SALT LAKE CITY -- An animal rights group is establishing their top three priorities for the Utah state legislative session that begins in January.

Animal Advocacy Alliance Executive Director Anne Davis says her group has already found sponsors for each of the three bills they want lawmakers to pass:

• A limit on the number of animals produced by one female orr breeder at a puppy mill;
• An end to the law which allows unwanted pets to go from shelters to research labs for testing;
• Euthanasia as a standard for shelters that receive public money.
• Research labs have only a handful of shelters left in the country where they can maintain a constant flow of animals for testing.

"They prey upon the five shelters in Utah that release those animals," says Davis.

The second bill would put caps on the number of animals that breeders can have. Breeders would also have to get licenses.

The third bill seeks what most animal rights groups believe is the most humane form of euthanasia.

"It would mandate that lethal injection is the only form of euthanasia used in Utah shelters that receive public assistance," explains Davis.

She says many rural shelters still shoot unwanted pets because it's cheapest. In some, cats are drowned or even beaten to death.

The alliance will meet this weekend to gather support.

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