More stupid regulations and legislation to oppose.

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The National Animal Identification System ("NAIS") poses a serious threat to all farmers, ranchers, livestock owners, and companion-animal owners, whether they are organic or conventional, small or large, involved with animals for business or for pleasure. If it is made mandatory, every person with even one horse, cow, chicken, pig, goat, sheep, or virtually any other livestock animal on their premises will be required to register their homes and property into a database and subject their property and animals to government surveillance.

Americans would be required to report every time an animal enters or leaves their property, every time an animal loses a tag, every time a tag is replaced, the slaughter or death of an animal, or if an animal is missing. Such events must be reported in 24 hours or owners would suffer an as yet unspecified penalty. Small family farms and organic farmers will be driven out of business by the costs of premises registration fees, individual animal ID fees, event reporting fees, electronic tags or chips, electronic readers, home computers, Internet access, phone service, and reporting software. According to the USDA's plan all of these costs will be born by the animal owners.

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Also:

March 14, 2009



UPDATE ON THE H$U$ NATIONWIDE ASSAULT AGAINST DOG BREEDERS AND ANIMAL OWNERS



ILLINOIS

VICTORY in Chicago!! Ald. Ed Burke (D-14) found he did not have the votes he thought were wrapped up for his mandatory spay/neuter bill and did not call for a vote. According to the Chicago Tribune, Ald. Ray Suarez (31st) appeared to oppose. "It really doesn't make a lot of sense when you tell me what a dog owner can do," Suarez said. Ald. Ed Smith (28th) also said he was opposed to it, after questioning how much it would do to prevent dog attacks. "We're on the wrong track," he said. An underlying sentiment of many aldermen was frustration at being forced to spend so much time on this item rather than critical issues such as crime, budgets, and the economy. Congratulations to all the hardworking dog clubs and special thanks to Dr. Shannon Greeley (CVMA), Dr. Rubin (ISVMA) and Steve Dale for their unwavering support.



OPPOSE SB 53 / HB 198 Licensing Dog Breeder. All information and bill links can be found on the SAOVA website along with easy to use email tools. ILLINOIS LEGISLATION

SB 53 has been slightly amended eliminating the beginning point for licensing of 3 intact females. However, overly strict kennel standards, excessive reporting, and unreasonable disclosures to purchasers remain. The bill has no merit and is flawed beyond repair. SB 53 is scheduled to be read for the 2nd time in Licensed Activities on March 17th.



SAOVA commends Senators Gary Dahl (R-38) and Chris Lauzen (R-25); and Representatives Sandy Cole (R-62), Angelo Saviano (R-77), and Al Riley (D-38) for removing themselves as cosponsors.



MAINE

HP 666, LD 964 An Act Pertaining to the Breeding and Selling of Dogs and Cats, introduced by Representative Wendy Pieh (D-Bremen) 3/10 and referred 3/12 to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation And Forestry and sent for concurrence.



OPPOSE: HP 666, LD 964 is unnecessary over-regulation of dog breeders with excessive kennel fees. The bill amends the definition of "breeding kennel" to specify that 5 or more female dogs capable of breeding are the threshold for needing a breeding kennel license.



HP 666, LD 964 establishes 3 categories of breeding kennels:

A. A breeding kennel that maintains at least 5 but no more than 10 female dogs or cats capable of breeding is a Category 1 breeding kennel. (Fee $75)

B. A breeding kennel that maintains at least 11 but no more than 20 female dogs or cats capable of breeding is a Category 2 breeding kennel. (Fee $250)

C. A breeding kennel that maintains 21 or more female dogs or cats capable of breeding is a Category 3 breeding kennel. (Fee $500)



HP 666, LD 964 creates “conditional licensing” for new applicants until inspections are performed and the kennel passes to the satisfaction of the state inspectors. HP 666, LD 964 establishes fees for follow-up inspections following an infraction. Should two or more follow-up inspections be needed in any calendar year, the department shall charge the licensee a fee equal to 50% of the original license fee for each follow-up inspection. If documents necessary for registration of a dog or cat with a pedigree registry are not provided to the buyer within 60 days of sale, the buyer is entitled to a refund of 50% of the sale price. It also adds a new requirement that a veterinarian must examine animal prior to sale.



