of stricter guidelines for obtaining a search warrant or seizure of animals based on verifiable evidence of neglect or cruelty. Thank you for your consideration

I oppose this legislation. The standard for rescuing suffering animals from their abusers should be the same across all facilities. Carving out a different standard based on how the animals are used is arbitrary and serves their abusers, not animals. Please kill this bill (again). Thank your for your service to our Commonwealth and your time.

Please do NOT support HB 53; this bill will only weaken laws protecting animals from cruelty, especially animals who might need our help at zoos. We need to support bills that give law enforcement the power to protect animals, granting them the ability to seize animals immediately and offer them the lifesaving care they deserve. This bill is supporting roadside zoos which cage animals in horrible conditions depriving them of everything that comes natural to them and basic care they can't get on their own since they are prisoned at these establishments. Please do the right thing for your constituents and animals but voting NO to HB 53. Thank you!

I oppose HB 53. HB 53 is the latest version of legislation introduced to weaken Virginia’s laws protecting animals from cruelty after similar legislation has repeatedly failed. It would grant special treatment to “zoos” to prolong the abuse of animals there, and it would limit law enforcement officers’ ability to obtain search warrants, work with qualified personnel, prevent animals’ suffering, and swiftly deliver lifesaving care by seizing animals. HB 53 is designed to hamper enforcement of Virginia’s animal-protection laws. It raises the standard for obtaining a search warrant to investigate animal cruelty violations from reasonable cause to probable cause; it forces law enforcement to delay seizure of animals facing a direct and immediate threat if they are held in a zoo; it prevents the appointment of humane investigators who reside outside of the Commonwealth, which may especially affect border jurisdictions; and it removes officers’ ability to obtain a search warrant if a cruelty law is “about to be” violated. If enacted, these changes will lead to animals’ suffering and death. Virginians like me and my family are interested in animal protection, not animal exploitation. The legislature should not cater to a tiny group of roadside zoo owners who perceive animal-protection laws as a threat. Thank you.

I strongly oppose HB 53. HB 53 is the latest version of legislation introduced to weaken Virginia’s laws protecting animals from cruelty after similar legislation has repeatedly failed. Legislation like this asks us to step back in time and disregard progress that's been made for animals. HB 53 would grant special treatment to “zoos” to prolong the abuse of animals there, and it would limit law enforcement officers’ ability to obtain search warrants, work with qualified personnel, prevent animals’ suffering, and swiftly deliver lifesaving care by seizing animals.

I oppose HB 53 because it hinders the ability of law-enforcement in Virginia to protect animals from cruelty and abuse. This Bill is designed to protect offenders by allowing them the opportunity to destroy evidence and make it more difficult to remove animals from dangerous situations. We should be making it easier, not harder for law-enforcement officials to protect animals in Virginia regardless of whether they are companion animals living in a zoo. Animals are sentient beings and they deserve our protection, care and support.

Hello, Please do not vote yes on HB 53. HB 53 is designed to hamper enforcement of Virginia’s animal-protection laws. It raises the standard for obtaining a search warrant to investigate animal cruelty violations from reasonable cause to probable cause; it forces law enforcement to delay seizure of animals facing a direct and immediate threat if they are held in a zoo; it prevents the appointment of humane investigators who reside outside of the Commonwealth, which may especially affect border jurisdictions; and it removes officers’ ability to obtain a search warrant if a cruelty law is “about to be” violated. If enacted, these changes will lead to animals’ suffering and death.

On behalf of our over 100 affiliated clubs in Virginia, the American Kennel Club (AKC), writes to voice our support of the section of HB 53 that raises from the current standard of "reasonable cause" to one based on a "probable cause" that cruelty laws are being violated for the purposes of obtaining a search warrant. AKC believes that no animals should be left in conditions where their health and safety is at risk. However, being able to obtain a search warrant and possibly seizing a companion animal should be based on facts and a strict standard and not presumptions and a reasonable standard.

Please oppose HB 53. This bill would make it more difficult to rescue animals that are in situations of abuse and neglect. It would restrict law enforcement's ability to prosecute cruelty cases and allows offenders to potentially destroy evidence. Responsible animal owners don't fear inspections or law enforcement, which should tell you everything you need to know about the people and organizations who support this bill.

I am strongly against this measure to weaken animal protections and law enforcement's ability to protect animals from harm. As a 17 year resident of VA and homeowner 15 of those years it greatly saddens me to learn that this state wants to go backward where animals are concerned. No one should be above the law and NO animal should be left in the hands of their abuser/neglecter. Law enforcement should definitely have the right to confiscate an animal to allow for the immediate treatment of that animal if they are in need. Raising the bar as to what constitutes cause ONLY benefits the abuser and ties the hands of those given the duty of protecting animals. This latest attempt has been motivated by those who have been convicted of crimes against animals and is not an attempt to better the lives of animals but to make it more difficult to hold abusers accountable and provide animals in need the relief they deserve. Shame on the individual who introduced this and I will be watching to see who supports this motion. Thank you for letting me voice my views - please be a voice for the voiceless and vote against this measure! In the words of Mahatma Gandhi — "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

HB 53 is backed by the Virginia Animal Owners Alliance (VAOA), an organization formed in 2020 to represent owners of roadside zoos and other animal-exploiting businesses who view the Commonwealth's animal-protection laws as a threat. VAOA sued Virginia Attorney General’s Office personnel in an attempt to invalidate Virginia’s animal-protection laws. VAOA’s lawsuit was dismissed after the court called a hearing in that case “a colossal waste of time.”

I am writing in opposition to HB 53, which would weaken Virginia's animal protection laws and make it more difficult to investigate animal cruelty violations in Virginia.

I am a Virginia resident and I oppose HB 53. Why would we make it more difficult for law enforcement officers to remove victims of abuse from the people who are abusing them? This bill seems absolutely absurd and an absolute no-brainer to oppose. I understand that HB 53 is apparently motivated, at least in part, by the seizure of more than 100 animals from roadside zoo owner Keith Wilson in 2019 after officials found, among other problems, animals lacked water; lacked safe, clean, adequate shelter; were thin; and suffered from painful conditions. The Frederick County Circuit Court upheld the seizure of all those animals, and Wilson has since been charged with cruelty to animals. The state legislature should not codify into law anything that would have caused these animals to remain in his care, suffer, and potentially die while waiting for a court decision. Please stand with victims of abuse, rather than abusers, and vote NO on HB 53.

I oppose this bill. It is absolutely ridiculous to be granting special treatment to facilities that abuse/mistreat animals. If an animal is in a condition where they are suffering and law enforcement needs to step in to seize that animal, then why would we willingly prolong their suffering? Moving the standard from reasonable cause to probable cause will result in more animals to be harmed , hurt, or killed. Why anyone would be behind a bill that allows animals to suffer further is beyond me.

I oppose HB 53. HB 53 is designed to hamper enforcement of Virginia’s animal-protection laws. It raises the standard for obtaining a search warrant to investigate animal cruelty violations from reasonable cause to probable cause; it forces law enforcement to delay seizure of animals facing a direct and immediate threat if they are held in a zoo; it prevents the appointment of humane investigators who reside outside of the Commonwealth, which may especially affect border jurisdictions; and it removes officers’ ability to obtain a search warrant if a cruelty law is “about to be” violated. If enacted, these changes will lead to animals’ suffering and death.

I am writing to oppose House Bill No. 53. If enacted, this dangerous bill would hinder law enforcement officials’ ability to help suffering animals. Owners of roadside zoos are not above the law and should not be given a green light to keep animals in squalid conditions. If anything, we need tougher regulations for these shady businesses.

I would like it if you would vote on these laws for the animals. Be their voice.

I am opposed to HB 53, the laws that exist are working and this change will only result in animal suffering.

This is inexcusable, and a huge step backwards for Virginia. Give law-enforcement the authority that they deserve to intervene when needed.

I oppose HB 53, as it would limit law enforcement officers' ability to prevent animals’ suffering.

I strongly oppose HB 53. This is a transparent attempt to hinder officials' ability to investigate cruelty to animals and deliver lifesaving care. I'm particularly concerned about how this bill would hurt animals in zoos. If there is a "direct and immediate threat" to an animal, officials should be able to seize them from the abusive/negligent owner to provide them with care. Delaying seizure would prolong the animal's suffering. and may lead to death. There is ample due process already built into the law. Please vote against this bill.

Please OPPOSE HB 53. This bill is dangerous step backwards in Virginia’s efforts to protect animals from cruelty and abuse. It makes it harder for law enforcement officials to seek a warrant when they suspect abuse, allows offenders to destroy evidence by allowing a notice and waiting period even when there is a direct and immediate threat to a zoo animal, makes it more difficult to remove animals from dangerous situations, and makes it harder for prosecutors to do their jobs. Thank you very much for your time and consideration, Christine Lofgren

Comments Document

PETA urges you to oppose HB 53, which is the latest attempt to weaken Virginia’s laws protecting animals from cruelty after similar previous legislation has repeatedly failed. It would grant special treatment to “zoos” to prolong the abuse of animals there and would limit law enforcement officers’ ability to obtain search warrants, work with qualified personnel, prevent animals’ suffering, and swiftly deliver lifesaving care by seizing animals. The protection of animals is a matter of great concern to Virginians, and this bill would be a giant step backwards. As a former Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, I am deeply concerned that HB 53 would hamstring law enforcement officers investigating apparent cruelty to animals. Even in the case of a direct and immediate threat to the life of an animal held at a “zoo,” it would prevent law enforcement from seizing that animal unless the condition can’t be corrected within an undefined period of time or the owner is unwilling or unable to correct the condition after being given notice and time to correct it. This change in the law would lead to animals’ prolonged suffering and even death, and would absurdly require law enforcement to leave an animal who, for example, is starving to death with the person who allowed the animal to starve in the first place. HB 53 eliminates law enforcement officers’ ability to obtain a search warrant when Virginia’s laws protecting animals are “about to be violated.” This change would have grave consequences by hindering law enforcement from stopping a crime before it starts. If authorities are notified, for example, that a dogfight is about to occur, they would have to wait until dogs are actively being fought and potentially seriously injured. That is irreconcilable with the purpose of Virginia’s animal-protection laws. This bill would remove the authority to seize an animal suffering from an “apparent” violation of Virginia’s laws, a deletion that seems intended to constrain officers’ discretion and ability to make on-the-job determinations given that any violation is “apparent” until it is proved in court. Finally, HB 53 amends the current standard of “reasonable cause” to “probable cause” though “reasonable cause” is a common standard under Virginia law; and it prohibits non-residents of Virginia from serving as humane investigators, regardless of their qualifications, an unusual restriction that could especially burden jurisdictions on Virginia’s borders. There is no justification for diminishing Virginia law as HB 53 would. The legislation is backed by the Virginia Animal Owners Alliance (VAOA). Among other activity, VAOA unsuccessfully sued Virginia Attorney General’s Office personnel after emaciated animals were seized from a Charles City County resident, who had a pile of horse and goat bones on her property and was found guilty of cruelty to animals by a jury of her peers. Further, the legislation appears motivated at least in part by the Commonwealth’s case against Keith Wilson, a Virginia zoo owner who was charged with cruelty to animals following the seizure—which was upheld by the Frederick County Circuit Court—of animals from his facility. In both instances, the defendants have received the full measure of due process. HB 53 is nothing more than an attempt to insulate abusive or neglectful animal owners from facing the consequences of their own actions. We urge you to vote no on HB 53.

I urge you to oppose HB 53. This bill will make it harder to remove animals from a cruelty situation, while enhancing the legal protections for bad actors who harm them. The bill sets a legal standard that will be nearly impossible to meet: zoo animals cannot be seized from a cruelty situation unless there is a "direct and immediate threat" to the animal. Meanwhile, the abuser has a "reasonable period of time" to correct the situation. This bill represents a step backward on the path that Virginia has taken to enact robust legal protections for animals. The bill should not move forward.

HB53 OPPOSE. This bill tabled last year should be permanently discarded. Poor and inhumane treatment of animals at road side zoos was documented in prior investigations which required the seizure of animals and brought negative national attention to VA. This bill which would seek to ease the level of investigation and hamper investigators MUST NOT be adopted or will put animals at potentially greater risk.

SUPPORT HB1176 to prohibit the use of snare/steel traps of any circumference. Such traps cruelty and indiscriminately harm. Though they may be intended for nuisance animal control, they are equally as likely to kill or maim family pets, birds, game animals. Left unattended, as is required for their effectiveness, results in a horrid capture or death. Other, better, methods are available to protect livestock.

SUPPORT HB1061 to limit the size of research breeding operations. Large scale operations in factory farming of dogs have shown to be prone to animal welfare violations, including the current facility located in VA. While a limited number of research animals still may be needed by VA's veterinary schools to train the next generations of vets, prohibiting sales to foreign countries limits animals' potential of being placed in animal testing facilities performing tests which are in conflict with VA's no animal testing for cosmetics law, and other ethically questionable research.

SUPPORT HB1061 to limit the size of research breeding operations. Large scale operations in factory farming of dogs have shown to be prone to animal welfare violations, including the current facility located in VA. While a limited number of research animals still may be needed by VA's veterinary schools to train the next generations of vets, prohibiting sales to foreign countries limits animals' potential of being placed in animal testing facilities performing tests which are in conflict with VA's no animal testing for cosmetics law, and other ethically questionable research.

Snares and steel jaw traps are disgusting. Too many innocent animals are being caught and die horrible deaths. Chewing off legs to get loose. People walking through the woods can get caught too. Make them outlawed and get rid of them. Also animals are not disposable and should never be used for experimenting. Would you like your cat or dog stolen and sold to labs and be blinded or other disgusting testing done on ? Yes there are lots of homeless animals but promote more on neutering or spaying. Stop animal testing please !!

please oppose HB 53. There is too much cruelty in petting zoos and zoos already. the animals need more protection - not less

Our lands and the animals that live on our lands should be protected at every cost. At a time when deforestation and the killing of animals in the U.S. and around the world grows more and more, it is imperative to fight against this. If we do not take action and push legislation to protect our land and the animals that live on them, in the not to distant future they will become less and less until they are no more. Please think about this and help to do what you can to make positive change.

Nothing

It’s hard to believe that these items are still in question. Animal testing and traps/snares are barbaric . With modern technology, there should be no use for animal research which IS animal cruelty. Do you have a family pet? A child, grandchild, sibling? What would happen if they saw a video of what goes on in industrial farming, animal testing labs/facilities and knew you didn’t do anything to stop it. These are feeling, loving living organisms that feel pain and fear. Small caliber guns are likely to make the animal suffer if shot at long range. Breeders should be curtailed and not allowed to sell animals for testing. There should be more fail safes to prevent shops and zoos from neglecting or harming wildlife in their care. In all of the issues, I support the Humane Society of the United States' positions pertaining to your particular bill(s). I do believe HSUS adheres to and promotes the highest standards of integrity in the issues of animal issues, the environment, human concerns, et. al. I hope you can vote with that perspective in mind.

