LEGISLATIVE SUCCESSES

Turning advocacy into stronger protections for animals

Every legislative session brings opportunities to strengthen Connecticut's animal protection laws and challenges that could weaken them. CVAs work at the Connecticut General Assembly centers on advancing stronger protections, preventing harmful bills from passing, and improving legislation before it becomes law.

Explore each year to see the laws CVA helped shape, alongside advocates, partner organizations, and policymakers, for the benefit of animals across Connecticut.

STRENGTHENED PROTECTIONS

Laws enacted that improved animal welfare

Rabies Quarantine Reform

PA 25-7 (SB 1282) | Effective: May 29, 2025

Reduced the rabies quarantine period for cats and dogs from six months to four months, aligning Connecticut's regulations with recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

PA 25-129 (HB 6277) | Effective: October 1, 2025

Path to Adoption for Animals Used in Research

Required, under certain circumstances, rabbits, guinea pigs, and ferrets used in research to be offered for adoption once research has concluded.

HARM PREVENTED

Defeated legislative proposals that would have weakened animal protections

Wildlife Killing Permit Alterations

SB 1523 | Died on Senate Calendar

Would have expanded the circumstances under which wildlife killing permits could be issued, including by weakening nonlethal requirements and allowing prior-year crop damage as justification.

HB 5134 | Died in Environment Committee

Rabbit Farming Expansion

Would have allowed any one producer to slaughter up to 1,000 rabbits per year for food production.

STRENGTHENED PROTECTIONS

Laws enacted that improved animal welfare

Greyhound Racing Prohibition

PA 24-1 (SB 132) | Effective: October 1, 2024

Fully banned greyhound racing by closing a loophole that would have allowed the practice to resume.

PA 24-142 (HB 5236) | Effective: October 1, 2024

Ban on Animals Used as Prizes

Made it a Class D misdemeanor to use fish, reptiles, birds, or other animals as prizes at bazaars and raffles.

HARM PREVENTED

Defeated legislative proposals that would have weakened animal protections

SB 196 | Died on Senate Calendar

Rabbit Farming Expansion

Would have allowed any one producer to slaughter up to 1,000 rabbits per year for food production.

IMPROVED LEGISLATION

Changes to legislative proposals that preserved or strengthened animal protections before becoming law

Connecticut's Definition of "Animal"

PA 24-69 (HB 5223) | Effective: May 30, 2024

Successfully removed language that would have drastically altered the state's definition of "animal."

STRENGTHENED PROTECTIONS

Laws enacted that improved animal welfare

Animal Shelter Standards

PA 23-138 (HB 5575) | Effective: October 1, 2023

Improved the living conditions of animals in municipal animal shelters.

PA 23-149 (HB 6714) | Effective: October 1, 2023

Animal Cruelty Law Enhancements

Created the crime of "sexual assault of an animal," made veterinarians mandated reporters of suspected animal abuse, and established a mandatory five-year animal possession ban for anyone convicted of animal cruelty.

PA 23-6 (HB 6484) | Effective: October 1, 2023

Horseshoe Crab Protections

Banned the killing of horseshoe crabs for use as bait.

HARM PREVENTED

Defeated legislative proposals that would have weakened animal protections

SB 1149 | Died in Environment Committee

Sunday Hunting

Would have permitted hunting to take place on Sunday's.

IMPROVED LEGISLATION

Changes to legislative proposals that preserved or strengthened animal protections before becoming law

Black Bear Hunting

PA 23-77 (SB 1148) | Effective: October 1, 2023

Successfully removed language that would have formally legalized bear hunting in Connecticut.

PA 23-187 (HB 6726) | Effective June 28, 2023

Rabbit Farming Expansion

Successfully removed language that would have allowed any one producer to slaughter up to 1,000 rabbits per year for food production.

STRENGTHENED PROTECTIONS

Laws enacted that improved animal welfare

Shelter and Tethering Protections

PA 22-59 (HB 5170) | Effective: October 1, 2022

Required adequate shelter for dogs during adverse weather and strengthened tethering regulations

HARM PREVENTED

Defeated legislative proposals that would have weakened animal protections

SB 244 | Died in Environment Committee

Wildlife Killing Permit Alterations

Would have expanded the circumstances under which wildlife killing permits could be issued by adding damage to livestock, poultry, and bees as justification.

