Cheyenne's Howl

Printed in Mountain Messenger on Friday July 18, 1997

Colorado Senate Bill 97-167

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I hope all of you are having as great of a summer as we are here at the Gallery. Each day is nice and warm and I get to meet some great people from all over the country and the world. So far since starting to work here in Silver Plume, I have met and bonded with over 2800 people. I would also like to thank all of those of you who have taken the time to write or e-mail me. I am a little behind answering everyone, but I'll get back to you soon. The problem is on days like these I have so many visitors that when I do get a break I like to find a nice cool shady spot, stretch out, and take a snooze. I also enjoy it when Dad or Carol brings me out some ice cold melon to snack on. Ah summertime, it may be busy but the living is easy. I would also like to say "Hello" to two of my newest friends, Brianna Warren from Carollton, Texas, and Monica Kamm from up in Minnesota. Thanks for your letters.

I have had a lot of people ask me about the Colorado legislative Senate Bill 97-167. It seems that Senators Hernandez, Ament, Bishop, Johnson, Martinez, Phillips, Powers, Rupert, and Wattenberg, along with Representatives Entz, Gordon, Mace, Resser, Udall, Schwartz, and Tupa, all feel that hybrid canines and felines may pose a threat to other animals and humans. I know that all of these people are extremely busy and therefore can only listen to a select number of lobbyists but I wish they would check out all of the facts before they reach a conclusion.

Several of the "facts" that were used to create this bill are either inaccurate or misleading or both. Fortunately, these people were smart enough to realize that they might not have all of the proper information and so Senate Bill 97-167 requires the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture to appoint and convene an advisory group to study the behavior of hybrid canines and felines. This group is made up of fifteen people including the Commissioner, a veterinarian, a representative from the Department of Wildlife, wolf-refuge owners, hybrid canine and feline breeders and owners, animal welfare agencies, and representatives from the agricultural and environmental communities.

My Dad, Mark Johnson, has been appointed to this committee as a representative for owners and breeders. The first meeting was held on July 7th and the next one is to be on July 31st. The committee has until November 15th to complete the study and then will report back to the legislature with a summary of its findings by January 15th. The purpose of the committee is to study the behavior of hybrids and to see if there is a problem with the animals, that is, do they cause a greater number of problems or danger to the public or to other animals as compared to other breeds of canines. If it is determined by the committee that hybrids pose a greater threat to the general public as compared to all other breeds, then it can recommend potential regulations. If any of my readers have any comments or suggestions that they would like presented to the committee, please stop by or write to me at Visions West Gallery, 359 Main Street, PO Box 984, Silver Plume, CO, 80476.

Cheyenne