Barbara Barksdale | Oppose HB1766

I am a horse farm owner. I have raised,shown,trained and bred horses for over 40 years. I was the owner/ operator of Equibus Horse Transportation. I am also a pet owner..dogs,cats goats and thanks to my kids-Iguanas,Ball Pythons,Pet rats,rabbits and a Tarantula. I made sure to educate myself and my kids about all of the needs of this motley menagerie. I find it distressing that there is an effort to weaken an almost useless animal protection law even further. No one has a "right" to a pet or livestock. They do ,however,have a responsibility. Species appropriate care,housing and diet. Having a bale of moldy hay and a filthy water source are not enough and now someone wants to weaken even this?! I am so sick of hearing,"Gee-SOMEBODY shoulda done something every time" every time an animal abuse or neglect situation comes to the public attention (Don't even get me started on protection for children) ! Without an evidence-based,Veterinarian supervised standard of care statute with some teeth,we will see more abuse and neglect. Legislators..YOU are the SOMEBODY whose ballpark this is in! "Live Free or Die" is meant to be a noble sentiment....not an excuse for" I'll do whatever the %$#^ I want with MY animals..even if they die.