IMPROVED LEGISLATION

Changes to legislative proposals that preserved or strengthened animal protections before becoming law

PA 22-54 (HB 5295) | Effective October 1, 2022

Rabbit Farming Expansion

Successfully removed language that would have allowed any one producer to slaughter up to 1,000 rabbits per year for food production.

STRENGTHENED PROTECTIONS

Laws enacted that improved animal welfare

Animal Cruelty in Domestic Violence

PA 21-78 (SB 1091) | Effective: October 1, 2021

Expanded Connecticut's definition of domestic violence to include committing or threatening to commit cruelty to animals as a means of intimidation.

Big Six African Wildlife Protections

PA 21-52 (SB 925) | Effective: October 1, 2021

Prohibited the sale and trade of body parts from six endangered African animals, including the African elephant, African lion, African leopard, African giraffe, Black rhinoceros, and White rhinoceros.

Animal Population Control Program Improvements

PA 21-90 (HB 6504) | Effective: October 31, 2021

Increased funding available for the feral cat grant program and increased reimbursements to participating veterinarians for spay/neuter services.

STRENGTHENED PROTECTIONS

Laws enacted that improved animal welfare

Ban on Intentional Balloon Releases

PA 26-90 (SB 452) | Effective: October 1, 2026

Prohibited the intentional release of helium and other lighter-than-air balloons and required retailers to attach weights to these balloons before being sold.

PA 26-112 (SB 318) | Effective: October 1, 2026

Animal Welfare System Improvements

Required a study of barriers faced by domestic violence survivors seeking placement for companion animals, established a working group to recommend improvements to the animal population control program (APCP), and expanded the State Veterinarian's authority to prevent and control the spread of disease among animals.

Pesticide Reporting Modernization

SA 26-10 (HB 5155) | Effective: June 4, 2026

Established a working group to examine modernization of Connecticut's pesticide database and recommend improvements to pesticide reporting and publicly accessible information.

HARM PREVENTED

Defeated legislative proposals that would have weakened animal protections

Wildlife Killing Permit Alterations

SB 146 | Died on Senate Calendar

Would have expanded the circumstances under which wildlife killing permits could be issued, including by weakening nonlethal requirements and allowing prior-year crop damage as justification.

HB 5548 | Died on House Calendar

Animal Research Transparency

Would have created a new Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) exemption allowing certain animal research and testing records from public colleges and universities to be withheld from public disclosure.

STRENGTHENED PROTECTIONS

Laws enacted that improved animal welfare

Ban on Pet Leasing

PA 19-82 (SB 594) | Effective: July 8, 2019

Prohibited the leasing of dogs and cats in Connecticut. It deemed anyone in possession of a dog or cat under a leasing contract the animal's owner and entitled them a full refund of all amounts paid under the contract.

HARM PREVENTED

Defeated legislative proposals that would have weakened animal protections

SB 586 | Died on Senate Calendar

Wildlife Killing Permit Alterations

Would have expanded the circumstances under which wildlife killing permits could be issued by adding damage to livestock, poultry, and bees as justification.

STRENGTHENED PROTECTIONS

Laws enacted that improved animal welfare

Good Samaritan Protections for Animals in Hot Cars

PA 18-164 (HB 5312) | Effective: October 1, 2018

Protected a person who rescues an animal from a hot car from civil damages or criminal penalties.

HARM PREVENTED

Defeated legislative proposals that would have weakened animal protections

HB 5358 | Died in Environment Committee

Black Bear Hunting

Would have established a black bear hunting season in Connecticut.

Night Hunting of Coyotes

SB 348 | Died in Environment Committee

Would have allowed the hunting of coyotes at night.

STRENGTHENED PROTECTIONS

Laws enacted that improved animal welfare

Nonprofit Animal Shelter Licensing

PA 17-167 (HB 6334) | Effective: October 1, 2017

Required nonprofit animal shelters in Connecticut to register with the Department of Agriculture and comply with regulations governing sanitation, disease prevention, humane treatment of cats and dogs, and public safety.

HARM PREVENTED

Defeated legislative proposals that would have weakened animal protections

SB 522 | Died in Judiciary Committee

Black Bear Hunting

Would have established a black bear hunting season in Connecticut.

STRENGTHENED PROTECTIONS

Laws enacted that improved animal welfare

Desmond's Law

PA 16-30 (HB 5344) | Effective: October 1, 2016

Established the nation's first law allowing courts to appoint pro bono attorneys or law students to advocate for the interests of justice in cases involving the abuse or cruelty of cats and dogs. The law was named for Desmond, a dog who was abused and killed by his human caregiver in 2012.

