In a letter recently sent to Delaware state lawmakers, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) urged the introduction and passage of “legislation requiring that dogs receive a minimum of three walks per day, with one walk being at least an hour long.”
Ingrid Newkirk, the founder of the animal activist group that claims to have more than 10 million international members, cited the physical and mental welfare of the pups as the driving force behind their proposal. “We hope you’ll agree it’s time to run with our suggestion and become the first state to guarantee a fundamental right of three walks per day for Delaware’s dogs,” she wrote.
The group did not offer any suggestions on how such a law could be enforced. No U.S. state has a similar statute, although the city of Turin, Italy, reportedly has an ordinance imposing fines of up to 500 euros (approximately $580) for dog owners who fail to walk their canines at least three times daily.
State Rep. Bryan Shupe, R-Milford South, who successfully championed legislation designating “rescue dogs” as Delaware’s official state dog and co-owns two businesses that cater to dogs, called the PETA proposal “a gross overreach of government.” He said that while the underlying motivation of keeping dogs happy, healthy, and engaged was well-intentioned, the proposal was woefully misguided.
The 153rd General Assembly will return to work on January 13.
