Shelbyville Times-Gazette: Blog: Haley Ham Needs Your Help: Antifreeze Bill In TN Legislature

Haley Ham Needs Your Help: Antifreeze Bill In TN Legislature

Posted Thursday, February 21, 2008, at 9:17 AM
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Haley Ham from Sevierville, Tennessee needs your help. Last year Haley's dog, Sam, was poisoned intentionally by someone who used antifreeze. Haley, who is 11 years old, was devastated and has worked very hard to keep others from suffering Sam's fate. Haley collected 1,100 signatures to petition the Tennessee Legislature to pass a law requiring the antifreeze companies to add a bittering agent. Haley was on the hill in Nashville Tuesday to tell lawmakers her and Sam's story. The bill, HB2008, is being sponsored by Janis Sontany of Nashville. The bill has already been passed by the full Senate ( SB2399), which was sponsored by Raymond Finney of Maryville. Unfortunately, it was delayed in the House for 2 weeks. The reason for the delay sights that further studies need to be done on environmental impact. California has had this law in place for the past 5 years, has seen no environmental impact. Haley is now asking for everyone's help. Please contact your local representatives and ask them to support the Haley Ham Act of 2008.

For more on Haley Ham's story click HERE and HERE.

To look up your state representatives, click HERE.

Comments
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Wow! What a brilliant little girl! My hat is off to her parents for being great supporters!

-- Posted by Mary on Thu, Feb 21, 2008, at 9:31 AM

The only problem I have with this is the fact it doesn't take care of the deeper problem . . . why someone would poison the dog. More and likely they poisoned the dog because it was a nuisance to someone. So many people have pets but don't train them properly and just let them loose for other people to deal with. For all we know, if Haley and her family would have spent time training the dog and keeping it on their property then nobody would have been upset and the dog would still be alive. I am not saying it is alright to poison animals because I am against that because it is a cruel thing to do but some people just get pushed to a point because some pet owners will no maintain their pets and they think killing the dog is the only option.

Who knows though . . . but if they are going to pass this law then they need to pass counter laws that allow people to make owners more responsible for their pet's actions.

-- Posted by jaxspike on Thu, Feb 21, 2008, at 9:45 AM

jaxspike,

I can't imagine there being a justifiable reason for poisoning an animal. There are tons of options other than "just kill the stinkin dog". It's true what you say, the dog may have been a nuisance but there is always the option of animal control to come a remove the dog from your property. Heck, for that matter, buy a bb gun and pop the dog until he learns to stay in his own yard.

-- Posted by LauraSFT on Thu, Feb 21, 2008, at 9:50 AM

I didn't say it was justifiable . . . I just said some people use all the options they "think" is available and get desperate.

And to be honest, animal control will only remove an animal if it is posing some form of danger. They are not going to remove a dog for pooping in your yard 50 times a day or tearing up your flower garden, etc.

I just don't agree on taking care of one side of the issue and not the other.

-- Posted by jaxspike on Thu, Feb 21, 2008, at 9:59 AM

I see that, really I do. If the animal is not yours and is on your property animal control (it has been my personal experience) will remove them. All owners should take responsibility for their pets, however, the lack thereof does not make it anyone's place to decide when/how the dog must die. Possibly, if animal control was called and had seen that the dog was in fact a nuisance to the neighborhood, or even the particular neighbor that poisoned him the owners could have been fined or maybe even had their dog taken away and given to responsible owners.

-- Posted by LauraSFT on Thu, Feb 21, 2008, at 10:12 AM

I see both sides of the argument, but there were 2 other dogs poisoned at the same time as Haley's. I think the lawmakers might have had trouble passing it, if Sam had been nothing but a nuisance. But then again, I don't have all the details of the story. The law still might save lives. There are instances of poisonings of house dogs that are let out just to do "their business", or having been poisoned in their own garage. It is extremely inviting to all animals, because of the sweet taste, not just compainion animals. As little as a few licks can do it. Every year, appx. 1400 children are poisoned by antifreeze as well.

http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index....

http://www.poison.org/current/poisonpost...

http://www.slate.com/id/2103821/

-- Posted by cherylrichardson on Thu, Feb 21, 2008, at 10:32 AM

My Mom's next door neighbor has poisoned 2 of her dogs, and he's in a world of trouble if she ever finds out that he may be responsible for the disappearance of her cat. So I guess this takes a personal note with me. The dogs he poisoned were far from a nuisnace he's just a very very bad person, and a drunk one at that.

-- Posted by LauraSFT on Thu, Feb 21, 2008, at 10:39 AM

I feel bad that Haley had to go through something as awful as having her dog poisoned, but I find it impressive that at such a young age that she's doing something about it that will help others. I agree with you, Laura, there is no justifiable reason to poison a dog (or any other animal for that matter).

-- Posted by cfrich on Thu, Feb 21, 2008, at 11:11 AM

Besides intentional, there is also accidental by someone who might be less than careful or if your cooling system springs a leak.

They make cough syrup taste bad to keep children from abusing it, why can they not make antifreeze both smell and taste bad.

No equal treatment needed here. It is a health hazard for all.

-- Posted by stevemills on Thu, Feb 21, 2008, at 1:18 PM

"Besides intentional, there is also accidental by someone who might be less than careful or if your cooling system springs a leak. "

I read up on this online and it seems like all it takes is one lick of antifreeze and it sends an animal into immediate kidney failure. I know that if one of my dogs licked antifreeze in my own driveway by accident, I would never forgive myself for being so careless.

-- Posted by cfrich on Thu, Feb 21, 2008, at 1:40 PM

I think that the bill is a great idea and I commend Haley to bringing awareness and support to it. My wife worked for a veterinarian and told me of how animals suffer from antifreeze. The posts about calling animal control never worked for us when dealing with stray or nuisance animals. We live outside city limits in the county though so I can't attest to the city's department.

-- Posted by papabruce on Thu, Feb 21, 2008, at 6:51 PM

I'm pretty upset today.

This has nothing to do with this topic.

Our little adopted dashound mix darted out the door today, and about 10 minutes later, someone ran over her, and she died.

We adopted her after looking for about a week for the perfect dog. As soon as I saw her, I had to have her. She was perfect! She potty trained good. She learned how to fetch, and she knew what I was saying to her. She slept with us every night. She was my lap dog. We had a perfect respect for eachother.

How can some heartless run over a family pet and not stop to let us know! She had her tag on. The person that hit her could have had the balls to come to our door and tell us what happened. I would not be as upset and mad as I am right now.

We tried to get her back inside when she ran out, but about the time I gave up and closed the door is when she was hit.

She did not suffer. In about five minutes from the time she was hit to the time I had the vet on the phone, she was dead.

So, here's to Sally, the most perfect, irreplaceable dog, who was five months old, spayed last week, and great with my boys. I love you, Sally!

-- Posted by Mary on Fri, Feb 22, 2008, at 9:05 PM

Mary~

I'm so very sorry to hear about Sally. I certainly know how you feel. I don't see how anyone can hit a pet and just keep driving. I can't even wrap my brain around that! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

-- Posted by cherylrichardson on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, at 8:17 AM

Thank you.

I never thought I would take the death of an animal so hard, but I can't stop crying.

I miss her.

Everyone keeps saying that they would be glad to give us one of their puppies, but I just can't replace her right now.

-- Posted by Mary on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, at 9:20 AM