[ SHOWGSD-L ] AKC<>Texas House Bill 1451 Proceeds to the Senate
- From: Stormy Hope <Stormy435@xxxxxxx>
- To: thelist List <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 07:59:04 -0700
April 27, 2011
House Bill 1451, which would regulate and define as a commercial
breeder those who own 11 or more intact female dogs or cats, passed
the House of Representatives today on a vote of 92-44. A record of
members? votes can be seen here.
<http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/RecordVote.aspx?LegSess?R&Bill=HB1451&RcdVtNoS1&Ch=H&Dt/26/2011
> Concerned dog owners are encouraged to express their thanks to the
representatives who opposed this measure.
House Bill 1451 will now be sent to the Texas State Senate.
Responsible owners and breeders are encouraged to contact their
Senators and ask them not to sponsor it in the Senate and to oppose it
if it comes before them in committee or on the floor.
Click here and type in your address to find the name and contact
information for your State Senator.
(http://www.house.state.tx.us/resources/frequently-asked-questions/#who_rep
)
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 also
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. However, HB 1451
does not accomplish these goals and places unreasonable fees and
regulations on responsible owners and breeders.
Provisions of House Bill 1451:
Defines a breeder as anyone who possesses 11 or more intact females.
Simply owning a certain number of intact dogs does not indicate a
large-scale breeding operation. This definition may encompass many
small hobby breeders or sportsmen who produce only one or two litters
a year.
Mandates an unannounced inspection by the Texas Department of
Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), or their designee every 18 months.
Due to the low thresholds in the bill, many of the breeders who will
be licensed are not commercial operations and do not have regular
business hours. Often, these people utilize their homes to breed their
dogs. The AKC believes that to ensure that privacy and due process
rights are protected, inspections, especially of private residences,
should be performed pursuant to a warrant. Further, as these
inspections are unannounced, it is unclear what would happen if a
breeder is not at home when an inspector has gone to the expense of
traveling to visit them.
Allows TDLR to charge an unspecified fee for licensure and inspection.
The measure says fees should cover the cost of establishing and
implementing an inspections program. HB 1451 further allows a tiered
licensing schedule based on the number of dogs owned, but the cost may
be excessive for someone who breeds only a litter or two a year. The
fiscal note anticipates that this program will cost over $1.3 million
to implement, with the full cost borne by the breeders. If the board?s
estimate of one thousand breeders is close to accurate (and we believe
this number to be high), then individual licenses are likely to cost
thousands of dollars annually.
Requires an annual veterinary examination. This is burdensome for
breeders in rural areas who have to transport their animals to a
veterinarian. It also forces the breeder to spend money on healthy
animals when the funds would better be used to care for animals with
health concerns and to maintain and improve facilities. Parents are
not required to have their children seen by a physician annually, nor
are farmers and ranchers whose animals enter our food supply required
to have annual veterinary examinations of each animal. This provision
is costly and strips owners of their right to decide what care is best
for their animals.
Establishes a public database of licensees and disciplinary actions.
The thresholds in this bill are so low as to include many who breed
dogs in their homes. It is unreasonable for a small breeder to be
required to post their name, address and other personal information on
a public registry.
For more information, contact the AKC Government Relations Department
at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@xxxxxxxx
If you would rather not receive future communications from The
American Kennel Club, let us know by clicking here.
The American Kennel Club, 8051 Arco Corporate Dr. Suite 100, Raleigh,
NC 27617 United States
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