In November, we announced that our bond-or-forfeit bills, SB 657 and SB 658, had been introduced in the Michigan Senate and referred to the Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee. These bills would improve the bond-or-forfeit process in the anti-neglect and anti-cruelty statutes that apply when an animal’s owner is charged with neglect or cruelty.
When animals are seized from an abusive or neglectful owner pursuant to a warrant or because of exigent circumstances, flaws in the current bond-or-forfeit process mean that the animals are potentially subjected to being held by the seizing agency at the agency’s expense while a criminal case is pursued against the owner. Michigan Humane drafted proposed amendments to the current bond-or-forfeit process that would effectuate the legislature’s original intent to allow an agency seizing animals in a neglect or cruelty case to obtain a cost-of-care bond or ownership of the animals through forfeiture.
By requiring that the defendant either post a cost-of-care bond or forfeit his or her animal(s) to the seizing agency, these bills will ensure either that the costs of care are appropriately paid by the owner in a timely manner or that ownership of the animal(s) will pass to the seizing agency so that the agency can make prompt disposition decisions. For the animals, this means that funds will be provided for their care or they will be spared a prolonged shelter stay. For animal control (municipal) shelters, this saves taxpayer dollars. For animal protection (private) shelters, this preserves their donor-funded budgets for their intended purpose.
In addition to protecting animals and resources, these bills also have the potential to protect humans from harm. There is a proven link between violence against animals and violence against humans. An improved bond-or-forfeit process will be an incentive for agencies to investigate cases of animal cruelty and neglect, which may also result in identifying human abuse. As mental health issues are often involved in these cases, an investigation could also result in the defendant getting the assistance he or she needs.
The Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee scheduled an initial hearing on the bills on February 15, 2024 and completed the process of taking testimony on February 29, 2024. At the February 29 hearing, the Committee voted to report the bills to the Senate floor with a recommendation that they pass.
Please help us get the bills to pass the Senate!
If you are willing to spend just a few minutes emailing your Senator’s office, you can help us advocate for these critically important bills! It is easy to find out who your Senator is by submitting your address here. After you enter your address, you will get a page with your Senator’s name and contact information.
We recommend a message along the following lines, although you should feel free to use your own words:
Dear Senator [insert Senator’s last name]:
I am your constituent, and my address is [insert your address]. I urge you to support SB 657 and SB 658 when they are presented for a vote. By creating a more effective bond-or-forfeit process in Michigan’s animal neglect and animal cruelty statutes, these bills will protect Michigan citizens, resources, and animals. Thank you for your time and consideration.
If you prefer to call your Senator’s office, that is also impactful. You should expect to speak to a staff member and say that you are a constituent and that you are calling to urge the Senator’s support for SB 657 and SB 658. The staff member may ask you to provide your address.
Elected officials are keenly interested in their constituents’ positions on pending legislation. Investing just a few minutes of your time in support of these bills can have a tremendous impact. Thank you for taking the time to make your voice heard and for speaking for the animals!
We are going to keep working to improve animal welfare and create a more humane community while serving as a voice for the animals through advocacy. Together, we can continue to make a difference in animals’ lives. If you know someone who you think would be interested in this information, please forward this to them and encourage them to sign up for our Legislative Action Network.