Michigan

Overview
2004 was a bad year for songbirds in Michigan. Dove hunting was legalized, and no major animal welfare bills were signed into law.

Name            Mourning Dove Hunting Season
Bill number         HB 5029
Sponsor(s)         Rep. Susan Tabor
Action                  Signed on June 18, 2004 by Gov. Jennifer Granholm
Effective date    June 18, 2004
This inhumane bill classifies mourning doves as game. It authorizes the first open season on mourning doves.  The ASPCA opposed this bill.

Name                   Specialty License Plate to Promote Animal Welfare
Bill number         HB 4892
Sponsor(s)          Representatives John Stewart and Glenn Anderson
Action                  Failed
This legislation would have established a "Pets Are Wonderful" plate.   The money generated would be used for grants to licensed animal control or animal protection shelters or to nonprofit animal protection organizations to increase adoption of homeless dogs, cats, and ferrets, to pay for the costs of sterilization of these animals, to improve enforcement, and to pay for the costs associated with the investigation and prosecution of violations of any of Michigan's animal protection laws. 

Name                   Research Facilities and Sources of Animals
Bill number         SB 542
Sponsor(s)          Senators Vale Garcia, Laura Toy, Tony Stamas
Action                  Failed
Prohibited the sale of a dog or cat to a research facility at public auction.  Also prohibited a research facility or dealer from obtaining a dog from a municipal shelter. Required a dealer to hold an animal for seven days after acquisition.

Name                   Requirements for Municipal Shelters
Bill number         SB 543
Sponsor(s)          Senators Valde Garcia, Laura Toy, Tony Stamas
Action                  Failed
Required a shelter to hold a dog or cat for seven days after receipt. The holding period would not apply if it would cause undue suffering because the animal was sick or injured or if the owner requested that the animal be immediately transferred or euthanized.  The shelter operator would have to maintain a record of each dog or cat received, the record to include a basic description of the animal, the date on which the animal was transferred to the shelter, if the animal was transferred by a person other than the owner, the date of notice to the owner, the date of transfer or euthanasia.  Municipal shelters could not dispose of dogs or cats except through adoption, returning them to their owners or transferring them to a law enforcement agency or service dog agency.