Substitute Senate Bill No. 1069 Summary

• Increases bond requirements for animal neglect/cruelty cases from $500 to $1,000 per animal and daily care cost rates from $15-$25 to $20-$30 per day (horses/large livestock).

• Raises kennel license threshold from breeding more than 2 litters annually to more than 5 litters annually, and prohibits individuals convicted of animal cruelty violations from holding kennel licenses.

• Requires pet shop licensees to provide veterinary examinations every 15 days, establish reimbursement/replacement policies for sick or defective animals within 20 days to 6 months of sale, and post customer rights statements.

• Modifies animal control officer reporting requirements to submit monthly service reports to the Commissioner of Agriculture instead of presenting sworn statements to town officials.

• Expands definitions of "service animal" in guide dog protection laws and increases rabies-related penalties; allows consumers to sue pet shops for non-compliance with health guarantees and changes animal euthanasia terminology from "destruction" to "humane euthanasia."