[ SHOWGSD-L ] AKC<> Update: Rhode Island S 2022 Placed On Senate Schedule
- From: Stormy Hope <Stormy435@xxxxxxx>
- To: gsd showlist <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 27 May 2010 13:50:27 -0700
Update: Rhode Island S 2022 Placed On Senate Schedule
http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_idA31
[Thursday, May 27, 2010]
Senate Bill 2022 was approved by the Senate Committee on
Constitutional and Regulatory Issues on May 26, and will next move to
the full Senate. Concerned Rhode Island dog owners should contact
their Senators now.
Rhode Island Senate Bill 2022
[Tuesday, May 25, 2010]
The Committee on Constitutional and Regulatory Issues has scheduled
Senate Bill 2022 for consideration on Wednesday, May 26. As currently
written, this bill contains a number of provisions of great concern to
the American Kennel Club.
As currently written, S 2022 contain the following provisions of
concern:
Outlaw the keeping of any dog tethered or in an outside enclosure for
more than one hour without access to an outdoor housing facility
unless the person in charge of the dog was also outside with it. We
are concerned that this is not reasonable, as many responsible pet
owners have adequate fencing systems that prevent pets from wandering
without the need for the specified housing facility. When weather is
good, such facilities are not necessary, and could be an unnecessary
expense for a responsible owner. Rigid engineering requirements such
as those required in this law should not be necessary for letting the
family dog spend a nice afternoon outside in the backyard.
Allow use of private citizens associated with RISPCA to conduct
inspections and investigations. We believe that inspections and
investigations are an important function that require a minimum level
of formal training. The use of designated law enforcement officers or
duly trained municipal canine officers helps ensure that inspections
and investigations are conducted in an efficient, fair and legal
manner. This helps ensure that evidence is preserved properly in
criminal cases and that responsible dog owners are not targeted by
potentially well-meaning but untrained inspectors who may violate
codes, wrongfully target law-abiding citizens and put the community at
risk for lawsuits.
Use of the term ?guardian? as interchangeable with ?owner?. The
American Kennel Club strongly supports the term "owner" in reference
to the keeping of dogs. We oppose the use of the term "guardian" which
we believe is devoid of the rights and obligations humans have as
owners: to keep, nurture, and protect their animals. Whereas the term
"owner" places responsibility on people for the care and actions of
their dogs, the term "guardian" reduces a person?s legal right to
protect his or her dog and does nothing to promote or require kinder
treatment of animals. AKC strongly supports efforts to educate the
public about their responsibilities as dog owners and their obligation
to provide humane care for their animals, but we believe that animals,
no matter how cherished or unique, are unable to assume rights and
obligations comparable to humans implied by the term ?guardian.? Use
of this term may also undermine the principle of property rights and
open the door to a host of legal challenges.
The AKC encourages all concerned dog owners and breeders in Rhode
Island to contact their legislators and the Committee on
Constitutional and Regulatory Issues, and urge them amend this bill
to address these issues or to not move this measure further forward.
The American Kennel Club strongly supports humane treatment of dogs,
including an adequate and nutritious diet, clean water, clean living
conditions, regular veterinary care, kind and responsive human
companionship, and training in appropriate behavior. The AKC supports
reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of
purebred dogs and do not restrict the rights of breeders and owners
who take their responsibilities seriously. We believe this bill as
written, does not contribute to either of these goals.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Responsible dog owners in Rhode Island are encouraged to contact their
Senators respectfully ask them not to move the bill forward without
addressing the unreasonable provisions in this bill.
To find your Rhode Island legislators, click here.
For information on Communicating Effectively with Your Legislators,
click here.
For more information, contact AKC?s Government Relations Department at
(919) 816-3720, or e-mail doglaw@xxxxxxxx
If you would rather not receive future communications from The
American Kennel Club, let us know by clicking here.
============================================================================
POST is Copyrighted 2010. All material remains the property of the original
author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind
are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the
Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS
PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY
FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE
PROSECUTED.
For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx
VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org
NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/
============================================================================
Other related posts:
- » [ SHOWGSD-L ] AKC<> Update: Rhode Island S 2022 Placed On Senate Schedule - Stormy Hope
