A hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 29th for Senate bill 191.  Click here for the background on this bill.  Please try to attend and as you enter the room, sign in and register "for" the bill.  You don't need to speak but a good show of support will help get Leo's Bill passed! 

There are currently two bills active in the Wisconsin Senate that deal with court case dogs.  Both are sitting on Senator Grothman's (R) desk waiting to move forward to a committee hearing. The matter is in his hands.  Please email Senator Grothman and ask him to take action: [email protected]

Below is David Mangold's letter (Save Milwaukee's Court Case Dogs) to Senator Grothman. He gave us permission to share it here. 

Dear Senator Grothman, 

I am writing to ask for your support on SB191 and SB319- both proposed laws dealing with seized victims of cruelty. While SB191 addresses one provision of the law, SB319 addresses many failure points in the seized dog process. 


Under SB319, the process more quickly addresses the needs of the victim. It also will help greatly to address cruelty crimes to ensure a more humane, and safe community. One failure point that is glaring in Milwaukee, is the fact that our local Police might be hesitant to seize a dog under today’s law – considering the publicity that 16 “court case dogs” have received. Is saving a dog and its puppies from a backyard fighter, the right thing to do, considering dogs will go through over two and a half years behind bars with minimal human contact? Especially considering that one outcome is that dogs will get “disposed of” at the end of it all? 


Then there is the fact that the abuser enjoys considerable freedom to continue breeding and keeping dogs while the gears of justice turn slowly. In Milwaukee, a neighbor of one of the accused has put their situation public, on the internet: My neighbor was allegedly busted for dog fighting (allegedly since it's still in court he is guilty lived next to him for two years). They seized 16 dogs from his property and another mans. This case has been going on now for two years and the dogs have been held as evidence meaning no going outside no social contact just the minimal requirements met food,water,and shelter. They are called the Milwaukee court case dogs and I included a link here if you want to check it out. 


Now said neighbor is no longer fighting his dogs but breeding them. Back to back dead puppies every litter selling them at 5 weeks. I have called MADACC to file complaints. They say they need more then one citizen to complain. I have talked to the police they told me that complaints hold more weight if made by a civilian. He kept one of the puppies he was trying to tell me it's back legs are double jointed!!!!!! The poor dogs hips were popping in and out of place every step it takes. I asked how is he even allowed to still own dogs the police said since he hasn't been charged yet that he probably has no agreement about owning dogs in his court papers yet. 


Why can someone accused of dog fighting, a felony in all states, continue to breed and keep dogs? At the same time, the seized dogs are put in the evidence locker? 


Wisconsin ranks #42 – near the bottom – of all states for our dog fighting laws, according to the Humane Society of the United States: http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/animal_fighting/dogfighting_statelaws.pdf I ask that you take SB319 to the next Judiciary Committee public hearing and help us in Wisconsin fix our communities, and help us heal some very deep wounds that our laws have ignored for too long.

It’s time we had safe and humane communities again. SB191 helps a small bit, but SB319 is really what we need- and I assure you that this group will continue to be at the forefront for fight for this matter, and for the seized victims of abuse. David Mangold Justice Alliance for Court Case Dogs

Senator Paul Farrow (R)  (District 33) sent the following response to a constituent that used the Best Friends Animal Society action alert to ask for action on Senate Bill 191, a bill that helps victims of cruelty (dogs seized from cruelty situations) find new homes when they pose no threat to humans or other animals.  Under current law, almost all dogs must be euthanized, regardless of their disposition.



(Name Withheld)

Thank you very much for the email.  

Although I missed the co-sponsorship deadline, I will consider supporting SB 191 should it make it to the Senate floor for a vote.  

As a long time dog owner, this legislation has merit.  

-Paul

Even in non-election years, we, as voters, have the right to let our elected officials know how we feel about an issue and try to influence their votes regarding it.  And as pet lovers, now is the time for us to exercise that right.

On March 8th, Wisconsin state senator, Tim Carpenter, put bill, LRB 1643/1, before his colleagues and asked them to co-sponsor the legislation.  LRB 1643/1 was drafted to make significant and meaningful changes to Wisconsin’s laws regarding animals seized by a city, county, town, or village.

The deadline for state legislators to express their support for this potentially “game-changing” bill is 12pm on Friday, March 22, 2013, which is a mere two weeks away from the date this post was published.  So, as voters and animal lovers, we must make the most of this limited window by contacting our respective state representatives and senators to ask them to support LRB 1643/1…and by asking everyone we know to do the same.

If you are unsure about who your district’s current state senator or representative is, you can easily research your legislator’s name by clicking here.  When you contact your state legislator, make sure you tell the individual you want him or her to support LRB 1643/1 and remember to share your name.

Among the significant changes LRS 1643/1 is drafted to achieve are shortening the length of time animals seized under Chapter 173 or Chapter 951 are held in captivity by a city, county, town, or village and enabling courts to require owners to reimburse the entity that seized their pets to pay for costs incurred by the authoritative body to house and care for their pets after they were seized.

To learn more about why you and each of our state’s legislators should sponsor LRB 1643/1 as well as the exact changes the bill purports to make to Wisconsin’s laws, click here.

Senator Tim Carpenter (D) Senate District 3, announced his intention to re-introduce a bill to improve the process and outcome for seized dogs in Wisconsin.  The following quote is taken from his public Facebook page "Let's end indefinte detention for dogs confiscated as court evidence for prosecutions of dog fighting or abuse.  I will be re-introducing a bill to make it easier for such dogs to be rehabilitated and adopted.  When a bill number is assigned, I'll post it her to allow folks to discuss this issue with their legislators. "

Senator Carpenter then referenced the WISN 12 News story that aired this week describing the plight of the Milwaukee Court Case Dogs, some which have been held in solitary confinement since June 2011.

Here are the links to the news stories:

Part 1: WISN 12 News investigates incarcerated dogs rescued from dog-fighting rings.

Part 2: WISN 12 News' investigation of locked-up dogs prompts actions


Follow the Save Milwaukee's Court Case Dogs Facebook page for more information and updates. 

Thank you for taking the time and initiative to contact my office and to
communicate your support for public registries for animal abusers. I
always enjoy hearing from constituents and it is important that I know
where you stand on the issues.

Should legislation on this issue be introduced next session I will
remain mindful of your support. Your email will also be documented in
our system for future reference.

Sincerely,
Chris

Chris Kapenga
State Representative
33rd Assembly District

Our notes:
Rep. Chris Kapenga is currently running for a seat in Wisconsin's 33rd Senate District.