HLS 21RS-2747 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 120
BY REPRESENTATIVE MCKNIGHT
AGRICULTURE: Urges and requests local governing authorities and animal shelters to
adopt policies and programs to provide alternatives to euthanization of healthy dogs
and cats
1 A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request the local governing authorities and animal shelters of the state to adopt
3 policies and programs which provide alternatives to euthanizing healthy dogs and
4 cats prior to December 31, 2025.
5 WHEREAS, safe and humane communities for the citizens and pets of Louisiana is
6a universal goal; and
7 WHEREAS, according to the Best Friends Animal Society, Louisiana ranks fifth in
8the number of dogs and cats euthanized in the nation; and
9 WHEREAS, Louisiana has the second highest euthanasia rate of dogs and cats per
10capita of 7.09 per one thousand population versus the national rate of 1.90 per one thousand;
11and
12 WHEREAS, the total number of deaths of dogs and cats in 2019 was forty-four
13thousand four hundred fifty-eight; and
14 WHEREAS, thirty-nine percent of the dogs and cats that enter Louisiana shelters do
15not make it out alive; and
16 WHEREAS, many of the pets that are euthanized each year are healthy or treatable
17pets that could be placed in homes or feral cats that could be trapped, neutered, and released;
18and
Page 1 of 2 HLS 21RS-2747 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 120
1 WHEREAS, a national survey conducted for the Best Friends Animal Society
2revealed that almost seventy percent of citizens do not want cats impounded and euthanized;
3and
4 WHEREAS, many Louisiana shelters are implementing new and innovative
5programs and policies to provide alternatives to euthanizing dogs and cats; and
6 WHEREAS, these policies and programs include volunteer foster care networks;
7adoption programs; medical and behavioral programs; public education and awareness
8programs; feral cat trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return programs; animal socialization
9programs; and many others; and
10 WHEREAS, the Best Friends Animal Society has introduced a humane initiative to
11end the euthanization of dogs and cats in shelters in the United States by 2025.
12 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
13Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the local governing authorities and
14animal shelters of the state to adopt policies and programs which provide alternatives to
15euthanizing healthy dogs and cats prior to December 31, 2025.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
17Louisiana Animal Control Advisory Task Force and the Best Friends Animal Society.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 120 Original 2021 Regular Session McKnight
Urges and requests the local governing authorities and animal shelters of the state to adopt
policies and programs which provide alternatives to euthanizing healthy dogs and cats prior
to Dec. 31, 2025.
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