Full text of HP0666, LD 964 can be found here: Text and Status for HP 666, LD 964 , 124th Legislature, First Regular Session



Find Maine House Members here: Maine House of Representatives: List of Representatives

Find Maine Senate Members here: SenatorIndex



For more information go to OPPOSE MAINE LEGISLATION LD 946 DOG KENNEL LICENSING or contact Ann Short jasbrittanys@comcast.net



MARYLAND

VICTORY in Maryland for dog breeders! SB318 would have mandated rigid engineering standards and detailed exercise regulations for anyone owning 10 or more intact dogs. The measure also would have limited breeders to owning no more than 50 "breeding" dogs over the age of four months. The Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee rejected this restrictive and costly legislation.



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NORTH CAROLINA

SB 515 Prohibit Penning Of Wildlife. Sponsor: Senator Neal Hunt (R-Wake).

OPPOSE SB 515: The HSUS animal rights agenda does not need a platform in North Carolina law. Fox preserves are highly regulated by our NC Wildlife Resources Commission, consist of hundreds of acres, and contain structures in which the fox can hide. Hunters and their families can run and train the dogs to perform what they have been bred to do for centuries. In typical anti-hunting, animal rights fashion, HSUS is distributing propaganda that penning is a bloody and barbaric sport. Amazingly, Sen. Hunt chose to believe the HSUS spin and agreed to introduce legislation that will close ALL fox pens in North Carolina. SB 515 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources.



ACTION REQUEST: Contact the Senate Ag Committee:
North Carolina General Assembly - Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources (Senate Standing Committee)

North Carolina General Assembly - Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources (Senate Standing Committee)

OPPOSE: SB 460 / HB 460 Commercial Dog Breeders; adds commercial breeder, commercial breeding operations to SECTION 1 G.S. 19A-21 as a category along with pet shops and boarding kennels for the purpose of licensing, regulation and inspection.
(5a) "Commercial breeder" means any person who, during any 12-month period, maintains 15 or more adult female dogs for the primary purpose of the sale of their offspring as companion animals. (5b) "Commercial breeding operation" means the physical location or facility at which a commercial breeder breeds or maintains adult female dogs and their offspring." It mandates standards for care at commercial breeding operations, including requirements for exercise, veterinary care and record keeping to be written by the NC Department of Agriculture at a later date and adds annual veterinary exam and certification for females before breeding.

ACTION REQUEST: Contact the Senate Commerce Committee:
North Carolina General Assembly - Commerce (Senate Standing Committee)

North Carolina General Assembly - Commerce (Senate Standing Committee)

This is reactive legislation to the recent closure of a substandard kennel in Wayne County widely publicized by HSUS. Closing of the kennel and removal of the dogs is evidence that current law adequately dealt with the situation. State licensing and regulation as a commercial entity will end dog breeding for anyone in a residential zoned area. The impact in rural-residential zoned areas will depend on zoning ordinances already in place for each county and the final requirements for housing established by the NC Department of Agriculture.

The bills define as commercial anyone maintaining 15 females during the span of 12 months; does not say intact females, does not define what age is considered adult. The requirement for annual veterinary certification of suitable health for breeding is very vague. Certification could require anything from routine physical exam to an expensive panel of blood tests and x-rays. There is no definition of suitable health for breeding. The bill prohibits breeding females less than 18 months or more than 8 years. This is a precursor for state mandated breeding restrictions.