Animal cruelty is never excusable. They are living being with feelings- pain, fear, sadness, loyalty. Selling companion animals for experimentation is despicable. Trapping an animal to suffer agony is despicable. People are judged by how they treat other beings unable to defend themselves. Hunting for trophies is wrong. Trapping for fur is wrong. Mistreatment of hunting dogs is wrong. Discarding dogs to fend for themselves when hunting season is over is despicable. Hunters roaming around someone’s land without permission is just rude for starters. Humans are supposed to be protective of the environment.

I support the Humane Society of the United States' positions pertaining to your particular bill(s). I do believe HSUS adheres to and promotes the highest standards of integrity in the issues of animal issues, the environment, human concerns, et. al. I hope you can vote with that perspective in mind.

I oppose this bill. It is a dangerous step backwards in terms of protecting animals who are being abused. It makes it more difficult to remove animals, particularly zoo animals, from cruelty situations. It also restricts law enforcements’ ability to prosecute cruelty cases and allows offenders to potentially destroy evidence.

I am writing to oppose passage of HB53 which would comprise an enormous and dangerous step backwards in Virginia’s efforts to protect our most vulnerable animals from cruelty and abuse. At a time when we in Virginia have been strengthening our laws against cruelty to animals and seeking to better enforce these laws, this bill veers extremely to a contrary direction, by removing existing protections for animals in zoos and petting zoos. This bill makes it harder for law enforcement officials to seek a warrant when they suspect abuse, allows offenders to destroy evidence by allowing a notice and waiting period even when there is a direct and immediate threat to a zoo animal, makes it more difficult to remove animals from dangerous situations, and makes it harder for prosecutors to do their jobs. And who benefits? Not the animals. Not the public that has always delighted in the opportunity to view these grand animals that we expect are properly cared for and treated humanely. Not law enforcement officers that are doing their best to preserve and protect. And not reputable zoo owners that are deserving of the many visitors they have. The only individuals that benefit are the disreputable, unqualified, neglectful and inhumane zoo owners that are unwilling or unable to provide even the most basic care and meet the most minimal of standards. Please vote down this bill. Your children will thank you.

NA

We cannot undo most of the damage humans have done so it is urgent to stop harmful behaviors of humans that effect and endanger animals and environments.

PLEASE OPPOSE THIS BILL!!!!!!! PLEASE OPPOSE THIS BILL!!!!

Please support this bill!!!!!

Please stop the unnecessary killings by of the poor wildlife.We have already taken a lot of their habitat and now allowing this mass murdering of these voiceless animals by the sick people. Thank you

Please stop animal cruelty!

pass all of the laws above

Protect our wildlife and water resources. Restrict hunting on sundays. No snares or trapping. No animals gor research.

The greatness of a nation and its MORAL PROGRESS can be judged by the way it treats its animals, its wilderness and its most vulnerable inhabitants.

Time for Republicans to do what the DemocRATS were afraid/unable to do and protect the rights of all (domestic and wild) animals by implementing humane laws.

Protect Virginia's environment from Republiklans

I do not support the breeding of animals for testing or research. I want it banned. I do not support hunting or fishin and I certainly do not support 'hunting games' where vile people who have guns and nothing better to do go out and be a serial killer for a weekend killing animals for some game and a trophy. GROW UP. I do not support traps or the fur trade and want it to be against the law. I want an end to the killing hunting games previously mentioned. I want breeding or selling animals for animal testing and research no matter what that animal is to be against the law and punishment.

Please end these animal cruelty practices!

Protection of Land, Water, Air, Soil and all animals is up to us and for future generations a must.

I oppose HB53. The legislation is a dangerous step backwards in terms of protecting animals who are being abused and makes it more difficult to remove animals, particularly zoo animals, from cruelty situations. I'm not an advocate for closing all zoos, aquariums, etc., but do feel we need legislation in place to be able to investigate the bad actors and put an end to the cruelty at their operations.

I oppose HB 53. In the wake of Tiger King and the revelations of lion cub trafficking and animal mistreatment occurring at the former Wilson's Wild Animal Park in Frederick County, we should not be making it harder to investigate and stop animal abuse, particularly at zoos. Zoos should be held to high standards in caring for the animals in their possession, and law enforcement should have the tools to quickly investigate and act if there is a reasonable basis to suspect abuse or neglect without letting the animal suffer for too long in silence. We've seen too many instances of mistreatment and neglect take place with breeders and zoos to be in a position to grant them more deference and leeway, and this bill will hurt efforts to improve animal welfare. Thank you for your service and the opportunity to provide comment.

I oppose HB 53.

I am writing to ask for your support for HB53. This bill seeks to provide due process to animal owners in the State of Virginia. There have been many instances in the State that animal owners have not been treated fairly and had their due process rights violated. We need this bill to protect our citizens! I ask for your support of this bill!

I would like to say that I support HB53. I am not a zoo owner but work for one and also an animal owner. The raids that the animal law unit has done, has made owning animals or even zoos very stressful. Not knowing if you could be raided and the reasoning behind the raids are confusing. I believe this bill will help make it much clearer for all animal owners and give zoos a definition. We need your help with supporting this bill.

I own and operate Fort Chiswell Animal Park which is located at the intersection of I-81/I-77 in southwest Virginia. We have been open to the public since 2004 and have helped educate and entertain thousands of school children over the years. We have also helped our local economy and brought tourism dollars into Wythe County. Our animals are our first priority and we especially pride ourselves in our senior animals that have lived into their 20's, 30's, and 40's. We chose this lifestyle, because we love animals and enjoy sharing them with others. We now feel that we are under constant threat from the Animal Law Unit. These individuals have made it very clear that they think a sudden raid is a game and their recklessness has shown that animal welfare is not their true goal. Please vote in favor of HB 53 and help restore some level of sanity for Virginia's animal industry.

I am asking for your support of HB 53 in order to protect all animals and animal owners in the commonwealth. This measure does three things. 1. Requires proper investigation and fact finding into allegations of cruelty BEFORE animals are removed from their homes or zoos and EUTHANIZED or confiscated. and 2. It recognizes that animals held in zoos require special care and consideration that ought to be evaluated by the State Vet (not the local police department/animal control officers) and 3. Requires humane investigators to be residents of the commonwealth. Current law has pre-crime language that allows the state to intervene if they think cruelty is probable and the Commonwealth has proved eager to prosecute citizens over an animal with a health condition beyond their control -even citizens who have sought veterinary care. Such was the case of Travis Evans of Stafford, Virginia who was charged and convicted for not euthanizing his pet lab fast enough when he had cancer. He appealed and the charges were dropped after his story gained worldwide attention. Paula Wyche of Roanoke, Virginia was on the board of the Roanoke Valley SPCA when she was arrested and charged for a stray dog she had taken in that had a skin condition. She won her case against the Commonwealth. I encourage you to also look into the cases of Irina Barret, Debbie Coley. HB 53 will benefit the animals in the Commonwealth, because it requires more fact-finding before an animal can be uprooted from their home or recklessly euthanized. This legislation also recognizes the unique needs of zoo animals. Many of these species retain their wild natures and it takes time for them to learn to trust their zookeepers. They often require tranquilization to have simple procedures done or to be moved from one exhibit to another. The sedation drugs can prove high risk with older animals and zoo professionals account for all of these dynamics along with their veterinarians. It is vital for the State to recognize these concerns as well and allow the owner an ability to cure, provide remedy or explanation BEFORE a zoo animal is put through the trauma of a seizure at the hands of strangers or euthanized. Such heavy-handed actions should never be the first option of our governing agencies if animal welfare is truly the goal. This bill also seeks to add clarity for Zoos. Zoos are NOT currently defined in the code in spite of the fact that thousands of animals are exhibited throughout the Commonwealth and owners are licensed through the Department of Wildlife Resources and the United States Department of Agriculture. Is it the USDA or the DWR? Is Virginia's Animal Law Unit calling the shots or is somebody else in charge? Private zoo owners in Virginia deserve to know whether it is the state and federal licensing bodies that they currently report to, or the state's animal law unity that may show up on a whim. They should never feel they will be ambushed by a raid team when operating a LEGAL enterprise. Due process will help all parties involved and create a more healthy environment in the State. Please support HB 53 and stand to protect our rights and all of the animals in human care in the commonwealth.

My name is Heidi Crosky and I am reaching out to you on behalf of the Virginia Animal Owners Alliance (VAOA). We are writing to ask that you please SUPPORT HB 53 to bring needed reforms to Virginia. The VAOA is a group of animal owners who came together after learning that the simple act of acquiring an animal strips you of your right to due process. Old and special needs pets have become a liability and suspicions are being used against Virginians instead of facts. Current law has pre-crime language and the Commonwealth has proved eager to prosecute citizens over a dirty water bowl or an animal with a health condition. No one is immune--even a board member of the Roanoke Valley SPCA was charged and arrested for a crime she did not commit. This is not a joke or exaggeration. This is the reality of living in Virginia. While the General Assembly may not have been able to see into the future, the facts are now before us and can no longer be ignored. Someone once said, "It's not how we make mistakes, but how we correct them that defines us." Your response to HB 53 is a defining moment. This bill also seeks to add clarity for an industry that has been seeking answers for over two years. Zoos are NOT currently defined in the code in spite of the fact that thousands of animals are exhibited throughout the Commonwealth and owners are licensed through the Department of Wildlife Resources and the United States Department of Agriculture. For years, these owners believed they had a good working relationship with their governing agencies. The sudden State seizure of zoo animals in the summer of 2019 raised a lot of questions about who is the actual authority on animal care and who is truly governing the animal industry. Is it the USDA or the DWR? Is the Animal Law Unit calling the shots or is somebody else in charge? Virginia business owners deserve an answer. They should never feel they will be ambushed by a raid team when operating a LEGAL enterprise. Due process will help all parties involved and create a more healthy environment in the State. HB 53 will benefit the animals in the Commonwealth, because it requires more fact-finding before an animal can be uprooted from their home or recklessly euthanized. This legislation also recognizes the unique needs of zoo animals. Many of these species retain their wild natures and it takes time for them to learn to trust their keepers. They often require tranquilization to have simple procedures done or to be moved from one exhibit to another. The sedation drugs can prove high risk with older animals and zoo professionals account for all of these dynamics along with their veterinarians. It is vital for the State to recognize these concerns as well and allow the owner an ability to cure BEFORE a zoo animal is put through the trauma of a seizure at the hands of strangers. Such heavy-handed actions should never be the first option of our governing agencies if animal welfare is truly the goal. Delegate Ronnie Campbell has proven to be a legislator who cares about both people and animals, but we need your help too. Please support HB 53 and stand to protect our rights, our animals, and our American way of life. Sincerely, Heidi Crosky Virginia Animal Owners Alliance 276-637-6652 www.virginiaanimalownersalliance.com

I live across the street from a wildlife management area. Please don't allow hunting on Sunday. It is the only day of the week when there is any peace and quiet for me, my pets and the wildlife during hunting season.

Please email the above mentioned bills to me.

These animals need our protection. I support this bill.

Please vote in support of HB1061, HB1175, HB1176, HB1247, HB1313, HB255, HB523, HB725. It is astonishing to me that we as citizens of Virginia continue to treat animals wild and domesticated, in such horrific ways. The practices referenced in these bills are barbaric and have no place in the Commonwealth of Virginia. I wish there was more publicity about the practices referenced in these pieces of legislation because if there was I am positive the outpouring of support would be so great it would crash your website. Mahatma Gandhi summed it up well when he said "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Please join other states of this great nation in banning such cruel and inhumane treatment of the animals it is our job to protect.

The Humane Society of Fairfax County SUPPORTS this bill. We endorse any improvements in animal welfare.

On behalf of the donors, volunteers and adopters of the Humane Society of Fairfax County we STRONGLY support this bill.

I urge support of HB 1029, the greatest threat to wildlife is humans, esp autos. I support HB 1061, HB 1350, HB 255, HB 523, we do not need animal research in the form of dogs cats or other larger animals. If Pigs are used (because of their hearts) they should be treated humanely. I am totally for HB 1175, 1176, HB725. Trapping or snaring animals, esp with a steel trap is vicious and cruel. They should be banned. No civilized country does this. Zoos and Petting zoos (HB53) should be prohibited. There is no need for this and exotic animals should be left alone. Besides if someone wants to see an animal, they can go to the internet. I support HB467, owners need to be held responsible. HB1330, why are all dogs and cats not required to be chipped, they should be. thank you regards Gerald Bowman

Comments Document

Dear Delegates, please support HB 255, 1061, 1313, and 1350. The conditions at the Envigo breeding facility in Cumberland, VA are just horrendous. Beagle dogs and puppies are so mistreated, abused, and neglected at this facility. We need to hold them to minimum standards. This facility has 5,000 beagles, with only 15 employees to take care of them all. During recent investigations by the USDA, this facility had over 26 violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Many of these citations were critical. The operation going on there is lazy, cruel, and inhumane. 300 beagle puppies were found dead during the investigations, and there was no reported cause of death for any of them. Puppies' paws were injured and swollen from the lack of proper support in the kennels. Nursing beagle mothers were purposely not fed food or water. These animals are already destined for a life of inhumane scientific testing, they do not need to suffer any more at this facility in the Commonwealth before they are sold for experiments. Beagles are loving, smart, and forgiving dogs, which makes them an easy target for animal testing. Man's best friend deserves better. The attached fact sheet has more information on this issue. Thank you.

It’s hard to believe that these items are still in question. Animal testing and traps/snares are barbaric . With modern technology, there should be no use for animal research which IS animal cruelty. Do you have a family pet? A child, grandchild, sibling? What would happen if they saw a video of what goes on in industrial farming, animal testing labs/facilities and knew you didn’t do anything to stop it. These are feeling, loving living organisms that feel pain and fear. Small caliber guns are likely to make the animal suffer if shot at long range. Breeders should be curtailed and not allowed to sell animals for testing. There should be more fail safes to prevent shops and zoos from neglecting or harming wildlife in their care. In all of the issues, I support the Humane Society of the United States' positions pertaining to your particular bill(s). I do believe HSUS adheres to and promotes the highest standards of integrity in the issues of animal issues, the environment, human concerns, et. al. I hope you can vote with that perspective in mind.

