Minnesota Federated Humane Societies, "MFHS" is a Minnesota 501(c) 3 non-profit organization with unique and essential duties and powers. See Minnesota state statutes 343.01 and 343.06. Please also see additional essential powers and duties as stated in Minnesota state statutes 343.10, 343.12, 343.29, 346.37, 346.57, 346.58, 346.37, 347.60, 1721.0490, 2500.7050, 9100.0700.
Minnesota plays a very unique, important and essential role throughout all 87 Minnesota counties. It is a big job with a big responsibility and even though we are listed numerous times in statutes we are not government funded. We rely on donations and because we are not an animal intake facility- (we do not offer adoptions-because we feel it is a conflict of interest), we do not qualify for many of the grants offered to shelters and rescues. In addition, we do not want to compete for the funding that shelters and rescues require to provide sheltering, care and veterinary services. MFHS is in a very unique position, we are the only organization in state statute with these powers and duties, and with it comes unique challenges. We have state-wide jurisdiction and duties throughout all of Minnesota and in order for us to continue to provide these essential services MFHS needs funding. Please support the great work we do and help us to better service you, the animals and all of your communities throughout the great state of Minnesota.
For more information about the MFHS Funding Bill please click here.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), twenty-five states, D.C., and over 140 U.S. cities and counties have laws banning or carefully regulating tethering. The states with tethering laws include AZ, CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, HI, IL, IN, LA, MA, ME, MD, MI, MO, NC, NV, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, VT, and WVA. Georgia does not have a state law banning tethering altogether, but has a myriad of different tethering ordinances depending on which county or city the dog resides.
We are proposing that this potential statute could be positioned as Minnesota Statute 343.41-after 343.40 Dog Houses.
Please consider authoring and/or supporting this bill to help ensure the animal, while tethered, has solid protections in place and we, as state humane agents, in addition to law enforcement professionals, and the public at large, have good language in place to help to assist in the enforcement of the laws for the prevention of wrongs to animals which may now or hereafter exist, and to promote the growth of education and sentiment favorable to the protection of animals.
The 343.41 Tethering Bill has been jacketed and is in need of authors for both the senate and house. Click on the link below to contact your legislators.
Please note that Minnesota has tethering protections in place. See 1721.0520, Kennels, Subp. 6. Animal housing and confinement areas. This tethering restriction only pertains to kennels as defined in Minnesota state statute. If Minnesota had general tethering restrictions/exceptions in place it would help to further protect all dogs, not just those as stated in 1721.0520.
How you can help
Spread the word in support of MFHS and this important legislation. Click on the link below to contact your legislators. CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS
For more information on the bills or how you can help please Contact Us.