Governor Katie Hobbs was joined by advocates for SB1658 at Arizona Humane Society for a July 7 ceremonial bill signing (photo courtesy of the governor’s office).
At a July 7 ceremony held at the Arizona Humane Society’s Papago Park Campus, Governor Katie Hobbs celebrated the signing of SB1658, an animal cruelty law that protects vulnerable pets, known as “Jerry’s Law.”
The bill expands the definition of animal cruelty to include failing to provide medical attention and broadens the definition of cruel neglect to include failure to provide a domestic animal with food fit for consumption, water suitable for drinking, access to appropriate shelter. In addition, the definition of “domestic animal” was modified to include birds, reptiles and amphibians.
In a statement, AHS president and CEO Steven Hansen said, “SB1658 ensures that our state’s pets receive medical attention when suffering and have adequate shelter that protects them from disease and the extreme Arizona heat.
“Before signing, SB1658 was nicknamed ‘Jerry’s Law” by Senator Shawnna Bolick, who sponsored the bill. Jerry is a survivor of a large-scale animal abuse case in Chandler that inspired the bill. It remains one of the most egregious cruelty cases our organization has ever encountered.”
Hansen added, “Jerry’s Law” will save thousands of companion animal lives annually by enabling faster search warrants in extreme cruelty cases.”