I would like it if you would vote on these laws for the animals. Be their voice.

I am writing in support of HB 255, HB1061, HB1313 and HB1350, which would regulate facilities that breed dogs and cats for experimentation. As you may know, there currently are 11 bills pending in the House and Senate to regulate in some way facilities that breed dogs and cats for research and experimentation. Why do we have as many as 11 bills pending now? Because a signature Beagle breeding facility, Envigo, operating in Cumberland County, 40 miles outside Richmond, has developed an extraordinary record of violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Were these violations found by a partisan group, an animal welfare group? No. In 2017, in November 2021, and on January 27, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued reports citing Envigo for multiple significant and critical violations of the Animal Welfare Act, which sets minimal standards for animal health and safety. Envigo is a global biotech company that houses 5000 beagles in a facility where they are cared for by 15 individuals. Envigo produces 500 Beagle puppies a month. Envigo will argue that it is providing adequate care, that it is taking appropriate follow-up steps to concerns raised, that it regards the health and safety of its animals as a high priority. But as a former employee of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, I must tell you that USDA does not issue violations lightly, that employees are guided by principles of integrity and duty to enforce the laws faithfully. And these violations were issued during both Republican and Democratic Administrations. Because common decency in how we care for companion animals is a nonpartisan value. The bills that are pending offer different approaches to rectifying the truly nauseating violations that have occurred over a five year period. These approaches consider record-keeping and reporting, monitoring and oversight, and prohibition of breeders that have received certain citations for violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Please consider these carefully. But do not end this session without offering these poor cooperative, friendly, congenial, obedient Beagles some respite from their suffering.

MY NAME IS RACHEL KEPNES. I am 37 years old and have had beagles all my life. Most of you probably already know who I am. In fact I spoke to one of you on the phone who thinks beagles can be used for hip replacements. Do you know how many beagles get killed and sold for outdated pointless experiments. At the UGA they were eatin alive by flies"while vocalizing in pain". They are being forced to swallow and inhale all types of laundry detergents and cocaine and then they have their mouths taped shut so they cant spit it out. They get thrown into cages like trash, they get their eyes removed and they get their heads shaved and have numbers written on them, just like they get tattoo in their ears numbers with smiley faces. I assume you all know what the Holocaust is? They are living in a facility that in normal circumstances would be a fucking felony. Yet for some reason some of you think this is okay? You think its cool to have beagles being injected and eatin alive having their bodies mutilated for no reason, mind you using our tax payer dollars. It makes me sick to my stomach that ALL of you cannot get on board to shut that facility down. I wonder what happens when you all go home at night after discussing envigo? If you have had animals growing up or do now or have kids or grandkids with animals maybe just maybe someone should take those animals away from you to be experimented on then you will know the pain of what those beagles go through every fucking day of their lives. For what? Pointless experiments? I mean its 2022!! How are we even allowing this to happen, how can any of YOU allow this to happen. What would happen if that facility gets shut down? Millions of beagles go to wonderful homes/rescues paid for by envigo to live the lives they were meant to live. Instead you all can't seem to get on board with that? The ones that want that place to stay open, are you afraid of the big bad Envigo coming after you, or do you like the money they bring in? Or do you just not give a shit? In my opinion I know for a fact some of you want want that place shut down and its about damn time those beagles stop suffering. I mean are you all waiting till everyone of them dies in their and you all have to take responsibility for that when their lifeless bodies get exposed to your public when they realize just what exactly goes on in their backyard. Why don't you bring some of your kids and grandkids out their let them see just what your keeping open. I have attached images of beagles getting tested on as we speak. As well as from the past. Mark my words if you all don't shut that place down I will. I will and have been writing to the AG's, The White House, The FBI and so much more and I will never EVER stop bugging the crap out of all of you(in a nice polite way) until you do what is right, if not for you or the beagles then for future generations who will find out what is going on. I am talking about the kids. I will SHUT that place down and for those that decide to keep it open I will find out your names put you on social media with tags so people know that the few of you that want this place open won't get any votes for the next election. Shut it down. You will NOT hear the last from me if you choose to keep a place like that open. You have my word. Think of just what your voting on when you look at the below photos. If that doesn't make you shut this place down, I have no idea why any of you are in office

HB 255 SUPPORT - Protect dogs/cats bought for animal research in VA entities from dealers/breeders with a history of animal welfare citations. Animals which serve humanity deserve our highest care and protection.

SUPPORT HB1176 to prohibit the use of snare/steel traps of any circumference. Such traps cruelty and indiscriminately harm. Though they may be intended for nuisance animal control, they are equally as likely to kill or maim family pets, birds, game animals. Left unattended, as is required for their effectiveness, results in a horrid capture or death. Other, better, methods are available to protect livestock.

SUPPORT HB1061 to limit the size of research breeding operations. Large scale operations in factory farming of dogs have shown to be prone to animal welfare violations, including the current facility located in VA. While a limited number of research animals still may be needed by VA's veterinary schools to train the next generations of vets, prohibiting sales to foreign countries limits animals' potential of being placed in animal testing facilities performing tests which are in conflict with VA's no animal testing for cosmetics law, and other ethically questionable research.

SUPPORT HB1061 to limit the size of research breeding operations. Large scale operations in factory farming of dogs have shown to be prone to animal welfare violations, including the current facility located in VA. While a limited number of research animals still may be needed by VA's veterinary schools to train the next generations of vets, prohibiting sales to foreign countries limits animals' potential of being placed in animal testing facilities performing tests which are in conflict with VA's no animal testing for cosmetics law, and other ethically questionable research.

Snares and steel jaw traps are disgusting. Too many innocent animals are being caught and die horrible deaths. Chewing off legs to get loose. People walking through the woods can get caught too. Make them outlawed and get rid of them. Also animals are not disposable and should never be used for experimenting. Would you like your cat or dog stolen and sold to labs and be blinded or other disgusting testing done on ? Yes there are lots of homeless animals but promote more on neutering or spaying. Stop animal testing please !!

Please stop this cruelty

please support HB 255. Dogs should not be used for research. it has been proven that there are more humane ways to do research

On HB 1247 Contests for killing is a horrible thing for these wild animals who have a right to life! Virginia should not be supporting any such practice as this. We cannot continue to allow this competition of multiple killings! This needs to and now!

Please exercise your authority to protect both domesticated and wild animals in The Commonwealth of Virginia. It is our collective responsibility to pursue policies that are ethical and compassionate.

Dogs and cats should not be procured for research. An enormous amount of data shows that there is more reliable testing models than the use of animals. These are domesticated pets that should never be used in research.

It’s hard to believe that these items are still in question. Animal testing and traps/snares are barbaric . With modern technology, there should be no use for animal research which IS animal cruelty. Do you have a family pet? A child, grandchild, sibling? What would happen if they saw a video of what goes on in industrial farming, animal testing labs/facilities and knew you didn’t do anything to stop it. These are feeling, loving living organisms that feel pain and fear. Small caliber guns are likely to make the animal suffer if shot at long range. Breeders should be curtailed and not allowed to sell animals for testing. There should be more fail safes to prevent shops and zoos from neglecting or harming wildlife in their care. In all of the issues, I support the Humane Society of the United States' positions pertaining to your particular bill(s). I do believe HSUS adheres to and promotes the highest standards of integrity in the issues of animal issues, the environment, human concerns, et. al. I hope you can vote with that perspective in mind.

508 keep our history alive both the good and bad. We, our children need to be taught the truth about US history 479 removal of large and small damns improves the quality of waterways 323 local and sustainable farms are the key to the future of successful farming. Thomas Jefferson believed this 255 dogs and cats should never be used for inhumane research 206 small renewal energy projects should have been implemented decades ago. We are so behind many countries in preserving our natural resources and increasing and implementing renewable energy sources 140 African American gravesites when discovered should be restored and protected as should all of them 1330 Companion animals should be allowed in more place’s especially on public transportation like Amtrak 1301 clean energy= clean air, water, soil, food and this is a human right 1273 I would like to see hunting bears, deer, raccoons, rabbits, coyote, bobcat foxes completely eliminated. They only terrorize wildlife, there is no “sport” in that. 1247 STOP killing contests of any wildlife!!! This is barbaric 1228 Water quality needs to be of the highest standard. It’s a God-given right 1224 if storm water is managed properly we could avoid massive pollution to our rivers and streams , Bays and Oceans

I support the Humane Society of the United States' positions pertaining to your particular bill(s). I do believe HSUS adheres to and promotes the highest standards of integrity in the issues of animal issues, the environment, human concerns, et. al. I hope you can vote with that perspective in mind.

Support

Encouraging your support on the above bills

Any and all contest hunting should be illegal. No hunter should have the right to go onto another person's land to hunt without written permission from the land owner. No cats or dogs should be sold or bred for the purpose of " research." Please take a note of Dr. Anthony Fauci's unimaginable cruel and painful animal research projects. Snare traps should be illegal unless placed where the hunter will step on it.

NA

Please stop hunting animals, breeding animals for research (or in general - adopt!), and other horrific abuse towards innocent creatures!! It is absolutely despicable!

Please stop the unnecessary killings by of the poor wildlife.We have already taken a lot of their habitat and now allowing this mass murdering of these voiceless animals by the sick people. Thank you

Please stop animal cruelty!

I support any bill that will provide enhanced protection for wildlife. They have no voices to speak for themselves and as we encroach on their habitat, they struggle to survive without humans killing them for fun. Domestic animals, livestock, and pets also deserve as much protection as we can give them. Hunters should not be allowed on private land. I also support any environmental effort that will protect our natural resources, environment, and wildlife.

pass all of the laws above

Protect our wildlife and water resources. Restrict hunting on sundays. No snares or trapping. No animals gor research.

The greatness of a nation and its MORAL PROGRESS can be judged by the way it treats its animals, its wilderness and its most vulnerable inhabitants.

Time for Republicans to do what the DemocRATS were afraid/unable to do and protect the rights of all (domestic and wild) animals by implementing humane laws.

Good Afternoon, I am submitting my support of the above items. I strongly feel that we need to put more time and planning on what we are doing to our animals, that are due the same respect as we all inhabits of our planet, and out planet. We only have one earth and we have not been responsible on how we treated her.

Protect Virginia's environment from Republiklans

I do not support the breeding of animals for testing or research. I want it banned. I do not support hunting or fishin and I certainly do not support 'hunting games' where vile people who have guns and nothing better to do go out and be a serial killer for a weekend killing animals for some game and a trophy. GROW UP. I do not support traps or the fur trade and want it to be against the law. I want an end to the killing hunting games previously mentioned. I want breeding or selling animals for animal testing and research no matter what that animal is to be against the law and punishment.

Protection of Land, Water, Air, Soil and all animals is up to us and for future generations a must.

We are opposed to amending the definition of agribusiness to include Farmets Markets, and Farm Roadside Stands. Not that they are not agricultural entities ; it will set them apart and subject them to direct competition with what tend to be large operations. That could potentially cause the loss of the smaller growers. Also, if you read the wording of the following sentence and paragraphs you will find that it makes "agribusiness" immediately subject to any and all inspections deemed necessary by the " commissioner" ( of agriculture). This opens up these small operations up to more regulation. And not just increased help with marketing as was the reason for the amending the code as per patron Wyatt. If it adds more regulatory burden on the small producers it will hinder or end their participation in the marketplace instead of promoting it as is the stated reason for its introduction. Currently there are various marketing helps and promotion programs for VA growers with out the addition of added regulation. For this reason we are opposed to this amendment to the code as it stands. I would urge the agriculture committee to vote against this amendment.

Vote no on HB 262. This is not needed, could open the door for more regulations on farmers markets and roadside stands, and will not benefit small producers. We do not need more regulations at a time when we need to support our small, independent producers in our community.

I am writing to to express my concern with the HB 262 bill that will be heard today at 4 pm. My deepest interest is to see freedom increase for the members of the Commonwealth where it concerns our choices for food sources. There are many regulations already in place that impede our ability to source wholesome and nutrient dense foods from sources that we, as the consumer, see as the highest quality. The expansion of this bill to "including farmers markets and roadside farm markets" extends into our ability to CHOOSE to source our food from these smaller farms and markets. As a consumer and customer, I choose to source my food from these farms because they are not currently regulated by the Commonwealth's "programs and inspection activities." I am concerned by this language found in the bill to "develop and implement programs and inspection activities to ensure that the Commonwealth's agricultural products move freely in trade." In order for these products to move freely, they need to be less regulated. This is a choice left up to the educated consumer. A consumer that is hoping to source food that they feel is best for themselves and their family. My wish is to further promote and preserve UNREGULATED direct farm-to-consumer trade that fosters the availability of locally grown products or home produced food.

This bill has not been requested by farmers markets or farmers who have roadside stands. These entities should not be included under the umbrella term "agribusiness", which came about to describe the large industrial scale vertically integrated industrial food production and distribution systems that evolved, as the processors increased power over the individual farmer. Farmers markets and farmers with roadside stands do not need to be included and subjected to the same food safety programs that industrial agribusiness corporations need to, as you have the consumer protected by small scale production, personal accountability and total traceability when you are engaging in direct farmer producer to final consumer trade. There are already regulations that cover how food products sold at farmers markets and farmstands should be produced, handled and labelled, and these safety measures are working just fine. No one is getting sick buying directly from farmers. The argument for including farmers markets and farmstands to help them with marketing is worthless, because since covid, most local food producers have had incredible increases in sales, and this trend seems set to continue. I feel this is an attempt at exert more unnecessary control, and inappropriate regulations, resulting in extra costs in time and money for farmers, over a very safe, productive and popular sector of agriculture that supports local economies in a sustainable way.

VICFA opposed to HB262 adding farmers markets and roadside farm markets to Virginia Code. I and Virginia Independent Consumer and Farmer Assoc., who I represent, are opposed to adding to the VA code for agribusiness, the terms Farmers Markets and Roadside Farm Stands. We think this is unnecessary and opens the door to regulating direct commerce between small farm producers and their immediate consumers. People from the VDACS food safety program said they don't know why this change is needed or why it has been proposed. Currently they can inspect these facilities, if needed, but do it infrequently because these venues are low risk. I think consumers should reserve the freedom and right to trade directly with their farmer of choice, without the intervention of the state. If this type of marketing , where there is direct consumer sales, were to be more regulated, it would likely restrict commerce, not enhance it, which seems to be the intent of the legislation as currently written. This due to growers, many who are small scale, not wanting to deal with more regulation, paperwork and red tape. The end result would be less revenue for the state. I have also heard that many Farmers Markets are opposed to it , as it could reduce the number of vendors , if more regulation and restrictions would be put in place. For these reasons I would urge you to not change the current regulations; by the addition of the terms: Farmers Markets and Roadside Farm Stands. Dan Lefever Nellysford, Nelson Co

There is no need fir Farmers Markets to be included in Code of Virginia. I’ve sold at Farmers Markets and regularly shop at City Market in Charlottesville and there are no problems that need addressing by this bill. Over regulation by government entities IS a problem. Please oppose this bill.

