Rep. Dan Pabon to Vote Against CO HB11-1063

CAWL legal counsel, State Representative Dan Pabon is a true animal advocate. We wish to thank Dan for being such a great supporter of animals by electing to vote NO on Colorado HB 11-1063.

This bill, introduced by Rep. Wes McKinley – a southeast Colorado rancher – eliminates the power of the commissioner of the Colorado Department of Agriculture to appoint employees of nonprofit corporations as agents to enforcement of laws related to animal care, welfare, and protection.

According to Joe Stafford, president of the Colorado Association of Animal Control Officers, of the 13,000 animal abuse investigations in the state last year, 75% of those were investigated by non-profit animal cruelty investigators. This bill, that Rep. Pabon is against, will require the government and appointed local municipalities to investigate all of the cruelty complaints. With budget cuts and the existing state of the economy, most animal welfare groups are concerned that these investigations just won’t happen.

The bill will be introduced to the House Agricultural Committee on February 21st.