[ SHOWGSD-L ] CFA ALERT - "New" PAWS bill
- From: "Ginger Cleary" <cleary1414@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Showgsd-L@Freelists. Org" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 08:52:34 -0500
Ginger Cleary,Rome, GA ww.rihadin.com <http://www.rihadin.com>
The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human
hands, will ever be liable to abuse. — James Madison
Member GSDCA
Member Sawnee Mtn Kennel Club
GA Director Responsible Dog Owners of the Eastern States.
-----Original Message-----
ALERT - PAWS amendment (SA 3723)
to the federal Farm Bill H.R. 2419
The Cat Fanciers' Association
Forwarding is encouraged
Joan Miller, CFA Legislative Coordinator
Fanciers;
Today we received the text for an amendment to the huge Farm Bill,
H.R. 2419, submitted by Senator Richard Durbin (D - IL). The
language is very similar to the "PAWS" bill (the Pet Animal Welfare
Statute of 2005) "discussion draft". (The amendment text with an
integrated document, prepared by Sharon Coleman, inserts the language
into the existing AWA will be on the CFA website as soon as possible.)
SB 1139 PAWS failed to pass in the Senate in 2006 because it did not
have enough support. The only "hearing" was a discussion in the
Senate Subcommittee on Research, Nutrition and General Legislation
chaired by the primary author, Senator Rick Santorum. There was some
talk about revisions but the draft version did not go any further.
NEW PAWS: Exception is similar to SB 1139 - anyone who sells not
more than 25 dogs/cats from not more than 6 litters per calendar year
(whichever is greater). If the kittens/puppies are all sold at
retail, and not for resale, the breeder would NOT have to be
federally regulated as long as the dogs/cats are bred or raised on
the premises of the "seller". In addition a total of 25 other dogs
and cats not bred or raised on the premises can be sold (allows for
rescue or former show/breeding pets). Now some may feel that
selling 7 litters or 26 kittens is a "high volume"
activity. However, female pedigreed cats of many breeds need to
deliver a litter approximately 8 months apart to avoid uterus
infections or loss of condition. This means a household with perhaps
4 or 5 female cats would usually have over 6 litters and therefore be
considered a "high-volume retailer" subject to unannounced
inspection, regulation and standards that are designed for commercial
housing of animals. Many small or moderate high quality breeders
would have to be regulated.
New PAWS has some additions - most notable is the concept of the
"certified third-party inspector". This can be a nonprofit
organization certified by the Secretary of Agriculture to inspect
breeding facilities. Instead of having inspections by USDA inspectors
one could choose to comply with standards established by a certified
third-party inspector. Breeders could have the HSUS, or perhaps AKC
inspectors, coming into their homes - probably with a hefty fee. But
the standards and inspection protocols must be "at least as
protective of animal welfare as those promulgated by the Secretary"
according to the Animal Welfare Act. The USDA standards don't work
well for a home-based cat fancier with female breeding cats and
kittens wandering in the house among their altered pet cats. USDA
standards are designed for commercial facilities with animals in
separate primary enclosures impervious to moisture.
There are also provisions for the importation of dogs and cats into
the United States from foreign countries. Regulations would be
promulgated within 24 months, so we don't know what to expect here.
The ability of the USDA to apply to court for a temporary restraining
order or injunction increases the ability to protect animals covered
in the existing Animal Welfare Act and CFA has previously supported this.
Some preliminary research today reveals this amendment was made on
November 15, 2007, but not seen until today. Previous PAWS
collaborators included the AKC, HSUS and AVMA but none so far have
positions on their websites. Many dog fanciers, cat fanciers,
organizations, clubs and veterinarians joined the opposition.
STRATEGY - On July 27, 2007 the House passed its version of Farm Bill
legislation, H.R. 2419, "The Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of
2007" by a vote of 231-191. This is a total package of $286 billion
over five years. The bill has already passed through the Senate
Agriculture Committee. Now Senate floor debate on the bill is
underway with numerous other amendments to cover besides this one.
Should the amendment remain in the Farm Bill that eventually passes
on the Senate floor the bill would then go to a Conference Committee
to resolve differences with the House version. We would then contact
those Committee members to express our views. This will be an
ongoing process over a period of months.
WHAT TO DO NOW:
1. Your help to prepare for a strong efficient response will be
greatly appreciated. Know who your own two senators are. We will
want every cat and dog fancier to send a letter by FAX to their own
two Senators telling them of concerns with Amendment SA 3723 asking
them to vote no on the Senate floor. Suggested points to make will
be in a future alert.
2. Let us know if you have any personal contacts in your Senators'
district or Washington, DC offices. Give us feedback on any responses
you receive.
3. It will be important for us to build an opposition list of clubs
and organizations as we did before. Discuss the Amendment provisions
with your club and be ready for a club officer to send a letter as
soon as a list is formed.
Home-raised kittens and puppies are the optimum for fine pets. We
will not have a cat fancy or preserve our pedigreed breeds if
individuals must be subjected to commercial standards and home
inspections. Some may suggest raising the threshold for
"high-volume" breeders/sellers as a way to differentiate "hobby"
breeders. Though this is always a possibility, the door would then
be open for future lowering. Once the AWA begins regulation of any
persons who sell directly at retail there is no going back.
Many organizations, clubs and individuals worked well before to
defeat the original PAWS. I am confident that we can do this again
with your input and help.
Joan Miller
The Cat Fanciers' Association
<mailto:JMillerArt@xxxxxxx>JMillerArt@xxxxxxx
www.cfa.org
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