I support unregulated direct farm-to-consumer trade which fosters the availability of locally grown products or home produced food in Va. Farmers do not want nor need more regulations which only makes maintaining their livelihoods that much more difficult. Their customers, the constituents of Virginia, also do not want more regulations put upon the farmers who provide for us! Please OPPOSE HB262. Thank you J T Lessard

Please do not report HB262, and move to report HB1330, 1350, 1061, 523, 1313.

To the committee, Please do not pass HB262, which would add farmers markets, roadside stands, and farm shares to the code of virginia. Farmers markets should be operated by Farmers for the benefit of farmers and their patrons, with no government middle man. I understand the food I buy at farmers markets and from my neighbors has not been homogenized, pasteurized, gassed, sprayed and radiated like the food in the grocery store, but I kind of like my food still having nutrients in it. I also like supporting small farmers, gardeners, apiarist, bakers, cooks and artisans who are trying to provide for their families instead of huge multinational corporations (who probably wrote this bill). I have had no problem finding local farmers markets, roadside stands and local farmers selling herd, crop or milk shares. Farmers dont need any help from the government of Virginia selling their products. There are just some things in life that are better when the government has no part in it, and this is one of them. Please kill this bill in committee. thank you

VAFMA understands that it is important to include VA Farmers Markets and VA Farm Stands in the definition of Virginia Agribusiness (and Agritourism) in the Commonwealth . Across the country, the discipline of agribusiness has changed from farm to market centric. While farms continue to play a vital role in agribusiness, consumers and other members of the food value chain increasingly affect changes to the scope, shape, form, and operations of agribusiness firms. Producers, consumers, retailers—indeed, all members of the food value chain and those persons and institutions that influence it—are part of a broad agribusiness system. Including Farmers Market/Farm Stands into market-centric agribusinesses in Virginia will allow agribusinesses to create partnerships with their customers and instead of focusing on optimizing production, will focus on maximizing consumer experiences and total customer satisfaction. Many successful agribusiness producers are wrapping their market offering within a total service package that includes consumer education, feedback, E-commerce, and other forms of support. Across the country, Agribusiness is being reframed with a larger view—an expansive and inclusive system that encompasses what contemporary agribusiness does: listen to customers in order to create value and to deliver agricultural and horticulture products and services, while managing and preserving resources. Thus this consumer-driven market system should include farmers markets and farm stands because they will enhance efficiencies and effectiveness of Virginia’s agribusinesses. Therefore, the Virginia Farmers Market Association supports HB262 100%.

Please stop this cruelty

I support the Humane Society of the United States' positions pertaining to your particular bill(s). I do believe HSUS adheres to and promotes the highest standards of integrity in the issues of animal issues, the environment, human concerns, et. al. I hope you can vote with that perspective in mind.

Please stop animal cruelty!

pass all of the laws above

Protect our wildlife and water resources. Restrict hunting on sundays. No snares or trapping. No animals gor research.

The greatness of a nation and its MORAL PROGRESS can be judged by the way it treats its animals, its wilderness and its most vulnerable inhabitants.

Good Afternoon, I am submitting my support of the above items. I strongly feel that we need to put more time and planning on what we are doing to our animals, that are due the same respect as we all inhabits of our planet, and out planet. We only have one earth and we have not been responsible on how we treated her.

Protect Virginia's environment from Republiklans

Please email the above mentioned bills to me.

I OPPOSE HB 53 and 1301. I SUPPORT HB 141, 508, 523, 715, 1266, and 1350. I don't have a stance on HB 351 or 1267, but I do feel it necessary to point out that a zero-emissions vehicle still drives (no pun intended) horrifically unsustainable land use patters by perpetuating suburban sprawl and can still kill a human being if it collides at 35 miles per hour. There is entirely too much emphasis on electric cars when we need to be shifting our main method of getting around away from the car in favor of walking, cycling, rolling, bussing, and rail.

Stop the cruelty. Support this bill.

Do the right thing

Please vote in support of HB1061, HB1175, HB1176, HB1247, HB1313, HB255, HB523, HB725. It is astonishing to me that we as citizens of Virginia continue to treat animals wild and domesticated, in such horrific ways. The practices referenced in these bills are barbaric and have no place in the Commonwealth of Virginia. I wish there was more publicity about the practices referenced in these pieces of legislation because if there was I am positive the outpouring of support would be so great it would crash your website. Mahatma Gandhi summed it up well when he said "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Please join other states of this great nation in banning such cruel and inhumane treatment of the animals it is our job to protect.

The Humane Society of Fairfax County SUPPORTS this bill. We endorse any improvements in animal welfare.

The Humane Society of Fairfax County SUPPORTS this bill. We endorse any improvements in animal welfare.

On behalf of the donors, volunteers and adopters of the Humane Society of Fairfax County we STRONGLY support this bill.

Please do not report HB262, and move to report HB1330, 1350, 1061, 523, 1313.

I urge support of HB 1029, the greatest threat to wildlife is humans, esp autos. I support HB 1061, HB 1350, HB 255, HB 523, we do not need animal research in the form of dogs cats or other larger animals. If Pigs are used (because of their hearts) they should be treated humanely. I am totally for HB 1175, 1176, HB725. Trapping or snaring animals, esp with a steel trap is vicious and cruel. They should be banned. No civilized country does this. Zoos and Petting zoos (HB53) should be prohibited. There is no need for this and exotic animals should be left alone. Besides if someone wants to see an animal, they can go to the internet. I support HB467, owners need to be held responsible. HB1330, why are all dogs and cats not required to be chipped, they should be. thank you regards Gerald Bowman

I would like it if you would vote on these laws for the animals. Be their voice.

MY NAME IS RACHEL KEPNES. I am 37 years old and have had beagles all my life. Most of you probably already know who I am. In fact I spoke to one of you on the phone who thinks beagles can be used for hip replacements. Do you know how many beagles get killed and sold for outdated pointless experiments. At the UGA they were eatin alive by flies"while vocalizing in pain". They are being forced to swallow and inhale all types of laundry detergents and cocaine and then they have their mouths taped shut so they cant spit it out. They get thrown into cages like trash, they get their eyes removed and they get their heads shaved and have numbers written on them, just like they get tattoo in their ears numbers with smiley faces. I assume you all know what the Holocaust is? They are living in a facility that in normal circumstances would be a fucking felony. Yet for some reason some of you think this is okay? You think its cool to have beagles being injected and eatin alive having their bodies mutilated for no reason, mind you using our tax payer dollars. It makes me sick to my stomach that ALL of you cannot get on board to shut that facility down. I wonder what happens when you all go home at night after discussing envigo? If you have had animals growing up or do now or have kids or grandkids with animals maybe just maybe someone should take those animals away from you to be experimented on then you will know the pain of what those beagles go through every fucking day of their lives. For what? Pointless experiments? I mean its 2022!! How are we even allowing this to happen, how can any of YOU allow this to happen. What would happen if that facility gets shut down? Millions of beagles go to wonderful homes/rescues paid for by envigo to live the lives they were meant to live. Instead you all can't seem to get on board with that? The ones that want that place to stay open, are you afraid of the big bad Envigo coming after you, or do you like the money they bring in? Or do you just not give a shit? In my opinion I know for a fact some of you want want that place shut down and its about damn time those beagles stop suffering. I mean are you all waiting till everyone of them dies in their and you all have to take responsibility for that when their lifeless bodies get exposed to your public when they realize just what exactly goes on in their backyard. Why don't you bring some of your kids and grandkids out their let them see just what your keeping open. I have attached images of beagles getting tested on as we speak. As well as from the past. Mark my words if you all don't shut that place down I will. I will and have been writing to the AG's, The White House, The FBI and so much more and I will never EVER stop bugging the crap out of all of you(in a nice polite way) until you do what is right, if not for you or the beagles then for future generations who will find out what is going on. I am talking about the kids. I will SHUT that place down and for those that decide to keep it open I will find out your names put you on social media with tags so people know that the few of you that want this place open won't get any votes for the next election. Shut it down. You will NOT hear the last from me if you choose to keep a place like that open. You have my word. Think of just what your voting on when you look at the below photos. If that doesn't make you shut this place down, I have no idea why any of you are in office

SUPPORT HB1176 to prohibit the use of snare/steel traps of any circumference. Such traps cruelty and indiscriminately harm. Though they may be intended for nuisance animal control, they are equally as likely to kill or maim family pets, birds, game animals. Left unattended, as is required for their effectiveness, results in a horrid capture or death. Other, better, methods are available to protect livestock.

SUPPORT HB1061 to limit the size of research breeding operations. Large scale operations in factory farming of dogs have shown to be prone to animal welfare violations, including the current facility located in VA. While a limited number of research animals still may be needed by VA's veterinary schools to train the next generations of vets, prohibiting sales to foreign countries limits animals' potential of being placed in animal testing facilities performing tests which are in conflict with VA's no animal testing for cosmetics law, and other ethically questionable research.

SUPPORT HB1061 to limit the size of research breeding operations. Large scale operations in factory farming of dogs have shown to be prone to animal welfare violations, including the current facility located in VA. While a limited number of research animals still may be needed by VA's veterinary schools to train the next generations of vets, prohibiting sales to foreign countries limits animals' potential of being placed in animal testing facilities performing tests which are in conflict with VA's no animal testing for cosmetics law, and other ethically questionable research.

Snares and steel jaw traps are disgusting. Too many innocent animals are being caught and die horrible deaths. Chewing off legs to get loose. People walking through the woods can get caught too. Make them outlawed and get rid of them. Also animals are not disposable and should never be used for experimenting. Would you like your cat or dog stolen and sold to labs and be blinded or other disgusting testing done on ? Yes there are lots of homeless animals but promote more on neutering or spaying. Stop animal testing please !!

Our lands and the animals that live on our lands should be protected at every cost. At a time when deforestation and the killing of animals in the U.S. and around the world grows more and more, it is imperative to fight against this. If we do not take action and push legislation to protect our land and the animals that live on them, in the not to distant future they will become less and less until they are no more. Please think about this and help to do what you can to make positive change.

On HB 1247 Contests for killing is a horrible thing for these wild animals who have a right to life! Virginia should not be supporting any such practice as this. We cannot continue to allow this competition of multiple killings! This needs to and now!

Please exercise your authority to protect both domesticated and wild animals in The Commonwealth of Virginia. It is our collective responsibility to pursue policies that are ethical and compassionate.

Nothing

It’s hard to believe that these items are still in question. Animal testing and traps/snares are barbaric . With modern technology, there should be no use for animal research which IS animal cruelty. Do you have a family pet? A child, grandchild, sibling? What would happen if they saw a video of what goes on in industrial farming, animal testing labs/facilities and knew you didn’t do anything to stop it. These are feeling, loving living organisms that feel pain and fear. Small caliber guns are likely to make the animal suffer if shot at long range. Breeders should be curtailed and not allowed to sell animals for testing. There should be more fail safes to prevent shops and zoos from neglecting or harming wildlife in their care. In all of the issues, I support the Humane Society of the United States' positions pertaining to your particular bill(s). I do believe HSUS adheres to and promotes the highest standards of integrity in the issues of animal issues, the environment, human concerns, et. al. I hope you can vote with that perspective in mind.

Animal cruelty is never excusable. They are living being with feelings- pain, fear, sadness, loyalty. Selling companion animals for experimentation is despicable. Trapping an animal to suffer agony is despicable. People are judged by how they treat other beings unable to defend themselves. Hunting for trophies is wrong. Trapping for fur is wrong. Mistreatment of hunting dogs is wrong. Discarding dogs to fend for themselves when hunting season is over is despicable. Hunters roaming around someone’s land without permission is just rude for starters. Humans are supposed to be protective of the environment.

I support the Humane Society of the United States' positions pertaining to your particular bill(s). I do believe HSUS adheres to and promotes the highest standards of integrity in the issues of animal issues, the environment, human concerns, et. al. I hope you can vote with that perspective in mind.

Support

NA

Please stop hunting animals, breeding animals for research (or in general - adopt!), and other horrific abuse towards innocent creatures!! It is absolutely despicable!

Please stop animal cruelty!

I support any bill that will provide enhanced protection for wildlife. They have no voices to speak for themselves and as we encroach on their habitat, they struggle to survive without humans killing them for fun. Domestic animals, livestock, and pets also deserve as much protection as we can give them. Hunters should not be allowed on private land. I also support any environmental effort that will protect our natural resources, environment, and wildlife.

I wish to encourage support for all legislation that enhances the protections of all animals and improves the quality of life of animals. Additionally, I encourage support for all legislation that is intended to improve our society's dedication and action to reduce the man-made conditions leading to climate change.

pass all of the laws above

Protect our wildlife and water resources. Restrict hunting on sundays. No snares or trapping. No animals gor research.

The greatness of a nation and its MORAL PROGRESS can be judged by the way it treats its animals, its wilderness and its most vulnerable inhabitants.

Protect Virginia's environment from Republiklans

Protection of Land, Water, Air, Soil and all animals is up to us and for future generations a must.

HB523 Research or experimentation of any kind should be prohibited with all animals especially dogs and cats

HB1029

Please email the above mentioned bills to me.

Stop the cruelty. Support this bill.

It's our duty to protect our animals from cruel and barbaric practices. Hunting with traps that cause excessive pain is horrific, and killing competitions should have no place in a civilized society.

Animal testing on domestic animals has no place in VA (HB 1061) Private well water should be as much, or more, protected than pubic water supplies (HB 1200)

Please support HB1061. Passing this bill would be a start in reducing the number of animals being sold for experimentation purposes.

These beagles need our protection. I support this bill.

Do the right thing

Please vote in support of HB1061, HB1175, HB1176, HB1247, HB1313, HB255, HB523, HB725. It is astonishing to me that we as citizens of Virginia continue to treat animals wild and domesticated, in such horrific ways. The practices referenced in these bills are barbaric and have no place in the Commonwealth of Virginia. I wish there was more publicity about the practices referenced in these pieces of legislation because if there was I am positive the outpouring of support would be so great it would crash your website. Mahatma Gandhi summed it up well when he said "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Please join other states of this great nation in banning such cruel and inhumane treatment of the animals it is our job to protect.

The Humane Society of Fairfax County SUPPORTS this bill. We endorse any improvements in animal welfare.

