With a goal to prevent harm to animals and ensure they are received safely by trained staff at shelters, a new bill was introduced to the Iowa Legislature this year.

Introduced by Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown (ARL) Executive Director Austin Gillis, he said House File (HF) 2157 gives law enforcement clear language to hold people accountable when animals are left in unsafe conditions, such as leaving them at a shelter when no staff are present.

“We do experience after‒hours drop‒offs, and while it’s not daily, it happens often enough that animals have been put at risk,” he said. “This bill is about preventing harm and ensuring animals are received safely by trained staff.”

The problem has been a long‒standing gray area in Iowa law. The current statute states that it is not abandonment if an animal is simply delivered to a licensed shelter, but Gillis said “delivered” is not defined.

“Your mail is delivered without you being present or even aware — so the same interpretation has been applied to animals left outside a shelter after hours,” he said.

As the ARL director, he has seen firsthand how the Iowa law was not protecting animals the way people assumed it did. After starting in 2023, a homemade pigeon crate was left at the front door of the ARL with several cats locked inside. Throughout the night, they had no food or water and barely enough room to stand, and were discovered hours later.

“When we reported it, we were told it wasn’t criminal because the cats had been ‘delivered’ to the shelter,” Gillis said. “We disagreed, but we also understood that interpretation matters. The best way to resolve conflicting interpretations is to clarify the law. That incident was the catalyst for pursuing a statutory update.”

Gillis was raised with the belief that if a person does not like a rule, they should work to change it. Thus, he took steps to make the change he wanted to see, and while it has taken several years to get to this point, he is encouraged by the progress made during this legislative session.

So far, the bill has been very well received. When Gillis attended a subcommittee meeting at the Capitol to answer questions and provide real examples, the members agreed the bill closes a loophole and provides clarity.

Given that it has taken a few years to get to the point of introducing HF2157, it might take a while to achieve the ultimate goal — getting the state to recognize companion animals as living beings, not disposable property.

“When someone takes responsibility for an animal, that responsibility doesn’t end when it becomes inconvenient,” Gillis said. “Stronger penalties reinforce that neglect, cruelty and abandonment have real consequences. It’s about accountability and about aligning the law with the values most Iowans already hold.”

He said the ARL has also introduced a proposal to modernize who may administer rabies vaccines in Iowa. Right now, only a licensed veterinarian can administer the vaccine. For shelters and rescues, this creates significant delays in getting animals into homes.

“Our proposal would allow trained individuals — such as shelter managers, vet techs or rescue managers — to be certified to administer rabies vaccines under a veterinarian’s supervision,” Gillis said. “We’re not sure whether it will move this session, but the need is clear.”

Other than HF2157, the ARL is watching several bills such as HF2347, the animal torture bill. Even though the ARL did not bring the bill forward themselves, they strongly support it, he said.

“Iowa is currently the only state where animal torture is not a felony,” Gillis said. “Research consistently shows that animal torture is a precursor to domestic violence and other violent behavior. This bill is overdue.”

While no law will please everyone, Gillis said it is still their responsibility to ensure animals’ needs are represented.

“We advocate for the wellbeing of the animals in our community, and we want people to take seriously the responsibility that comes with pet ownership,” he said. “Being a voice for the voiceless is ongoing work, and we’re always open to conversation, education and collaboration.”

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.