2014 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Virginia’s 2014 Legislative Session ended up being quite dynamic, with a number of legislative victories. These changes will go into effect tomorrow – July 1, 2014.
Legislative Victories
SB 228 (Bailey’s Law): This law requires pet stores
Law Office of Heidi Meinzer Blogs
Latest from Law Office of Heidi Meinzer
Reminder: VDACS Charitable Organization Form 102 Due May 15!
To all Virginia nonprofits, this is a reminder that May 15 is the deadline to renew your Form 102 with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs.
Organizations that wish to solicit
Be Careful What You Ask For: The Dire Consequences of Backyard Chickens
Arlington County has been considering allowing backyard hens for a while now. It is commendable to find a way to obtain eggs in a way that doesn’t support big farms and the egg industry. However, backyard chickens in an urban
Ring in the New Year — but not too loudly!
By all means, ring in 2014 – but don’t be too loud! You may be kicking off the new year with a new noise ordinance.
Fairfax County and other localities in Virginia have not been enforcing noise ordinances since 2009,
A Sniff Is A Search By Any Other Name, But Is It Reliable? Florida v. Jardines and Florida v. Harris
The United States Supreme Court has weighed in on two K9 cases to conclude that a sniff is a search that must be supported by probable cause, and the reliability of that search is judged under the totality of the
More on Tracey v. Solesky and Maryland dog bite cases
The Maryland General Assembly’s Task Force appointed to address Tracey v. Solesky are working on a bill, and the General Assembly may have the opportunity to vote on the bill during an upcoming special session this month. The bill is expected
Hi Five! The USDA Proposes Rule to Close Internet Loophole
Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposed a rule that redefines the definition of “retail pet store” under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) in order to shut a loophole that has allowed retailers
Free Downloads for Virginia Boarding Establishments
I’ve posted before about who is responsible for a boarded animal’s vet care, notice requirements for Virginia boarding establishments, and how bailment law impacts boarders and groomers.
I won’t repeat these posts, but it is vital that
Public Meeting on the Solesky Decision this Sunday
The Maryland Animal Law Center will be hosting a public meeting on the fallout of the Solesky decision and what impact it has on pet care industry companies, rescues and owners. The meeting is this Sunday, May 6 from 2:00
Follow up on the Solesky Ruling
Concerned about the recent Solesky decision in Maryland, and what impact it will have?
Tune in tonight at 8:00 PM on Pit Bulletin Legal News Radio for an in-depth discussion of the Solesky decision, and what impact it is