On behalf of the donors, volunteers and adopters of the Humane Society of Fairfax County we STRONGLY support this bill.

Please do not report HB262, and move to report HB1330, 1350, 1061, 523, 1313.

I urge support of HB 1029, the greatest threat to wildlife is humans, esp autos. I support HB 1061, HB 1350, HB 255, HB 523, we do not need animal research in the form of dogs cats or other larger animals. If Pigs are used (because of their hearts) they should be treated humanely. I am totally for HB 1175, 1176, HB725. Trapping or snaring animals, esp with a steel trap is vicious and cruel. They should be banned. No civilized country does this. Zoos and Petting zoos (HB53) should be prohibited. There is no need for this and exotic animals should be left alone. Besides if someone wants to see an animal, they can go to the internet. I support HB467, owners need to be held responsible. HB1330, why are all dogs and cats not required to be chipped, they should be. thank you regards Gerald Bowman

I am writing in support of prohibiting snares and steel jawed traps. This method of capture is cruel and non-target animals are too frequently victims. Additionally, I whole heartedly support the banning of fur bearing killing contests. These contests are not scientifically backed in helping reduce numbers, especially in coyotes where the opposite effect can be seen. They are cruel, needless, and serve only to perpetuate misinformed prejudices.

Comments Document

Dear Delegates, please support HB 255, 1061, 1313, and 1350. The conditions at the Envigo breeding facility in Cumberland, VA are just horrendous. Beagle dogs and puppies are so mistreated, abused, and neglected at this facility. We need to hold them to minimum standards. This facility has 5,000 beagles, with only 15 employees to take care of them all. During recent investigations by the USDA, this facility had over 26 violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Many of these citations were critical. The operation going on there is lazy, cruel, and inhumane. 300 beagle puppies were found dead during the investigations, and there was no reported cause of death for any of them. Puppies' paws were injured and swollen from the lack of proper support in the kennels. Nursing beagle mothers were purposely not fed food or water. These animals are already destined for a life of inhumane scientific testing, they do not need to suffer any more at this facility in the Commonwealth before they are sold for experiments. Beagles are loving, smart, and forgiving dogs, which makes them an easy target for animal testing. Man's best friend deserves better. The attached fact sheet has more information on this issue. Thank you.

It’s hard to believe that these items are still in question. Animal testing and traps/snares are barbaric . With modern technology, there should be no use for animal research which IS animal cruelty. Do you have a family pet? A child, grandchild, sibling? What would happen if they saw a video of what goes on in industrial farming, animal testing labs/facilities and knew you didn’t do anything to stop it. These are feeling, loving living organisms that feel pain and fear. Small caliber guns are likely to make the animal suffer if shot at long range. Breeders should be curtailed and not allowed to sell animals for testing. There should be more fail safes to prevent shops and zoos from neglecting or harming wildlife in their care. In all of the issues, I support the Humane Society of the United States' positions pertaining to your particular bill(s). I do believe HSUS adheres to and promotes the highest standards of integrity in the issues of animal issues, the environment, human concerns, et. al. I hope you can vote with that perspective in mind.

I would like it if you would vote on these laws for the animals. Be their voice.

Absolutely ban the breeding of ANY species for animal testing, foreign or domestic. I fully support this bill, and actually think it doesn’t go far enough. But it’s a good start. Pass HB 1061 now.

Passing this bill would be a start in reducing the number of animals being sold for experimentation purposes. The Cumberland county research breeding facility is a disgrace to all Virginians. They need to provide humane treatment of these doomed animals. We have to protect animals, sentient beings from unnecessary terror and torture. Virginia needs to start being a leader in animal protections. By passing this law, China would have to find another source for animal testing every cosmetic they manufacture. Even the need for animal testing for medical research has long been discounted by experts. Aysha Akhtar, MD, MPH, neurologist and author of Animals and Public Health: Why Treating Animals Better Is Critical to Human Welfare, stated in her Oct. 21, 2013 email to ProCon.org: “Regardless of any role animal experiments may have played in the past, the mounting evidence shows that using animals today is largely ineffective in helping us understand human physiology, predict human toxins and find useful drugs. Despite some similarities between humans and non-human animals, medicine now deals with the subtle nuances of physiological mechanisms and genetics that are unique to humans. While animals may be ‘whole models,’ they are the wrong whole models because of inter-species differences. Failures of animal experiments have led to human harm. Moreover, misleading animal experiments may have caused the abandonment of effective drugs and cures. One can’t help wonder: how many people would have been saved if we used more effective human-based testing methods? Animal experimentation is a relic of the past. Instead of wasting time, human and animal lives, and our tax dollars on misleading animal experiments, we must devote our resources into finding and using sophisticated human-based tests that mimic the whole human body. Our lives depend on this.” Please ban the sale of these animals to foreign countries AS A START to shutting down this deplorable business and industry. Thank you.

I am writing in support of HB 255, HB1061, HB1313 and HB1350, which would regulate facilities that breed dogs and cats for experimentation. As you may know, there currently are 11 bills pending in the House and Senate to regulate in some way facilities that breed dogs and cats for research and experimentation. Why do we have as many as 11 bills pending now? Because a signature Beagle breeding facility, Envigo, operating in Cumberland County, 40 miles outside Richmond, has developed an extraordinary record of violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Were these violations found by a partisan group, an animal welfare group? No. In 2017, in November 2021, and on January 27, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued reports citing Envigo for multiple significant and critical violations of the Animal Welfare Act, which sets minimal standards for animal health and safety. Envigo is a global biotech company that houses 5000 beagles in a facility where they are cared for by 15 individuals. Envigo produces 500 Beagle puppies a month. Envigo will argue that it is providing adequate care, that it is taking appropriate follow-up steps to concerns raised, that it regards the health and safety of its animals as a high priority. But as a former employee of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, I must tell you that USDA does not issue violations lightly, that employees are guided by principles of integrity and duty to enforce the laws faithfully. And these violations were issued during both Republican and Democratic Administrations. Because common decency in how we care for companion animals is a nonpartisan value. The bills that are pending offer different approaches to rectifying the truly nauseating violations that have occurred over a five year period. These approaches consider record-keeping and reporting, monitoring and oversight, and prohibition of breeders that have received certain citations for violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Please consider these carefully. But do not end this session without offering these poor cooperative, friendly, congenial, obedient Beagles some respite from their suffering.

HB1061 - I support the passage of HB1061, even though my desire would be for it to ban the practice of scientific testing on animals both foreign and domestic. To limit this to foreign animal testing is only getting the job half done.

Please outlaw the breeding of dogs or cats for testing facilities. There are other ways that tests can be conducted. Torturing dogs and cats in the name of science is unnecessary. The news stories I have read about deplorable conditions at the beagle breeding facility in Virginia break my heart. I owned two beagles, Dani and Cricket, who have now passed on. They were the sweetest creatures. The thought of anyone keeping them penned up without love and affection, of deliberately doing things to them that will cause them pain and injury, is simply horrible. This isn't a Republican or Democratic issue. Please, please support HB1061.

SUPPORT HB1176 to prohibit the use of snare/steel traps of any circumference. Such traps cruelty and indiscriminately harm. Though they may be intended for nuisance animal control, they are equally as likely to kill or maim family pets, birds, game animals. Left unattended, as is required for their effectiveness, results in a horrid capture or death. Other, better, methods are available to protect livestock.

SUPPORT HB1061 to limit the size of research breeding operations. Large scale operations in factory farming of dogs have shown to be prone to animal welfare violations, including the current facility located in VA. While a limited number of research animals still may be needed by VA's veterinary schools to train the next generations of vets, prohibiting sales to foreign countries limits animals' potential of being placed in animal testing facilities performing tests which are in conflict with VA's no animal testing for cosmetics law, and other ethically questionable research.

SUPPORT HB1061 to limit the size of research breeding operations. Large scale operations in factory farming of dogs have shown to be prone to animal welfare violations, including the current facility located in VA. While a limited number of research animals still may be needed by VA's veterinary schools to train the next generations of vets, prohibiting sales to foreign countries limits animals' potential of being placed in animal testing facilities performing tests which are in conflict with VA's no animal testing for cosmetics law, and other ethically questionable research.

Snares and steel jaw traps are disgusting. Too many innocent animals are being caught and die horrible deaths. Chewing off legs to get loose. People walking through the woods can get caught too. Make them outlawed and get rid of them. Also animals are not disposable and should never be used for experimenting. Would you like your cat or dog stolen and sold to labs and be blinded or other disgusting testing done on ? Yes there are lots of homeless animals but promote more on neutering or spaying. Stop animal testing please !!

HB 1029 - We have to protect the environment for wildlife to ensure their survival as it is now against all odds. HB 1035 - Absolutely provide free admittance for veterans. They have lost time with their families and enjoyment of nature. By all means give them free passage to the parks. HB 1061 - We have no right to torture and abuse any animal in the name of science or medicine or cosmetics. Any animal - dog, cat, primate, livestock, end it all now. The Bible says that man has dominion over animals. Dominion is to look after not torture! And all animal testing is horrible torture.

Please end this animal abuse. Breeding in order to make a buck by putting these innocent animals through something like these experiments is absolutely inhumane.

Please stop this cruelty

Cruelty to animals is inexcusable. They are neither for our testing convenience nor for killing contests. Both HB1061 and HB1247 should be supported to show our basic compassion as humans. I want to live in a world--and a state--where the disgrace of animal mistreatment has been conquered by our better, civilized, instincts. The future will certainly judge us that we could not understand how our ecosystem, our existence, and our humanity toward others (including animals) are critically linked.

No animal should be breed for testing of any type. No animal should be used for testing to begin with, this is a horrible and disgusting. Is there no other way to test to see if products work? Especially if these products are cosmetics, there is no need to have so much makeup. This needs to stop NOW!

Please support HB1061. Passing this bill would be a start in reducing the number of animals being sold for experimentation purposes. The Cumberland county research breeding facility is a disgrace to all Virginians. They need to provide humane treatment of these doomed animals.Virginia needs to start being a leader in animal protections. By passing this law, China would have to find another source for animal testing every cosmetic they manufacture. Even the need for animal testing for medical research has long been discounted by experts. Aysha Akhtar, MD, MPH, neurologist and author of Animals and Public Health: Why Treating Animals Better Is Critical to Human Welfare, stated in her Oct. 21, 2013 email to ProCon.org: “Regardless of any role animal experiments may have played in the past, the mounting evidence shows that using animals today is largely ineffective in helping us understand human physiology, predict human toxins and find useful drugs. Despite some similarities between humans and non-human animals, medicine now deals with the subtle nuances of physiological mechanisms and genetics that are unique to humans. While animals may be ‘whole models,’ they are the wrong whole models because of inter-species differences. Failures of animal experiments have led to human harm. Moreover, misleading animal experiments may have caused the abandonment of effective drugs and cures. One can’t help wonder: how many people would have been saved if we used more effective human-based testing methods? Animal experimentation is a relic of the past. Instead of wasting time, human and animal lives, and our tax dollars on misleading animal experiments, we must devote our resources into finding and using sophisticated human-based tests that mimic the whole human body. Our lives depend on this.” Please ban the sale of these animals to foreign countries AS A START to shutting down this deplorable business and industry. Thank you

Our lands and the animals that live on our lands should be protected at every cost. At a time when deforestation and the killing of animals in the U.S. and around the world grows more and more, it is imperative to fight against this. If we do not take action and push legislation to protect our land and the animals that live on them, in the not to distant future they will become less and less until they are no more. Please think about this and help to do what you can to make positive change.

On HB 1247 Contests for killing is a horrible thing for these wild animals who have a right to life! Virginia should not be supporting any such practice as this. We cannot continue to allow this competition of multiple killings! This needs to and now!

Please consider supporting these bills, most of which are inhumane. Soon most everything will be hunted to extinction.

Please exercise your authority to protect both domesticated and wild animals in The Commonwealth of Virginia. It is our collective responsibility to pursue policies that are ethical and compassionate.

Comments Document

Please support HB1061. Passing this bill would be a start in reducing the number of animals being sold for experimentation purposes. The Cumberland county research breeding facility is a disgrace to all Virginians. They need to provide humane treatment of these doomed animals. We have to protect animals, sentient beings from unnecessary terror and torture. Virginia needs to start being a leader in animal protections. By passing this law, China would have to find another source for animal testing every cosmetic they manufacture. Even the need for animal testing for medical research has long been discounted by experts. Aysha Akhtar, MD, MPH, neurologist and author of Animals and Public Health: Why Treating Animals Better Is Critical to Human Welfare, stated in her Oct. 21, 2013 email to ProCon.org: “Regardless of any role animal experiments may have played in the past, the mounting evidence shows that using animals today is largely ineffective in helping us understand human physiology, predict human toxins and find useful drugs. Despite some similarities between humans and non-human animals, medicine now deals with the subtle nuances of physiological mechanisms and genetics that are unique to humans. While animals may be ‘whole models,’ they are the wrong whole models because of inter-species differences. Failures of animal experiments have led to human harm. Moreover, misleading animal experiments may have caused the abandonment of effective drugs and cures. One can’t help wonder: how many people would have been saved if we used more effective human-based testing methods? Animal experimentation is a relic of the past. Instead of wasting time, human and animal lives, and our tax dollars on misleading animal experiments, we must devote our resources into finding and using sophisticated human-based tests that mimic the whole human body. Our lives depend on this.” Please ban the sale of these animals to foreign countries AS A START to shutting down this deplorable business and industry. Thank you.

Nothing

Like another commenter, I cannot believe that Virginia still permits such inhumane treatment of animals. Breeding of dogs and cats for animal testing anywhere, but especially in foreign labs, should be prohibited. There are other means that have been developed for lab testing that protects our animals, but to breed them and then ship them to a foreign country is almost ridiculous. Let the foreign countries do their own inhumane thing and let's not be part of it. Thank you to Delegate Shin for introducing this very important legislation. Please support it and vote to pass HB1061.

Stop abusing animals, we are supposed to take care of them

I strongly support HB1061. To prohibit the breeding of dogs and cats for foreign animal testing. An enormous amount of data shows that there is more reliable testing models than the use of animals. These are domesticated pets that should never be breed for animal testing. Please pass HB1061.

It’s hard to believe that these items are still in question. Animal testing and traps/snares are barbaric . With modern technology, there should be no use for animal research which IS animal cruelty. Do you have a family pet? A child, grandchild, sibling? What would happen if they saw a video of what goes on in industrial farming, animal testing labs/facilities and knew you didn’t do anything to stop it. These are feeling, loving living organisms that feel pain and fear. Small caliber guns are likely to make the animal suffer if shot at long range. Breeders should be curtailed and not allowed to sell animals for testing. There should be more fail safes to prevent shops and zoos from neglecting or harming wildlife in their care. In all of the issues, I support the Humane Society of the United States' positions pertaining to your particular bill(s). I do believe HSUS adheres to and promotes the highest standards of integrity in the issues of animal issues, the environment, human concerns, et. al. I hope you can vote with that perspective in mind.

