[ SHOWGSD-L ] AKC<> Illinois Alert... Breeders Bill
- From: stormy435 <stormy435@xxxxxxx>
- To: "showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:27:19 -0800
Note: There were some shenanigans around introducing this bill. It was pulled
yesterday, then late in the day, re-introduced. I don't know enough about the
Illinois gov't, but if it was like AB1634, it could be that they didn't have
the votes in one committee, then re-introduced it in another.
Storm
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_id710.
Illinois Alert! Breeders Bill to be Considered Tuesday, Feb. 10
Print This Article
[Friday, February 06, 2009]
Illinois House Bill 198 will be heard by the House Business/Occupational
Licenses Committee on Tuesday, February 10, 2009, at 10:00 AM, in Room 122B of
the Capitol Building, 2nd and Capitol streets, Springfield, 62704. The American
Kennel Club and our Illinois federation, the Illinois Dog Clubs and Breeders
Association, both strongly oppose HB 198.Therefore, all concerned responsible
dog breeders and owners in Illinois are urged to attend Tuesday?s committee
hearing to show respectful yet strong opposition to the bill; additionally, all
Illinois residents are urged to write their elected officials and the bill?s
chief sponsor, Representative John Fritchey, to express their strong opposition
if they have not already done so.
HB 198 consists of 45 pages of requirements and regulations that are not based
on proven animal husbandry practices, nor will they improve the health and
welfare of dogs in Illinois. The American Kennel Club opposes the concept of
breeding permits, breeding bans, and mandatory spay/neuter of purebred dogs.
The AKC believes that numerical limits do not address the underlying issues of
responsible ownership and proper dog care. 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.
For a customizable sample letter and legislators? contact information, please
scroll to the bottom of this post.
For more information, please contact AKC?s Government Relations Department at
(919) 816-3720, or e-mail doglaw@xxxxxxxx
Illinois Breeders Bill Limits Dog Ownership, Unreasonably Restricts Breeders
[January 21, 2009]
Representative John Fritchey is sponsoring HB 198, a bill that would regulate
dog breeders by limiting the number of dogs they can own and requiring
licensing for anyone who maintains three or more females (even if they are not
bred) "for the purpose of the sale of their offspring." The bill would also
mandate unannounced inspections, fingerprinting, and require breeders to pay an
unspecified license fee. It is important that ALL fanciers, responsible dog
owners, and breeders work together to oppose this burdensome and ineffective
legislation.
The bill consists of 45 pages of requirements and regulations that are not
based on proven animal husbandry practices, nor will they improve the health
and welfare of dogs in Illinois. The American Kennel Club opposes the concept
of breeding permits, breeding bans, and 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. Below is a summary of the
major provisions of this legislation.
Breeders would be prohibited from owning more than 20 intact dogs over a year
old, regardless of whether the animals are being bred.
Breeders, defined as anyone who owns more than 3 breeding females and sells
their offspring, would be required to:
* Submit to an annual, unannounced home inspection ? for an unspecified fee.
* Undergo fingerprinting and criminal background checks ? for an
unspecified fee.
* Build facilities to meet rigid engineering standards which exceed those
required by the USDA. This will require most breeders to purchase expensive new
equipment and build new facilities.
* Breed only dogs between 18 months and 8 years of age.
* Correct any deficiencies within 7 days or dispose of all intact animals
at an animal control facility, a licensed Illinois shelter or have them
euthanized by a veterinarian.
* File detailed annual reports with the Illinois Department of Financial
and Professional Regulation.
* Provide specified disclosures to puppy purchasers.
* Comply with any additional regulations drafted by the department.
The requirements in HB 198 are completely unreasonable for persons breeding
dogs. Most of these requirements have no bearing on the ability of a person to
produce healthy, well-cared-for pets. The way HB 198 is written, a breeder
would have to comply with these requirements even if fewer than three females
were bred in a year. It would even affect a breeder/owner who did not have a
single litter!
The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is not equipped to hire
and train inspectors who are familiar with animal husbandry. Under current law,
animal control authorities have the power to investigate suspected animal
cruelty and we strongly support enforcement of those laws. This would be a
better use of taxpayer funds and would more effectively address animal welfare
concerns.
The American Kennel Club opposes proposals like HB 198 that do not improve the
welfare of animals and force breeders to pay excessive fees and submit to
intrusive background checks and inspections that are not required of other
businesses or hobbyists. We promote responsible dog ownership, enforcement of
cruelty laws and reasonable nuisance regulations.
The American Kennel Club Government Relations department will keep you updated
as this legislation progresses.
What You Can Do:
* Contact your representative in the Illinois General Assembly and ask him
or her to oppose HB 198. To find out who represents you in the Illinois State
Legislature select the address tab found at this link.
* For a sample letter to personalize, please click here.
* For more information and tips on contacting your representative, please
view the following AKC publications:
Disagree Diplomatically
Make Your Contact Count
Preparing For Action
--
Stormy Hope
carpoc.org
GSDCA Member
And more clubs
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