Advocacy: Get Involved!
Delaware Animal Welfare Task Force
Senator Patricia Blevins, with the support of the State Legislature, has created Delaware's Animal Welfare Task Force to review the current animal welfare system in our state. This committee is tasked with reviewing the effectiveness of our programs for animal control and care, as well as prevention through spay/neuter and animal cruelty investigation and prosecutions. Senator Blevins will make recommendations to the Legislature and Governor's office in March 2013. Faithful Friends will keep the community posted on these recommendations.
UPDATE! Animal Welfare Task Force Releases Recommedations
Senator Patricia Blevins led the creation of an Animal Welfare Task Force to make recommendations to continue to advance our outcomes and conditions for pets in Delaware. As a participating agency, we are very pleased with the final report. The task force recommendations to the legislature and the Governor’s office include:
- Creation of State Office of Animal Welfare to be placed in the State Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Public Health
- The Office will centralize our state's services for:
- Uniform standards and training for dog control and cruelty investigation officers
- Lost/Found pets
- Manage and expand the state's low cost spay/neuter program and fund
- Oversight and support to ensure shelters meet the shelter standard's law (CAPA)
- Research and recommend best practices and funding sources for more programs for the prevention, protection and support for Delaware's pets and those who care for them
- Community cats and Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return as the state's preferred method for cat overpopulation
- Review and recommend improvements to our animal protection laws
- Crate a permanent Advisory Board to this office
- Move emergency management for families and their pets during disasters to DEMA
For a full copy of the report, click here.
Committee membership included: All animals shelters in Delaware, Veterinary Association, Governor's Office, State Legislators, Representatives from County Government and the City of Wilmington, and community representatives.
Delaware Laws that have advanced animal welfare:
2006 Spay/Neuter Law: View Details
2010 Shelter Standards Law: View Details
2012 Anti-Tethering Law: View Details