I feel strongly about banning killing contests of foxes and coyotes along with banning snare traps which mph are cruel and not necessary. Breeders and dealers should be banned from selling cats and dogs for any kind of scientific experiments due the fact that there is technology available that would work just as well.

Animal cruelty is never excusable. They are living being with feelings- pain, fear, sadness, loyalty. Selling companion animals for experimentation is despicable. Trapping an animal to suffer agony is despicable. People are judged by how they treat other beings unable to defend themselves. Hunting for trophies is wrong. Trapping for fur is wrong. Mistreatment of hunting dogs is wrong. Discarding dogs to fend for themselves when hunting season is over is despicable. Hunters roaming around someone’s land without permission is just rude for starters. Humans are supposed to be protective of the environment.

HB1074 lenthen time between rabies vaccines .I.e 5-7yrs.Allow for titer tests. 1176 profit snare/metal traps 1200 no toxic sites near any water sources 111 prohibit hunting on Sundays on state or federal lands in VA. These areas are for everyone and we like to walk/ hike in safety and peacefully 1089 I lived in areas that used parquet in HI. This is deadly and must be banned! 1061 Absolutely prohibit the breeding of dogs and cats for exploitation by others 1029 Wildlife corridors save lives both animal and human

I support the Humane Society of the United States' positions pertaining to your particular bill(s). I do believe HSUS adheres to and promotes the highest standards of integrity in the issues of animal issues, the environment, human concerns, et. al. I hope you can vote with that perspective in mind.

I would like to offer my support to outlaw killing contests of coyotes and other fur bearing animals (HB1247). I would also like to see snare traps for the purpose of hunting or killing prohibited (HB1176). Finally, breeding dogs or cats for foreign animal testing facilities is inhumane, please prohibit (HB1061). We need to protect our animals, not torture them and kill them, thank you.

BAN ALL THESE TOXIC CHEMICALS OUTRIGHT!! THEY WILL ALL END UP POLLUTING WATER, KILLING BEES AND OTHER BENEFICIAL INSECTS, AND CAUSING CANCER, ETC., ETC. THE TRUE COSTS OF THESE TOXINS EXCEED THE BENEFITS!

BAN ALL THESE TOXIC CHEMICALS OUTRIGHT!! THEY WILL ALL END UP POLLUTING WATER, KILLING BEES AND OTHER BENEFICIAL INSECTS, AND CAUSING CANCER, ETC., ETC. THE TRUE COSTS OF THESE TOXINS EXCEED THE BENEFITS!

STOP ALLLOWING THESE OUTRAGEOUS PRACTICES!!

Support

Encouraging your support on the above bills

HB 1029, 1035, 1061, 1067, 1074, 1089 are all bills that need to be passed into law. Please take account of my voice in favor of each of these bills that enhances a humane and healthy way of life.

HB 1061 Please do NOT breed animals for foreign animal testing. This is a barbaric practice and should be stopped. The tests don't really prove anything anyway, it's all about the money.

NA

No i humane practices should ever be allowed.

This is an inhumane practice should should not be continued.

We cannot undo most of the damage humans have done so it is urgent to stop harmful behaviors of humans that effect and endanger animals and environments.

Please stop hunting animals, breeding animals for research (or in general - adopt!), and other horrific abuse towards innocent creatures!! It is absolutely despicable!

Please stop this heinous act.

I support the passage of this bill.

The way a country treats its animals is indicative of the moral character of its people. Unlike traditional hunting, both the breeding of animals for foreign experimentation use and the reprehensible practice of “killing contests” as some sort of public entertainment evokes the barbarism of medical societies and teaches young children that it’s desirable to mistreat and kill animals as much as they please. It’s time to put a stop to these gruesome and ugly practices, and set a better and more humane example for impressionable children as well.

Please protect all animals and ensure there is no animal cruelty. Traps, hunting and any other endeavor that is cruel to animals needs to stop. We are at a tipping point now and the only way out is to promote sustainable plant based agriculture. Animal agriculture is ruining the planet. Hunting is cruel. Animal testing is very cruel. Visit www.caareusa.org for alternatives to animal testing. Please always be kind to animals!

Please stop the unnecessary killings by of the poor wildlife.We have already taken a lot of their habitat and now allowing this mass murdering of these voiceless animals by the sick people. Thank you

Please stop animal cruelty!

Research or experimentation of any kind on any animal should be prohibited. Wildlife killing contests should be prohibited as well as the use of snares and traps. Sunday hunting should be revoked.

“Kill contests” or otherwise hunting for sport should be outlawed.

I support any bill that will provide enhanced protection for wildlife. They have no voices to speak for themselves and as we encroach on their habitat, they struggle to survive without humans killing them for fun. Domestic animals, livestock, and pets also deserve as much protection as we can give them. Hunters should not be allowed on private land. I also support any environmental effort that will protect our natural resources, environment, and wildlife.

Please end these cruel practices!

I wish to encourage support for all legislation that enhances the protections of all animals and improves the quality of life of animals. Additionally, I encourage support for all legislation that is intended to improve our society's dedication and action to reduce the man-made conditions leading to climate change.

pass all of the laws above

Protect our wildlife and water resources. Restrict hunting on sundays. No snares or trapping. No animals gor research.

The greatness of a nation and its MORAL PROGRESS can be judged by the way it treats its animals, its wilderness and its most vulnerable inhabitants.

We have to stop exploiting animals in these barbaric ways whether for sport or science

Time for Republicans to do what the DemocRATS were afraid/unable to do and protect the rights of all (domestic and wild) animals by implementing humane laws.

Good Afternoon, I am submitting my support of the above items. I strongly feel that we need to put more time and planning on what we are doing to our animals, that are due the same respect as we all inhabits of our planet, and out planet. We only have one earth and we have not been responsible on how we treated her.

In today’s world of modern science. There is no room for the cruel and inhumane practice of breeding animals for any kind of testing. There are many humane alternatives that do not exploit the voiceless. Put and end to this practice, we can do better.

Protect Virginia's environment from Republiklans

I do not support the breeding of animals for testing or research. I want it banned. I do not support hunting or fishin and I certainly do not support 'hunting games' where vile people who have guns and nothing better to do go out and be a serial killer for a weekend killing animals for some game and a trophy. GROW UP. I do not support traps or the fur trade and want it to be against the law. I want an end to the killing hunting games previously mentioned. I want breeding or selling animals for animal testing and research no matter what that animal is to be against the law and punishment.

Few things are crueler than animals being killed for prizes and bragging rights. Wildlife killing contests are barbaric events in which participants compete to kill the most, the largest or even the smallest foxes, coyotes and bobcats they can for cash and prizes. Wildlife killing contests are a widespread problem in Virginia—over 60 have been held in the Commonwealth since 2015. These competitions serve no legitimate wildlife management purpose. To achieve high kill numbers, competitors gain an unfair advantage over the animal with the use of night vision, high-powered guns and electronic calling devices that mimic the sounds of coyote and fox young in distress.

HB1061 - Breeding animals for foreign testing I am vehemently opposed to breeding animals for testing of any kind, and the thought that we are allowing breeding animals to then suffer even more by shipping them to a foreign country to only be subjected to cruel and inhumane testing is just horrific. Please take steps to protect the sanctity of ALL life, human and animal.

Please end these animal cruelty practices!

stop this now!!

Please prohibit the suffering of innocent animals and breeding of animals for foreign animal testing, or any testing. It is so cruel! Also stiffen the punishment for those that neglect and/or abuse animals! Also please punish those that abandon their animals, it is neglect! Anyone that harms animals is a danger to society!

Protection of Land, Water, Air, Soil and all animals is up to us and for future generations a must.

We should be protecting our animals, both wild and domestic. We also need to protect our environment. Inhumane treatment of all animals needs to stop.

HB523 Research or experimentation of any kind should be prohibited with all animals especially dogs and cats

Please don't allow for animal breeding for testing. There are many synthetic testings available that are more so effective. This is just cruel and unecessary!

My name is Annie Sullivan and I am a Sophomore at Alexandria City High School. I support HB 1249 and and HB 1293 because it will prevent further food waste in our state. These bills help feed even more Virginians. I hope that you will adhere to your constituents in need and help push this bill forward into our code. The bill comes at no cost to businesses and yet has such a huge impact on tackling the ever growing problem of food insecurity. Thank you for supporting this important legislation.

As co-director of a non-profit site working directly with businesses to make sure their excess food is successfully delivered to entities serving those facing food insecurity, I hear the same unfortunate comment so often: "we would love to donate because we throw a ton away, but we just can't." Most businesses we speak with are not fully aware of the liability protections the federal Emerson Act offers them, so these bills would help Virginia businesses put their food products to good use rather than discarding them. By extending liability protections for food donors, you will greatly impact the community economically, socially, and environmentally. Most businesses truly want to do the right thing and would welcome the guidance that allow them not to discard the products they work so very hard to produce. The average person can't imagine the amount of food a single restaurant tosses out daily. We are lucky to work with distributors and businesses that make a conscious effort to donate their excess but so much more can stay in the food chain. They need to know that they can safely donate their still-wholesome food. Let's help them with their mission to feed people wholesome food - it has to stay out of the landfill to the greatest extent possible. Please support these bills for Virginia business, for the Virginia environment, and for Virginians in need.

Love this bill! Will really help to give back to the community and make it easier as a small business owner.

Please stop this cruelty

My name is Annie Sullivan and I am a Sophomore at Alexandria City High School. I support HB 1249 and and HB 1293 because it will prevent further food waste in our state. These bills help feed even more Virginians. I hope that you will adhere to your constituents in need and help push this bill forward into our code. The bill comes at no cost to businesses and yet has such a huge impact on tackling the ever growing problem of food insecurity. Thank you for supporting this important legislation.

My name is Lauren. I think this bill should be passed because of the significant impact it could make on food insecurity and food waste in Virginia. Sadly, many businesses will not donate their food that is past the best-by date because they are afraid that they will be legally held accountable even though the best-by date was created for inventory purposes and is not a measure of safety at all. This food should be feeding Virginians instead of being wasted and adding to our landfills. This simple yet powerful bill could change that. Please vote to pass this bill for the 840,000+ of your fellow Virginians that are battling food insecurity every day. Thank you.

As co-director of a non-profit site working directly with businesses to make sure their excess food is successfully delivered to entities serving those facing food insecurity, I hear the same unfortunate comment so often: "we would love to donate because we throw a ton away, but we just can't." Most businesses we speak with are not fully aware of the liability protections the federal Emerson Act offers them, so these bills would help Virginia businesses put their food products to good use rather than discarding them. By extending liability protections for food donors, you will greatly impact the community economically, socially, and environmentally. Most businesses truly want to do the right thing and would welcome the guidance that allow them not to discard the products they work so very hard to produce. The average person can't imagine the amount of food a single restaurant tosses out daily. We are lucky to work with distributors and businesses that make a conscious effort to donate their excess but so much more can stay in the food chain. They need to know that they can safely donate their still-wholesome food. Let's help them with their mission to feed people wholesome food - it has to stay out of the landfill to the greatest extent possible. Please support these bills for Virginia business, for the Virginia environment, and for Virginians in need.

Please stop this cruelty

Please email the above mentioned bills to me.

Stop the cruelty. Support this bill.

Stop the cruelty. Support this bill.

It's our duty to protect our animals from cruel and barbaric practices. Hunting with traps that cause excessive pain is horrific, and killing competitions should have no place in a civilized society.

These beagles need our protection. I support this bill.

Please vote in support of HB1061, HB1175, HB1176, HB1247, HB1313, HB255, HB523, HB725. It is astonishing to me that we as citizens of Virginia continue to treat animals wild and domesticated, in such horrific ways. The practices referenced in these bills are barbaric and have no place in the Commonwealth of Virginia. I wish there was more publicity about the practices referenced in these pieces of legislation because if there was I am positive the outpouring of support would be so great it would crash your website. Mahatma Gandhi summed it up well when he said "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Please join other states of this great nation in banning such cruel and inhumane treatment of the animals it is our job to protect.

The Humane Society of Fairfax County SUPPORTS this bill. We endorse any improvements in animal welfare.

On behalf of the donors, volunteers and adopters of the Humane Society of Fairfax County we STRONGLY support this bill.

Please do not report HB262, and move to report HB1330, 1350, 1061, 523, 1313.

Comments Document

Dear Delegates, please support HB 255, 1061, 1313, and 1350. The conditions at the Envigo breeding facility in Cumberland, VA are just horrendous. Beagle dogs and puppies are so mistreated, abused, and neglected at this facility. We need to hold them to minimum standards. This facility has 5,000 beagles, with only 15 employees to take care of them all. During recent investigations by the USDA, this facility had over 26 violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Many of these citations were critical. The operation going on there is lazy, cruel, and inhumane. 300 beagle puppies were found dead during the investigations, and there was no reported cause of death for any of them. Puppies' paws were injured and swollen from the lack of proper support in the kennels. Nursing beagle mothers were purposely not fed food or water. These animals are already destined for a life of inhumane scientific testing, they do not need to suffer any more at this facility in the Commonwealth before they are sold for experiments. Beagles are loving, smart, and forgiving dogs, which makes them an easy target for animal testing. Man's best friend deserves better. The attached fact sheet has more information on this issue. Thank you.

I would like it if you would vote on these laws for the animals. Be their voice.

I am writing in support of HB 255, HB1061, HB1313 and HB1350, which would regulate facilities that breed dogs and cats for experimentation. As you may know, there currently are 11 bills pending in the House and Senate to regulate in some way facilities that breed dogs and cats for research and experimentation. Why do we have as many as 11 bills pending now? Because a signature Beagle breeding facility, Envigo, operating in Cumberland County, 40 miles outside Richmond, has developed an extraordinary record of violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Were these violations found by a partisan group, an animal welfare group? No. In 2017, in November 2021, and on January 27, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued reports citing Envigo for multiple significant and critical violations of the Animal Welfare Act, which sets minimal standards for animal health and safety. Envigo is a global biotech company that houses 5000 beagles in a facility where they are cared for by 15 individuals. Envigo produces 500 Beagle puppies a month. Envigo will argue that it is providing adequate care, that it is taking appropriate follow-up steps to concerns raised, that it regards the health and safety of its animals as a high priority. But as a former employee of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, I must tell you that USDA does not issue violations lightly, that employees are guided by principles of integrity and duty to enforce the laws faithfully. And these violations were issued during both Republican and Democratic Administrations. Because common decency in how we care for companion animals is a nonpartisan value. The bills that are pending offer different approaches to rectifying the truly nauseating violations that have occurred over a five year period. These approaches consider record-keeping and reporting, monitoring and oversight, and prohibition of breeders that have received certain citations for violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Please consider these carefully. But do not end this session without offering these poor cooperative, friendly, congenial, obedient Beagles some respite from their suffering.

