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| Scooby Goes National |
February 22, 2006 |
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Bill Would Make Adding Bittering Agent to Antifreeze a Requirement
By Carolyn Carlson
Journal Staff Writer
With tails wagging, furry paws waving and lots of hoop jumping, about 30 dogs showed their support for efforts to get a federal law passed to add a bittering agent to antifreeze nationwide.
Rep. Heather Wilson, one of six main co-sponsors of House Bill 2567, which would establish a national standard for requiring antifreeze companies to add denatonium benzoate to offset the sweet taste of antifreeze, said the legislation is pending in both the House and Senate.
"This is an important effort to keep our kids and dogs safe," Wilson said Tuesday. "There are about 1,400 cases of children and 10,000 cases of dogs poisoned each year."
Paul Zorowski, representing Honeywell Prestone, joined Wilson, the dogs and their owners at the Acoma Training Center on Wyoming SE on Tuesday to push for passage of a federal law similar to New Mexico`s Scooby`s Law. Many of the dogs showed off by doing tricks and running through an agility course, which included jumping through hoops.
Zorowski said Prestone and all of the antifreeze industry support the federal legislation.
"While it has taken us a little while to support this legislation, we very much want to see this legislation passed this year."
Zorowski said the industry welcomes having a uniform national standard in order to protect people and animals.
City and statewide legislation requiring the bittering agent became known as Scooby`s Law after the 2003 antifreeze poisoning death of a golden retriever named Scooby. Scooby was at his Bernalillo home recovering from a gunshot wound to the face when he was poisoned by antifreeze.
Scooby`s Law, which went into effect Jan. 1, requires the bittering agent in antifreeze sold in New Mexico. Albuquerque passed a similar bill in 2004.
"This is a simple solution to a deadly problem," said Melinda Eyrich, co-owner of Albuquerque`s Urgent Care Veterinary Hospital. "It would be a celebration if I did not have to watch another animal die from antifreeze poisoning."
Also at the news conference in support of the legislation were New Mexico State Rep. Kathy McCoy, who sponsored the statewide Scooby`s Law, Albuquerque pediatrician Lynn Chilton and Bill Green from the Rio Grande Kennel Club.
New Mexico joined California and Oregon in requiring the bittering agent. Wilson said a number of other states are considering passing similar laws but a national law would be better.
"It would provide a nationwide standard for interstate commerce," Wilson said. |
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