More information and contacts here: OPPOSE SB460 COMMERCIAL DOG BREEDER BILL



TENNESSEE

OPPOSE SB 258: Commercial Breeder Act

Find talking points and contact information here: SAOVA: Tennessee Commercial Breeder Bil SB0258



Senate Bill 258, sponsored by Sen. Doug Jackson (D-25) and House Bill 386, sponsored by Rep. Janis Baird Sontany (D-53) places breeding of purebred dogs under criminal animal cruelty statutes. The bills classify a Commercial breeder as any person who possesses or maintains twenty (20) or more adult female dogs in whole or in part for the purpose of the sale of their offspring as companion animals. If even one litter of puppies is produced, a commercial breeder licensing would be required. Ownership of 75 is the absolute limit. Background checks will be required for applicants, and the state will determine if the applicant is of good moral character and deserving of the license.



HSUS State Director, Leighann McCollum, responding on behalf of Sen. Doug Jackson confirmed that USDA regulations currently in effect under the Dog and Cat Dealer Act (44-17-101) will be required for the new commercial breeder kennels. Senate Bill 258 was referred to Senate Committee Commerce Labor & Agriculture Feb. 19; no hearings are scheduled at this time.



TEXAS

HB 458 Pet Limits in Counties. Sponsored by Rep. David Lieberman (D-117).

OPPOSE: Allows counties to impose dog limit laws in unincorporated areas, changing the rules on pet owners who have bought homes with no HOA or dog-related deed restrictions.



ACTION REQUEST: HB 458 is scheduled for a hearing Monday, March 16th, 2 PM in E2.016 at the State Capitol, Austin. If you cannot attend the hearing please call or fax.



SB 634 Relating to the unlawful restraint of a dog. Sponsored by Sen. Ken Seliger (R-31)

HB 2001 Companion bill Sponsored by Rep. Brian McCall (R-66)

OPPOSE: Would prohibit tethering under any condition, mandates 150 SF kennel requirements, does not allow dogs to be outside unattended at all during inclement weather (hunting dogs are not exempt). Requirements are unreasonable for lower income and elderly dog owners and will result in increased kill rates at shelters due to owner surrenders, or more dogs at large and therefore dog bites.



SB 554 An act relating to conduct constituting the offense of dog fighting and to the criminal and civil consequences of committing that offense; sponsored by Sen. John Whitmire (D-15).

OPPOSE: Criminalizes the ownership of “dog fighting equipment,” with the intent that the equipment be used to train a dog for fighting, including items common to show and working dog owners: harness, treadmill, cage, decoy, pen, house for keeping a dog, feeding apparatus or training pen. Intent is difficult to prove and would likely be applied selectively based on breed of dog.



ACTION REQUEST: SB 554 is scheduled for a hearing March 17th , 1:30 PM in E1.016 (Hearing Room) State Capitol, Austin. If you cannot attend the hearing please call or fax.



SB 1845 Relating to the sterilization of dogs and cats; providing a penalty. Sponsored by Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-26)

HB 4277 Identical bill by Rep. Jose Menendez (D-124)

OPPOSE: These are statewide mandatory spay/neuter bills for dogs and cats over 6 months of age.



HB 3180 Relating to the licensing and regulation of commercial dog and cat breeders and the regulation of dog and cat dealers; providing penalties. Sponsored by Rep. Senfronio Thompson (D-81)

SB 1910 Identical bill sponsored by Sen. John Whitmire (D-15).

OPPOSE: Imposes excessive reporting; stringent kennel standards, grooming, exercise, socialization, and breeding standards. Defines commercial breeder as anyone who possesses 11 or more adult intact females; breeder may not possess more than 50 at any time.



Text of bills, summaries, contact information, action alerts can be found at:

Lone Star State American Pit Bull Terrier Club Updated List of Bills – Lone Star State American Pit Bull Terrier Club

Responsible Pet Owners Alliance RPOA Texas Outreach - Home



Please share this message widely.



Susan Wolf

Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance - SAOVA, The Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance
Issue lobbying and working to identify and elect supportive legislators