MY NAME IS RACHEL KEPNES. I am 37 years old and have had beagles all my life. Most of you probably already know who I am. In fact I spoke to one of you on the phone who thinks beagles can be used for hip replacements. Do you know how many beagles get killed and sold for outdated pointless experiments. At the UGA they were eatin alive by flies"while vocalizing in pain". They are being forced to swallow and inhale all types of laundry detergents and cocaine and then they have their mouths taped shut so they cant spit it out. They get thrown into cages like trash, they get their eyes removed and they get their heads shaved and have numbers written on them, just like they get tattoo in their ears numbers with smiley faces. I assume you all know what the Holocaust is? They are living in a facility that in normal circumstances would be a fucking felony. Yet for some reason some of you think this is okay? You think its cool to have beagles being injected and eatin alive having their bodies mutilated for no reason, mind you using our tax payer dollars. It makes me sick to my stomach that ALL of you cannot get on board to shut that facility down. I wonder what happens when you all go home at night after discussing envigo? If you have had animals growing up or do now or have kids or grandkids with animals maybe just maybe someone should take those animals away from you to be experimented on then you will know the pain of what those beagles go through every fucking day of their lives. For what? Pointless experiments? I mean its 2022!! How are we even allowing this to happen, how can any of YOU allow this to happen. What would happen if that facility gets shut down? Millions of beagles go to wonderful homes/rescues paid for by envigo to live the lives they were meant to live. Instead you all can't seem to get on board with that? The ones that want that place to stay open, are you afraid of the big bad Envigo coming after you, or do you like the money they bring in? Or do you just not give a shit? In my opinion I know for a fact some of you want want that place shut down and its about damn time those beagles stop suffering. I mean are you all waiting till everyone of them dies in their and you all have to take responsibility for that when their lifeless bodies get exposed to your public when they realize just what exactly goes on in their backyard. Why don't you bring some of your kids and grandkids out their let them see just what your keeping open. I have attached images of beagles getting tested on as we speak. As well as from the past. Mark my words if you all don't shut that place down I will. I will and have been writing to the AG's, The White House, The FBI and so much more and I will never EVER stop bugging the crap out of all of you(in a nice polite way) until you do what is right, if not for you or the beagles then for future generations who will find out what is going on. I am talking about the kids. I will SHUT that place down and for those that decide to keep it open I will find out your names put you on social media with tags so people know that the few of you that want this place open won't get any votes for the next election. Shut it down. You will NOT hear the last from me if you choose to keep a place like that open. You have my word. Think of just what your voting on when you look at the below photos. If that doesn't make you shut this place down, I have no idea why any of you are in office

HB 1313 - While I don't like the idea of any animal testing facility, I do think that the animals being sent to them should be recorded and tracked for any abuses that occur.

HB1313 SUPPORT. Research breeders should operate under the same reporting requirements as shelter/rescues to provide better early detection of operational and humane treatment issues. Such facilities operating in VA have been cited multiple times for Animal Welfare Act violations. As such they should not be allowed to continue operating with exemptions under VA's laws/regulations for commercial breeders. This bill is a step toward better transparency for research animals whose aid to humanity should engender our utmost protections, not our least concerns.

SUPPORT HB1176 to prohibit the use of snare/steel traps of any circumference. Such traps cruelty and indiscriminately harm. Though they may be intended for nuisance animal control, they are equally as likely to kill or maim family pets, birds, game animals. Left unattended, as is required for their effectiveness, results in a horrid capture or death. Other, better, methods are available to protect livestock.

SUPPORT HB1061 to limit the size of research breeding operations. Large scale operations in factory farming of dogs have shown to be prone to animal welfare violations, including the current facility located in VA. While a limited number of research animals still may be needed by VA's veterinary schools to train the next generations of vets, prohibiting sales to foreign countries limits animals' potential of being placed in animal testing facilities performing tests which are in conflict with VA's no animal testing for cosmetics law, and other ethically questionable research.

SUPPORT HB1061 to limit the size of research breeding operations. Large scale operations in factory farming of dogs have shown to be prone to animal welfare violations, including the current facility located in VA. While a limited number of research animals still may be needed by VA's veterinary schools to train the next generations of vets, prohibiting sales to foreign countries limits animals' potential of being placed in animal testing facilities performing tests which are in conflict with VA's no animal testing for cosmetics law, and other ethically questionable research.

Snares and steel jaw traps are disgusting. Too many innocent animals are being caught and die horrible deaths. Chewing off legs to get loose. People walking through the woods can get caught too. Make them outlawed and get rid of them. Also animals are not disposable and should never be used for experimenting. Would you like your cat or dog stolen and sold to labs and be blinded or other disgusting testing done on ? Yes there are lots of homeless animals but promote more on neutering or spaying. Stop animal testing please !!

Please stop this cruelty

I support HB 1313. This is a reasonable thing to ask to prevent trafficking of pets and to protect dogs and cats from abuse

Our lands and the animals that live on our lands should be protected at every cost. At a time when deforestation and the killing of animals in the U.S. and around the world grows more and more, it is imperative to fight against this. If we do not take action and push legislation to protect our land and the animals that live on them, in the not to distant future they will become less and less until they are no more. Please think about this and help to do what you can to make positive change.

Please exercise your authority to protect both domesticated and wild animals in The Commonwealth of Virginia. It is our collective responsibility to pursue policies that are ethical and compassionate.

Nothing

It’s hard to believe that these items are still in question. Animal testing and traps/snares are barbaric . With modern technology, there should be no use for animal research which IS animal cruelty. Do you have a family pet? A child, grandchild, sibling? What would happen if they saw a video of what goes on in industrial farming, animal testing labs/facilities and knew you didn’t do anything to stop it. These are feeling, loving living organisms that feel pain and fear. Small caliber guns are likely to make the animal suffer if shot at long range. Breeders should be curtailed and not allowed to sell animals for testing. There should be more fail safes to prevent shops and zoos from neglecting or harming wildlife in their care. In all of the issues, I support the Humane Society of the United States' positions pertaining to your particular bill(s). I do believe HSUS adheres to and promotes the highest standards of integrity in the issues of animal issues, the environment, human concerns, et. al. I hope you can vote with that perspective in mind.

I feel strongly about banning killing contests of foxes and coyotes along with banning snare traps which mph are cruel and not necessary. Breeders and dealers should be banned from selling cats and dogs for any kind of scientific experiments due the fact that there is technology available that would work just as well.

Animal cruelty is never excusable. They are living being with feelings- pain, fear, sadness, loyalty. Selling companion animals for experimentation is despicable. Trapping an animal to suffer agony is despicable. People are judged by how they treat other beings unable to defend themselves. Hunting for trophies is wrong. Trapping for fur is wrong. Mistreatment of hunting dogs is wrong. Discarding dogs to fend for themselves when hunting season is over is despicable. Hunters roaming around someone’s land without permission is just rude for starters. Humans are supposed to be protective of the environment.

I support the Humane Society of the United States' positions pertaining to your particular bill(s). I do believe HSUS adheres to and promotes the highest standards of integrity in the issues of animal issues, the environment, human concerns, et. al. I hope you can vote with that perspective in mind.

Support

Encouraging your support on the above bills

HB 1061 Please do NOT breed animals for foreign animal testing. This is a barbaric practice and should be stopped. The tests don't really prove anything anyway, it's all about the money.

NA

We cannot undo most of the damage humans have done so it is urgent to stop harmful behaviors of humans that effect and endanger animals and environments.

Please stop hunting animals, breeding animals for research (or in general - adopt!), and other horrific abuse towards innocent creatures!! It is absolutely despicable!

Please stop the unnecessary killings by of the poor wildlife.We have already taken a lot of their habitat and now allowing this mass murdering of these voiceless animals by the sick people. Thank you

Please stop animal cruelty!

“Kill contests” or otherwise hunting for sport should be outlawed.

I support any bill that will provide enhanced protection for wildlife. They have no voices to speak for themselves and as we encroach on their habitat, they struggle to survive without humans killing them for fun. Domestic animals, livestock, and pets also deserve as much protection as we can give them. Hunters should not be allowed on private land. I also support any environmental effort that will protect our natural resources, environment, and wildlife.

pass all of the laws above

Protect our wildlife and water resources. Restrict hunting on sundays. No snares or trapping. No animals gor research.

The greatness of a nation and its MORAL PROGRESS can be judged by the way it treats its animals, its wilderness and its most vulnerable inhabitants.

Time for Republicans to do what the DemocRATS were afraid/unable to do and protect the rights of all (domestic and wild) animals by implementing humane laws.

Good Afternoon, I am submitting my support of the above items. I strongly feel that we need to put more time and planning on what we are doing to our animals, that are due the same respect as we all inhabits of our planet, and out planet. We only have one earth and we have not been responsible on how we treated her.

This is cruelty to animals on all circumstances. Need to pass a law to put a stop to these killings for contests and also put a stop to sending these animals for testing. These are God's creatures. They deserve to live not to be killed or sent to these labs for tests. Please put a stop to these 2 matters. Ty

Protect Virginia's environment from Republiklans

I do not support the breeding of animals for testing or research. I want it banned. I do not support hunting or fishin and I certainly do not support 'hunting games' where vile people who have guns and nothing better to do go out and be a serial killer for a weekend killing animals for some game and a trophy. GROW UP. I do not support traps or the fur trade and want it to be against the law. I want an end to the killing hunting games previously mentioned. I want breeding or selling animals for animal testing and research no matter what that animal is to be against the law and punishment.

HB1061 - Breeding animals for foreign testing I am vehemently opposed to breeding animals for testing of any kind, and the thought that we are allowing breeding animals to then suffer even more by shipping them to a foreign country to only be subjected to cruel and inhumane testing is just horrific. Please take steps to protect the sanctity of ALL life, human and animal.

Please end these animal cruelty practices!

Wildlife killing contests should be illegal.

Protection of Land, Water, Air, Soil and all animals is up to us and for future generations a must.

On behalf of the Richmond SPCA, I ask the members of the subcommittee not to support HB1330 as introduced. While we are wholly in favor of pets being microchipped to provide a permanent form of identification should they ever be separated from their guardians, and every pet adopted from our humane center since 2008 has been microchipped, we’re concerned that there will be some unintended consequences for Virginia releasing agencies based on how the proposed legislation is written. The requirement to scan pets for microchips should fall to the agency that first takes custody of a stray pet, not to subsequent organizations to whom that pet is transferred following the requisite stray period. If that wording can be amended, it may be a bill we could support. The Richmond SPCA operates a private animal shelter and our primary intake type is the transfer of homeless animals from other releasing agencies, both in-state and outside of Virginia. Last year we transferred more than 2,200 dogs and cats from other shelters. For animals who came to those other shelters as strays, those shelters have already observed the state-mandated stray hold period, including attempting to identify and contact any owner in order to reunite them with their pet. When no owner comes forward or responds to contact made through microchip information (if there is one), those animals are made available for transfer to private shelters like ours that prepare them for adoption to lasting homes in order to increase lifesaving in municipal shelters. Adding an obligation to scan pets three additional times – at intake, assessment and disposition (in our case, adoption) – and attempt additional contacts with a prior owner listed in the microchip company’s database will substantially delay adoption efforts. Delaying adoption of animals to whom we already have title not only slows the process of finding that animal a lasting home, but it also harms efforts to save the most lives possible. An extra day spent in a shelter instead of an adoptive home means we can’t make that cage or kennel available to the next pet who needs us.

Please do not report HB262, and move to report HB1330, 1350, 1061, 523, 1313.

I urge support of HB 1029, the greatest threat to wildlife is humans, esp autos. I support HB 1061, HB 1350, HB 255, HB 523, we do not need animal research in the form of dogs cats or other larger animals. If Pigs are used (because of their hearts) they should be treated humanely. I am totally for HB 1175, 1176, HB725. Trapping or snaring animals, esp with a steel trap is vicious and cruel. They should be banned. No civilized country does this. Zoos and Petting zoos (HB53) should be prohibited. There is no need for this and exotic animals should be left alone. Besides if someone wants to see an animal, they can go to the internet. I support HB467, owners need to be held responsible. HB1330, why are all dogs and cats not required to be chipped, they should be. thank you regards Gerald Bowman

Please stop this cruelty

Nothing

508 keep our history alive both the good and bad. We, our children need to be taught the truth about US history 479 removal of large and small damns improves the quality of waterways 323 local and sustainable farms are the key to the future of successful farming. Thomas Jefferson believed this 255 dogs and cats should never be used for inhumane research 206 small renewal energy projects should have been implemented decades ago. We are so behind many countries in preserving our natural resources and increasing and implementing renewable energy sources 140 African American gravesites when discovered should be restored and protected as should all of them 1330 Companion animals should be allowed in more place’s especially on public transportation like Amtrak 1301 clean energy= clean air, water, soil, food and this is a human right 1273 I would like to see hunting bears, deer, raccoons, rabbits, coyote, bobcat foxes completely eliminated. They only terrorize wildlife, there is no “sport” in that. 1247 STOP killing contests of any wildlife!!! This is barbaric 1228 Water quality needs to be of the highest standard. It’s a God-given right 1224 if storm water is managed properly we could avoid massive pollution to our rivers and streams , Bays and Oceans

I support the Humane Society of the United States' positions pertaining to your particular bill(s). I do believe HSUS adheres to and promotes the highest standards of integrity in the issues of animal issues, the environment, human concerns, et. al. I hope you can vote with that perspective in mind.

Support

Encouraging your support on the above bills

NA

Please stop hunting animals, breeding animals for research (or in general - adopt!), and other horrific abuse towards innocent creatures!! It is absolutely despicable!

Please stop animal cruelty!

pass all of the laws above

Protect our wildlife and water resources. Restrict hunting on sundays. No snares or trapping. No animals gor research.

The greatness of a nation and its MORAL PROGRESS can be judged by the way it treats its animals, its wilderness and its most vulnerable inhabitants.

Time for Republicans to do what the DemocRATS were afraid/unable to do and protect the rights of all (domestic and wild) animals by implementing humane laws.