HARM PREVENTED

Defeated legislative proposals that would have weakened animal protections

Sales Tax on Veterinary Care

SB 946 | Died on Senate Calendar

Would have imposed a sales tax on veterinary care in Connecticut.

IMPROVED LEGISLATION

Changes to legislative proposals that preserved or strengthened animal protections before becoming law

PA 15-244 (HB 7061) | Effective: July 1, 2015

Second Chance Large Animal Rehabilitation Facility

Successfully preserved state support for the Second Chance Large Animal Rehabilitation Facility, preventing the loss of a critical resource for large animals seized in cruelty cases.

STRENGTHENED PROTECTIONS

Laws enacted that improved animal welfare

Pet Shop and Puppy Protections

PA 14-77 (SB 445) | Effective: October 1, 2014

Strengthened protections for dogs sold by pet shops by establishing breeder standards, requiring access to breeder inspection records, and increasing veterinary care reimbursements available to consumers who purchase sick puppies.

Municipal Animal Shelter Improvements

PA 14-205 (SB 309) | Effective: June 13, 2014

Established a task force to study and recommend improvements to municipal animal shelters and provided better management of costs associated with animals in the custody of animal control officers.

Cross-Reporting of Child Abuse and Animal Cruelty

PA 14-70 (HB 5037) | Effective: October 1, 2014

Strengthened Connecticut's cross-reporting laws involving suspected child abuse and animal cruelty.

STRENGTHENED PROTECTIONS

Laws enacted that improved animal welfare

Protections for Dogs During Severe Weather

PA 13-189 (HB 5844) | Effective: July 1, 2013

Prohibited dogs from being tethered outdoors during official severe weather advisories and warnings, except for brief periods of up to 15 minutes.

Spay and Neuter Assistance Expansion

PA 13-99 (HB 5836) | Effective: June 1, 2013

Doubled the number of spay and neuter vouchers available to low-income residents through the Animal Population Control Program.

Humane Euthanasia Requirements

PA 13-236 (HB 6591) | Effective: July 2, 2013

Required the euthanasia of cats and dogs to be performed by a licensed veterinarian.

Ban on Breed-Specific Municipal Ordinances

PA 13-103 (HB 6311) | Effective: October 1, 2013

Prohibited municipalities from adopting breed-specific dog ordinances.

Student Choice in Animal Dissection

PA 13-273 (HB 6329) | Effective: July 1, 2013

Allowed students to opt out of observing or participating in animal dissection at school.

STRENGTHENED PROTECTIONS

Laws enacted that improved animal welfare

Pet Shop Consumer Protections

PA 12-105 (HB 5409) | Effective: October 1, 2012

Strengthened Connecticut’s Pet Lemon Law by requiring veterinary expense reimbursements when consumers keep a sick cat or dog, requiring notice of consumer rights, and establishing fines for inadequate animal care by pet shops.

Animal Control Officer Training and Spay/Neuter Access

PA 12-108 (HB 5446) | ACO Training Effective: June 8, 2012 • Voucher Provisions Effective: October 1, 2012

Required training for new Animal Control Officers and allowed officers to use state spay and neuter vouchers to sterilize animals before adoption.

Repeat Animal Cruelty Penalties

PA 12-86 (HB 5289) | Effective: October 1, 2012

Established a felony, rather than misdemeanor, penalty for a second or subsequent animal cruelty conviction.

STRENGTHENED PROTECTIONS

Laws enacted that improved animal welfare

Municipal Shelter Care and Adoption Standards

PA 11-111 (HB 6303) | Effective: October 1, 2011

Improved standards governing the care and adoption of animals in municipal shelters.

PA 11-187 (HB 5368) | Effective: October 1, 2011

Protections for Animals Transported for Rescue and Adoption

Established regulations governing animals imported into Connecticut for rescue and adoption.

Cross-Reporting of Child Abuse and Animal Cruelty

PA 11-194 (HB 6226) | Effective: October 1, 2011

Strengthened cross-reporting efforts addressing the connection between child abuse and violence toward animals.

HARM PREVENTED

Defeated legislative proposals that would have weakened animal protections

Sunday Hunting

HB 5158 | Died on House Calendar

Would have allowed bow hunting on Sundays in Connecticut.