Bill Text: CT HB06591 | 2013 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Requiring The Euthanization Of Any Cat Or Dog To Be Performed By A Licensed Veterinarian In Certain Circumstances.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2013-07-02 - Signed by the Governor [HB06591 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2013-HB06591-Chaptered.html
Substitute House Bill No. 6591
AN ACT REQUIRING THE EUTHANIZATION OF ANY CAT OR DOG TO BE PERFORMED BY A LICENSED VETERINARIAN IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Whenever any cat or dog is euthanized, such euthanization shall be performed in a humane manner by a licensed veterinarian, provided nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the killing of any cat or dog while such cat or dog is attacking a person or another animal under circumstances where a reasonable person would consider such attack life threatening to a person or another animal or likely to cause serious physical injury to a person or another animal. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to apply to (1) the euthanization of any farm animal or livestock, (2) the euthanization of any cat or dog by any law enforcement officer in the course of his or her duties or as described in section 20-197 of the general statutes, (3) the euthanization of any dog in accordance with the provisions of section 22-332b of the general statutes and regulations adopted under said section, or (4) the euthanization of any animal in a facility subject to regulation by the United States Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare.
(b) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(c) It shall be a defense to prosecution under this section that such person euthanized such cat or dog with a life-threatening injury or condition in order to prevent such cat's or dog's further suffering.