Wisconsin State Senator Fred Risser (D-Madison) is proposing legislation that would require veterinarians to report cases of animal abuse to law enforcement or to a humane officer. Current state law only requires that veterinarians report abuse when an animal is suspected to have been involved in animal fighting.
Risser’s bill expands upon those reporting requirements. Veterinarians would be immune from civil liability for filing such a report under a good faith reporting clause.Says Risser, "It is not enough to report the abuse of an animal only if that animal is suspected to have been used in a fight. My bill builds upon current state statute to address all animal abuse because all animal abuse is a serious matter."
Twenty-nine other states address veterinary reporting of animal abuse.
The bill was sent out for co-sponsorship on April 30, and legislators have until May 10 to add their name to the bill before it heads to the Senate Chief Clerk's office for committee referral. If it passes out of the committee, it will go to the Legislature for a vote. PD
—Compiled from various sources
