Current Bills - Vermont Humane Federation

Vermont Animal Welfare Legislation

2023-2024 session

The Vermont Humane Federation keeps a close eye on legislation that could help or hinder our efforts to protect animals, and our members have been actively involved with the passage of several important animal welfare measures over the years. Animals can’t contact lawmakers to tell their stories so it’s up to all of us to be their voice!

Top Priority

H.626/S.292, An act relating to animal welfare

SUPPORT H.626/S.292 (identical companion bills in the House and Senate) which propose to establish the Division of Animal Welfare at the Department of Public Safety to develop, implement, and administer a centralized program for investigating and enforcing animal welfare laws in Vermont. The bill would also establish standards for the operation of the state’s animal shelters and animal rescue organizations, as well as develop standards and quarantine requirements for the importation of animals for adoption.

H.626/S.292 Fact Sheet

H.626 is in the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs. The committee heard testimony from the lead sponsors and drafter on January 25, 2024 which can been viewed here.

How you can help

Other Animal Welfare Bills

S.258, TRANSFERRING FISH AND WILDLIFE AUTHORITY An Act Relating to the Management of Fish and Wildlife

This bill proposes to transfer the authority to adopt rules for the taking of fish, wildlife, and fur-bearing animals from the Fish and Wildlife Board to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The bill would also amend the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Board so that it serves in an advisory capacity to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. In addition, the bill would prohibit the hunting of coyote with dogs.

STATUS: S.258 recently passed the Vermont Senate and was assigned to the House Committee on Environment and Energy.

S.258 Fact Sheet

H.567 PUPPY MILLS An act relating to the sale of dogs, cats, and wolf-hybrids by pet shops

SUPPORT H.567, which proposes to prohibit a pet shop in the State from selling dogs, cats, or wolf-hybrids, unless the pet shop is providing space to an animal shelter or a rescue organization offering dogs, cats, or wolf-hybrids to the public for adoption.

STATUS: Assigned to the House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry

H.567 Fact Sheet

H.536 DOG BREED DISCRIMINATION An act relating to homeowners’ insurance and dog breed discrimination

Support H.536, which proposes to to prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against homeowners based solely on the presence of one or more domestic dogs of a specific breed or mixture of breeds.

STATUS: Assigned to the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

H.536 Fact Sheet

‘There’s no rules or oversight’: New bill seeks to ease Vermont’s animal welfare ‘crisis’

VT Digger, January 24, 2024

Lawmakers Look to Strengthen Animal Welfare Laws

WCAX, January 22, 2024

As Baby Goats Died in Charlotte, Residents Seeking Help Hit Roadblocks

VT Digger, February 6, 2023

The neighbors reported witnessing baby goats dying on a farm in the center of Charlotte last summer. The kids’ screams were heard next door, and neighbors said they could see carcasses from their property. Yet while the animals’ plight was in full public view, neighbors said getting officials to respond in a timely manner proved a frustrating task that resulted in more goat deaths — and exposed a deficient state system for reporting concerns of animal neglect.

Locals Seek Support in Handling Animal Welfare

Addison Independent, October 5, 2023

When around 30 cats were left in Monkton’s Morse Park this past April, residents quickly sprang into action to rescue the abandoned animals. Over the next several months, community members worked to rehabilitate and rehome many of the cats but struggled to find resources to get help handling the situation. Right now, if you have a cruelty case, and you have to confiscate animals, there’s nowhere to put them. You have to find someone with a nonprofit rescue, shelter or sanctuary. These animals have to stay where they are until you find somewhere to put them.

Vermonts Unregulated Pet Rescues Lead to Patchwork in Animal Care

WCAX, December 7, 2023

Vermonters love their pets and have a strong record of adopting rescued or abandoned animals from shelters. Most shelters in Vermont operate with high standards of care, making sure dogs and cats are well-nourished, have veterinary care, and in most cases are spayed or neutered. But you might be surprised to know there are actually no state laws governing the operation of shelters and rescue operations — or limiting the flow of pets into the state, and critics say that can lead to some animals not getting the care they need.