WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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For the 50th episode of Lil BUB’s Lil Show, we dive into two topics pertinent to our local animal community: the fate of Indiana’s bobcats and the future of companion animal welfare in our state.
Senate Bill 241: Taking bobcats
A bill stirring debate is advancing through the Indiana General Assembly. Senate Bill 241, spearheaded by Sen. Scott Baldwin, aims to establish a bobcat hunting season by July 1, 2025. Despite a strong 40-9 Senate approval and an 11-1 vote in the House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources, the bill has faced objection. Bobcats play a crucial role in our environment, helping to maintain balanced ecosystems. Critics of SB 241 question whether Indiana’s bobcats, once listed as endangered until 2005, have truly bounced back enough to be hunted.
House Bill 1412: Canine standard of care
The Indiana General Assembly has passed House Bill 1412, which has sparked a heated debate on the future of companion animal welfare in Indiana. The bill will force cities and counties in the state to allow pet stores to sell puppies from puppy mills. It states that stores must be allowed to source from hundreds of federally-licensed commercial breeders. Thus, the bill would void 21 local ordinances across the state that stop the sale of commercially-raised puppies in pet stores. Critics, including local officials and animal welfare advocates, are strongly opposed to this bill because it would protect and promote the puppy-mill-to-pet-store pipeline. With Indiana lacking significant investment in statewide spay-neuter programs to control and improve overall pet health, the bill’s approach has raised eyebrows.
Opponents of these bills can contact Governor Holcomb’s Office at 317-232-4567 to ask him to veto SB 241 and HB 1412.
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Lil BUB’s Lil Show is a co-production of WFHB and Lil BUB’s Big Fund
Segment production by Christine Brackenhoff and Stacy Bridavsky
Audio support provided by Mike Bridavsky
Theme music: “A Friend” by Lil BUB
