DENVER — To commemorate Animal Welfare Day, Governor Jared Polis joined First Gentleman Marlon Reis and Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera to announce the People for Animal Welfare (PAW) Committee. The Governor also signed HB 19-1092, Animal Ban For Cruelty To Animals Conviction and HB 19-1220, Court Facility Dog During Witness Testimony.
“We are thrilled to announce the PAW Committee today,” said Governor Jared Polis. “This is an opportunity to look at what Colorado can do to protect our animals from cruelty and ensure their wellbeing.”
The PAW Committee will play an advisory role on the state of issues related to animal welfare and animal protection in Colorado.
“This Committee is about protecting Colorado animals and giving them a voice,” said First Gentleman Reis. “There is so much great work happening in our state around animal welfare and the PAW Committee is an opportunity to bring together experts on these issues and make Colorado a national leader.”
“This Committee is made up of a variety of animal welfare experts,” said Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera. “Their input will be critical to making Colorado a top state in protecting animals of all kinds.”
To foster a healthy debate and ensure that the widest possible range of Coloradans have a voice on the PAW Committee, its membership will comprise 14 stakeholders including veterinarians, conservationists, attorneys, representatives of the animal control sector, and senior animal shelter staff. These members have been selected in careful consultation with animal welfare professionals, and following a series of three “summit-style” meetings allowing prospective members to discuss the most pressing problems facing animals in Colorado.
Members of the committee include:
-
Dr. Marc Bekoff, PhD - Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, CU-Boulder
-
Dr. Apryl Steele, DVM - President, Denver Dumb Friends League
-
Justin Marceau, JD - Animal Legal Defense Fund Professor, University of Denver
-
Alice Nightengale - Director, Denver Animal Protection
-
Dr. E’lise Christensen, DVM, DACDV - Veterinarian, Behavior Vets Colorado
-
Dr. Leslie Irvine, PhD - Professor, Arts and Sciences Council, CU-Boulder
-
Katie Parker - Executive Director, Animal Assistance Foundation
-
Phil Tedeschi, LCSW - Director, Institute of the Human-Animal Connection, University of Denver
-
Dr. Jon Geller, DVM - Executive Director, The Street Dog Coalition
-
Dr. Carolyn Karrh - Executive Director, Peace, Love and Paws
-
Janee Boswell - Animal Control Supervisor, Boulder Police
-
Judy Calhoun, CFRE, CAWA - CEO, Larimer Humane Society
-
Anna Stout - Executive Director, Roice-Hurst Humane Society
-
Diane Balkin, JD - Senior Staff Attorney, Animal Legal Defense Fund
###