pdate: FL MSN Bill to be Considered Tuesday, March 24! Print This Article [Monday, March 23, 2009] Late Friday, Florida House Bill 451 was added to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Committee?s agenda for Tuesday, March 24. The committee will consider the bill at 8:00 AM in Reed Hall, 102 HOB, at the Capitol in Tallahassee. HB 451 would require the mandatory sterilization of every dog and cat over four months of age, unless they meet strict criteria for exemption. In mid-February, several media outlets reported that HB 451 sponsor Representative Scott Randolph stated that he intended to issue a "strike all amendment" to replace the original bill with new language. However, such language has not yet been provided. Therefore, it is vitally important that all concerned responsible dog breeders and owners in Florida call, fax, or e-mail the members of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Committee and let them know that you strongly oppose this legislation. The American Kennel Club opposes the concept of breeding permits, breeding bans, or the mandatory spay/neuter of purebred dogs. Instead, we support 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. Additionally, we strongly support and actively promote a wide range of programs to educate the public about responsible breeding practices and the responsibilities of dog ownership. AKC believes that any attempt at restricting the rights and liberties of responsible breeders?especially via mandatory spay/neuter laws?must be defeated. As introduced, HB 451 would: Require owners of every dog or cat in Florida to have each animal sterilized within 30 days of the animal reaching four months of age, or within 30 days of the owner receiving the animal. Provide ambiguous exemptions, including dogs with veterinary certification showing that sterilization would endanger the animal?s health, until such issues no longer exist; Greyhounds currently used for racing, until retirement; show animals registered with an established breed registration organization to be approved by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; dogs or cats that have earned, or are in the process of earning, a competitive sports title; animals trained, or in training, for use in law enforcement, military, or rescue; and animals for which an owner holds a valid breeding permit issued in accordance with an ordinance of a county or municipality. What You Can Do: Concerned Floridians should contact the members of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Committee. Respectfully yet strongly let them know that you oppose mandatory spay/neuter laws, just as HB 451 demands. Florida House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee: Rep. Trudi K. Williams, Chair 303 House Office Building 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-2047 To e-mail Representative Williams, click here. Rep. Ralph Poppell, Vice Chair 222 The Capitol 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-3006 To e-mail Representative Poppell, click here. Rep. Mary Brandenburg 402 House Office Building 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-0260 To e-mail Representative Brandenburg, click here. Rep. Leonard Bembry 1003 The Capitol 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-7870 To e-mail Representative Bembry, click here. Rep. Debbie Boyd 1003 The Capitol 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-9835 To e-mail Representative Boyd, click here. Rep. Dwight Bullard 1401 The Capitol 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-5430 To e-mail Representative Bullard, click here. Rep. Rachel Burgin 317 House Office Building 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-9910 To e-mail Representative Burgin, click here. Rep. Steve Crisafulli 317 House Office Building 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-4669 To e-mail Representative Crisafulli, click here. Rep. Faye Culp 1102 The Capitol 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-2770 To e-mail Representative Culp, click here. Rep. Brad Drake 313 House Office Building 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-4726 To e-mail Representative Drake, click here. Rep. Greg Evers 218 House Office Building 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-8188 To e-mail Representative Evers, click here. Rep. Richard "Rich" Glorioso 222 The Capitol 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-0807 To e-mail Representative Glorioso, click here. Rep. Mia Jones 1402 The Capitol 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-6893 To e-mail Representative Jones, click here. Rep. Debbie Mayfield 317 House Office Building 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-0952 To e-mail Representative Mayfield, click here. Rep. Mark Pafford 1401 The Capitol 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-0175 To e-mail Representative Pafford, click here. Rep. Jimmy Patronis 1301 The Capitol 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-9696 To e-mail Representative Patronis, click here. Rep. Ronald Renuart 317 House Office Building 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-0001 To e-mail Representative Renaurt, click here. Rep. Ron Schultz 210 House Office Building 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 488-0805 To e-mail Representative Schultz, click here. To see AKC?s original post on HB 451, click here. For a copy of the AKC?s Disagree Diplomatically brochure, please click here. For more information, please contact AKC?s Government Relations Department at (919) 816-3720, or e-maildoglaw@xxxxxxxx Begin forwarded message: From: "doglaw" <doglaw@xxxxxxx> Date: March 23, 2009 7:21:44 AM PDT To: <Legislation@xxxxxxx> Subject: URGENT AKC Legislative Alert: FL MSN Bill to be Considered Tuesday, March 24! Reply-To: doglaw@xxxxxxx A new Legislative Alert has been posted on the AKC's web site. To view this alert, please click on the following link, or cut and paste it into your web browser: http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id781.. ; -- Stormy Hope www.carpoc.org AKC Legislative Liaison, GSDCA Sunshine Squad <showgsd.org/sunshine.html) GSDs and more ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2008. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. 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