Good Afternoon, I am submitting my support of the above items. I strongly feel that we need to put more time and planning on what we are doing to our animals, that are due the same respect as we all inhabits of our planet, and out planet. We only have one earth and we have not been responsible on how we treated her.

Protect Virginia's environment from Republiklans

I live across the street from a wildlife management area. Please don't allow hunting on Sunday. It is the only day of the week when there is any peace and quiet for me, my pets and the wildlife during hunting season.

Please email the above mentioned bills to me.

I OPPOSE HB 53 and 1301. I SUPPORT HB 141, 508, 523, 715, 1266, and 1350. I don't have a stance on HB 351 or 1267, but I do feel it necessary to point out that a zero-emissions vehicle still drives (no pun intended) horrifically unsustainable land use patters by perpetuating suburban sprawl and can still kill a human being if it collides at 35 miles per hour. There is entirely too much emphasis on electric cars when we need to be shifting our main method of getting around away from the car in favor of walking, cycling, rolling, bussing, and rail.

It's our duty to protect our animals from cruel and barbaric practices. Hunting with traps that cause excessive pain is horrific, and killing competitions should have no place in a civilized society.

These beagles need our protection. I support this bill.

Do the right thing

The Humane Society of Fairfax County SUPPORTS this bill. We endorse any improvements in animal welfare.

Please do not report HB262, and move to report HB1330, 1350, 1061, 523, 1313.

I urge support of HB 1029, the greatest threat to wildlife is humans, esp autos. I support HB 1061, HB 1350, HB 255, HB 523, we do not need animal research in the form of dogs cats or other larger animals. If Pigs are used (because of their hearts) they should be treated humanely. I am totally for HB 1175, 1176, HB725. Trapping or snaring animals, esp with a steel trap is vicious and cruel. They should be banned. No civilized country does this. Zoos and Petting zoos (HB53) should be prohibited. There is no need for this and exotic animals should be left alone. Besides if someone wants to see an animal, they can go to the internet. I support HB467, owners need to be held responsible. HB1330, why are all dogs and cats not required to be chipped, they should be. thank you regards Gerald Bowman

Comments Document

Dear Delegates, please support HB 255, 1061, 1313, and 1350. The conditions at the Envigo breeding facility in Cumberland, VA are just horrendous. Beagle dogs and puppies are so mistreated, abused, and neglected at this facility. We need to hold them to minimum standards. This facility has 5,000 beagles, with only 15 employees to take care of them all. During recent investigations by the USDA, this facility had over 26 violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Many of these citations were critical. The operation going on there is lazy, cruel, and inhumane. 300 beagle puppies were found dead during the investigations, and there was no reported cause of death for any of them. Puppies' paws were injured and swollen from the lack of proper support in the kennels. Nursing beagle mothers were purposely not fed food or water. These animals are already destined for a life of inhumane scientific testing, they do not need to suffer any more at this facility in the Commonwealth before they are sold for experiments. Beagles are loving, smart, and forgiving dogs, which makes them an easy target for animal testing. Man's best friend deserves better. The attached fact sheet has more information on this issue. Thank you.

It’s hard to believe that these items are still in question. Animal testing and traps/snares are barbaric . With modern technology, there should be no use for animal research which IS animal cruelty. Do you have a family pet? A child, grandchild, sibling? What would happen if they saw a video of what goes on in industrial farming, animal testing labs/facilities and knew you didn’t do anything to stop it. These are feeling, loving living organisms that feel pain and fear. Small caliber guns are likely to make the animal suffer if shot at long range. Breeders should be curtailed and not allowed to sell animals for testing. There should be more fail safes to prevent shops and zoos from neglecting or harming wildlife in their care. In all of the issues, I support the Humane Society of the United States' positions pertaining to your particular bill(s). I do believe HSUS adheres to and promotes the highest standards of integrity in the issues of animal issues, the environment, human concerns, et. al. I hope you can vote with that perspective in mind.

I am writing in support of HB 255, HB1061, HB1313 and HB1350, which would regulate facilities that breed dogs and cats for experimentation. As you may know, there currently are 11 bills pending in the House and Senate to regulate in some way facilities that breed dogs and cats for research and experimentation. Why do we have as many as 11 bills pending now? Because a signature Beagle breeding facility, Envigo, operating in Cumberland County, 40 miles outside Richmond, has developed an extraordinary record of violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Were these violations found by a partisan group, an animal welfare group? No. In 2017, in November 2021, and on January 27, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued reports citing Envigo for multiple significant and critical violations of the Animal Welfare Act, which sets minimal standards for animal health and safety. Envigo is a global biotech company that houses 5000 beagles in a facility where they are cared for by 15 individuals. Envigo produces 500 Beagle puppies a month. Envigo will argue that it is providing adequate care, that it is taking appropriate follow-up steps to concerns raised, that it regards the health and safety of its animals as a high priority. But as a former employee of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, I must tell you that USDA does not issue violations lightly, that employees are guided by principles of integrity and duty to enforce the laws faithfully. And these violations were issued during both Republican and Democratic Administrations. Because common decency in how we care for companion animals is a nonpartisan value. The bills that are pending offer different approaches to rectifying the truly nauseating violations that have occurred over a five year period. These approaches consider record-keeping and reporting, monitoring and oversight, and prohibition of breeders that have received certain citations for violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Please consider these carefully. But do not end this session without offering these poor cooperative, friendly, congenial, obedient Beagles some respite from their suffering.

MY NAME IS RACHEL KEPNES. I am 37 years old and have had beagles all my life. Most of you probably already know who I am. In fact I spoke to one of you on the phone who thinks beagles can be used for hip replacements. Do you know how many beagles get killed and sold for outdated pointless experiments. At the UGA they were eatin alive by flies"while vocalizing in pain". They are being forced to swallow and inhale all types of laundry detergents and cocaine and then they have their mouths taped shut so they cant spit it out. They get thrown into cages like trash, they get their eyes removed and they get their heads shaved and have numbers written on them, just like they get tattoo in their ears numbers with smiley faces. I assume you all know what the Holocaust is? They are living in a facility that in normal circumstances would be a fucking felony. Yet for some reason some of you think this is okay? You think its cool to have beagles being injected and eatin alive having their bodies mutilated for no reason, mind you using our tax payer dollars. It makes me sick to my stomach that ALL of you cannot get on board to shut that facility down. I wonder what happens when you all go home at night after discussing envigo? If you have had animals growing up or do now or have kids or grandkids with animals maybe just maybe someone should take those animals away from you to be experimented on then you will know the pain of what those beagles go through every fucking day of their lives. For what? Pointless experiments? I mean its 2022!! How are we even allowing this to happen, how can any of YOU allow this to happen. What would happen if that facility gets shut down? Millions of beagles go to wonderful homes/rescues paid for by envigo to live the lives they were meant to live. Instead you all can't seem to get on board with that? The ones that want that place to stay open, are you afraid of the big bad Envigo coming after you, or do you like the money they bring in? Or do you just not give a shit? In my opinion I know for a fact some of you want want that place shut down and its about damn time those beagles stop suffering. I mean are you all waiting till everyone of them dies in their and you all have to take responsibility for that when their lifeless bodies get exposed to your public when they realize just what exactly goes on in their backyard. Why don't you bring some of your kids and grandkids out their let them see just what your keeping open. I have attached images of beagles getting tested on as we speak. As well as from the past. Mark my words if you all don't shut that place down I will. I will and have been writing to the AG's, The White House, The FBI and so much more and I will never EVER stop bugging the crap out of all of you(in a nice polite way) until you do what is right, if not for you or the beagles then for future generations who will find out what is going on. I am talking about the kids. I will SHUT that place down and for those that decide to keep it open I will find out your names put you on social media with tags so people know that the few of you that want this place open won't get any votes for the next election. Shut it down. You will NOT hear the last from me if you choose to keep a place like that open. You have my word. Think of just what your voting on when you look at the below photos. If that doesn't make you shut this place down, I have no idea why any of you are in office

HB1350 SUPPORT. This bill extends to cats the current VA law which provides protection for dogs from sale by breeders with certain violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Cats should also be protected from cruel and inhumane breeders.

SUPPORT HB1176 to prohibit the use of snare/steel traps of any circumference. Such traps cruelty and indiscriminately harm. Though they may be intended for nuisance animal control, they are equally as likely to kill or maim family pets, birds, game animals. Left unattended, as is required for their effectiveness, results in a horrid capture or death. Other, better, methods are available to protect livestock.

SUPPORT HB1061 to limit the size of research breeding operations. Large scale operations in factory farming of dogs have shown to be prone to animal welfare violations, including the current facility located in VA. While a limited number of research animals still may be needed by VA's veterinary schools to train the next generations of vets, prohibiting sales to foreign countries limits animals' potential of being placed in animal testing facilities performing tests which are in conflict with VA's no animal testing for cosmetics law, and other ethically questionable research.

SUPPORT HB1061 to limit the size of research breeding operations. Large scale operations in factory farming of dogs have shown to be prone to animal welfare violations, including the current facility located in VA. While a limited number of research animals still may be needed by VA's veterinary schools to train the next generations of vets, prohibiting sales to foreign countries limits animals' potential of being placed in animal testing facilities performing tests which are in conflict with VA's no animal testing for cosmetics law, and other ethically questionable research.

Snares and steel jaw traps are disgusting. Too many innocent animals are being caught and die horrible deaths. Chewing off legs to get loose. People walking through the woods can get caught too. Make them outlawed and get rid of them. Also animals are not disposable and should never be used for experimenting. Would you like your cat or dog stolen and sold to labs and be blinded or other disgusting testing done on ? Yes there are lots of homeless animals but promote more on neutering or spaying. Stop animal testing please !!

Please stop this cruelty

please support HB 1350. We need to protect our pets from unscrupulous dealers

On HB 1247 Contests for killing is a horrible thing for these wild animals who have a right to life! Virginia should not be supporting any such practice as this. We cannot continue to allow this competition of multiple killings! This needs to and now!

Please exercise your authority to protect both domesticated and wild animals in The Commonwealth of Virginia. It is our collective responsibility to pursue policies that are ethical and compassionate.

Nothing

I strongly support HB 1350. To prohibit the sale of dogs and cats for experimental purposes. An enormous amount of data shows that there is more reliable testing models than the use of animals. These are domesticated pets that should never be used for experimental purposes. Please pass HB1350.

It’s hard to believe that these items are still in question. Animal testing and traps/snares are barbaric . With modern technology, there should be no use for animal research which IS animal cruelty. Do you have a family pet? A child, grandchild, sibling? What would happen if they saw a video of what goes on in industrial farming, animal testing labs/facilities and knew you didn’t do anything to stop it. These are feeling, loving living organisms that feel pain and fear. Small caliber guns are likely to make the animal suffer if shot at long range. Breeders should be curtailed and not allowed to sell animals for testing. There should be more fail safes to prevent shops and zoos from neglecting or harming wildlife in their care. In all of the issues, I support the Humane Society of the United States' positions pertaining to your particular bill(s). I do believe HSUS adheres to and promotes the highest standards of integrity in the issues of animal issues, the environment, human concerns, et. al. I hope you can vote with that perspective in mind.

I feel strongly about banning killing contests of foxes and coyotes along with banning snare traps which mph are cruel and not necessary. Breeders and dealers should be banned from selling cats and dogs for any kind of scientific experiments due the fact that there is technology available that would work just as well.

Animal cruelty is never excusable. They are living being with feelings- pain, fear, sadness, loyalty. Selling companion animals for experimentation is despicable. Trapping an animal to suffer agony is despicable. People are judged by how they treat other beings unable to defend themselves. Hunting for trophies is wrong. Trapping for fur is wrong. Mistreatment of hunting dogs is wrong. Discarding dogs to fend for themselves when hunting season is over is despicable. Hunters roaming around someone’s land without permission is just rude for starters. Humans are supposed to be protective of the environment.

I support the Humane Society of the United States' positions pertaining to your particular bill(s). I do believe HSUS adheres to and promotes the highest standards of integrity in the issues of animal issues, the environment, human concerns, et. al. I hope you can vote with that perspective in mind.

Support

Encouraging your support on the above bills

Any and all contest hunting should be illegal. No hunter should have the right to go onto another person's land to hunt without written permission from the land owner. No cats or dogs should be sold or bred for the purpose of " research." Please take a note of Dr. Anthony Fauci's unimaginable cruel and painful animal research projects. Snare traps should be illegal unless placed where the hunter will step on it.

NA

We cannot undo most of the damage humans have done so it is urgent to stop harmful behaviors of humans that effect and endanger animals and environments.

Please stop this heinous act.

Please stop the unnecessary killings by of the poor wildlife.We have already taken a lot of their habitat and now allowing this mass murdering of these voiceless animals by the sick people. Thank you

Please stop animal cruelty!

I support any bill that will provide enhanced protection for wildlife. They have no voices to speak for themselves and as we encroach on their habitat, they struggle to survive without humans killing them for fun. Domestic animals, livestock, and pets also deserve as much protection as we can give them. Hunters should not be allowed on private land. I also support any environmental effort that will protect our natural resources, environment, and wildlife.

I wish to encourage support for all legislation that enhances the protections of all animals and improves the quality of life of animals. Additionally, I encourage support for all legislation that is intended to improve our society's dedication and action to reduce the man-made conditions leading to climate change.

pass all of the laws above

Protect our wildlife and water resources. Restrict hunting on sundays. No snares or trapping. No animals gor research.

The greatness of a nation and its MORAL PROGRESS can be judged by the way it treats its animals, its wilderness and its most vulnerable inhabitants.

Time for Republicans to do what the DemocRATS were afraid/unable to do and protect the rights of all (domestic and wild) animals by implementing humane laws.

Good Afternoon, I am submitting my support of the above items. I strongly feel that we need to put more time and planning on what we are doing to our animals, that are due the same respect as we all inhabits of our planet, and out planet. We only have one earth and we have not been responsible on how we treated her.

Protect Virginia's environment from Republiklans

I do not support the breeding of animals for testing or research. I want it banned. I do not support hunting or fishin and I certainly do not support 'hunting games' where vile people who have guns and nothing better to do go out and be a serial killer for a weekend killing animals for some game and a trophy. GROW UP. I do not support traps or the fur trade and want it to be against the law. I want an end to the killing hunting games previously mentioned. I want breeding or selling animals for animal testing and research no matter what that animal is to be against the law and punishment.

Please end these animal cruelty practices!

Wildlife killing contests should be illegal.

Protection of Land, Water, Air, Soil and all animals is up to us and for future generations a must.

HB523 Research or experimentation of any kind should be prohibited with all animals especially dogs and cats