[ SHOWGSD-L ] Maine Update..VERY LONG
- From: Stormy Hope <Stormy435@xxxxxxx>
- To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 11:33:09 -0800
her perceptions.
> STormy
>
> From another list.
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>> Maine UpdateSat Dec 20, 2008 1:42 pm (PST)
>
Subject: Fw: [LegislativeCanine] Report on Last Meeting of LD 2010 Task
Force in Maine
I went to the meeting yesterday, and was one who spoke when the public
was
invited to speak. I explained that although us dog fancy folks may argue
about many parts of the bills, tha t in all ways, all of us are
against abuse. We
are not the bad guys !! I also re-iterated that we know that 80% of
animals
welfare's budget comes from dog licenses..and that if they could find
a way
to license the other 60% of dogs in Maine, that their budget problems
would be
small potatoes to what they are now. Of course, Norma knows that,
however, I
believe it is a good point to harp on. It amounts to the fact that us
responsible dog owners and breeders are supporting the animal welfare
dept.,
while it raids those that are not responsible or thought to be not
responsible!
responsible or thought to be not responsible!<WBR>!!...and yet, they
keep
proposing laws and fees upon us... "the good gu even try to soothe us by
repeating that information to us...always telling us we are not the
ones they are
after,,,yet. by repeating that information to
There are a few good ideas floating around and hopefully something will
come of this. The Federation and it's members are working hard and
never-ending on this.
I also want to welcome Lauri back, It was so good to see her, and she
looked great for all she has been through. I commend her for the
brilliant way she
handles herself with Norma, and I want her to know that we are very
impressed with her knowledge and quick thinking. Same for Sara, Jay
and Ken,
four very smart and professional folks. A very good job was done by all.
I do believe that Norma ,and other AR folks, now knows that they have
intelligent opposition and ample workers to oppose their AR agenda. It
is going
to be work, hard work, but we have a good foot in the door and it
won't be
shut on us again
Don't forget Lobby Day...at the State House...Feb. 4th, 8Am to 2PM. We
need
to show our numbers. I can't even begin to tell you how important this
is. I
do believe HSUS and their Animal Right friends, are having a lobby day
in
March. It would be very impressive if we could equal their
numbers...you know
how those AR folks can bring out the people. We need to do the same. I
would
say, that even though this is a Federation Lobby Day, there would be
no harm
if horse and other folks that are in our boat showed up. We do need to
all work together. Lets make it a day the legislators will have to
acknowledge
..and impress them with our numbers...It would just be soooooo grand and
would help make up for how far we have let ourselves get behind
because *we
didn't think "they" could do that*. Well, they did it, and we still
need to
catch up...so mark your calender..It is THAT IMPORTANT... *we didn't
think
"they" co
more details to folow. There will be lobbing going on from members that
have had some training on how to do that. All you have to do is come
and hang
out.. talk to folks if you want to, and feel good about representing
us animal
fanciers. Let your represetaive know you are going to be there and
invite
them to come by for some information. There will be lobb
Kathy
Kathy Wilson
144 Pleasant St
Brunswick, Maine 04011
Justamere Kennel Miniature Pinschers
_naturalpet@suscom-naturalpe_ (mailto:naturalpet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
207 725-0179..shop
207 319 5237...cell
_ I think yesterday's final meeting of the LD 2010 Task Force went
well. We should probably be very cautious and not be overly
optimistic, but I have to say that my take away is that it went
really very well for our cause.
Let me explain.
First, I was thrilled to learn early in the day that Laurie Pruett
was able to attend. I was even more pleased that Norma Worley
allowed both Laurie and I to sit at the table and participate in the
discussion. Folks, I have to say that Laurie Pruett is absolutely
wonderful as our representative. Her knowledge of dogs, and breeding
dogs, is impressive. Her experience in these types of meetings is
clear, and her ability to conduct herself professionally and
effectively is nothing short of brilliant.
I hope Laurie's health continues to improve, and I hope she will be
our representative for a long time to come. Please take the time to
send her a card this holiday season. Please encourage all of your
clubs and their members to do the same. We owe her a huge debt of
gratitude.
Ken Marden, past president of the American Kennel Club, and current
AKC representative to this task force, had a heck of a time getting
back from California in time for the meeting. He was a few minutes
late, but it wasn't a problem. Ken also deserves our sincere
thanks. He is an extremely knowledgable man and he is a genius in
the way he conducts himself in these types of situations. I hope all
of you will take the time to send him a card this holiday season, too.
There were more folks in the public gallery than have ever attended
one of these meetings before. Norma arranged for a larger meeting
room for this last meeting, and every seat was taken. The room was
packed. Norma took comments from the public at the end of the
meeting, and I have to say, I am very impressed with the way everyone
spoke passionately and professionally. What a great job! Thank you
to each and every one of you who took the time to attend this
meeting. You made a very strong and positive impression.
Maine State Representative Les Fossel, of Alna, Maine, was in the
audience. He listened carefully and took lots of notes. He briefly
spoke to Sara Vanderwood, the sled dog representative, as he left.
Sara told me later that Representative Fossel had attended this
meeting at the urging of one of his dog-owning constituents.
I must not overlook the contribution Sara Vanderwood has made to our
cause. I cannot thank her enough. As a Legislative Aide in the
State House, she knows the legislative process like the back of her
hand. She also knows a great number of elected officials on a first-
name basis. Her knowledge, combined with her passion for her dogs
and her love of the sport of mushing, makes her invaluable to us. We
are extremely lucky to have Sara on our side.
As for the technical details of LD 2010, I think we acheived a
moderate victory. We were not successful in having kennels defined ;
by their purpose, but the numbers that will be used to define kennels
were increased and will be based only on the number of intact females
in a kennel.
More importantly, Norma agreed to submit a minority report to the
Agriculture Committee, and the Federation of Maine Dog Clubs will be
part of that report and we will be on record as opposing kennel
definitions based on numbers. The FMDC will be on record for
supporting kennel definitions based on the purpose of the kennel, not
the number of animals kept in it.
The exemption from state licensing for show/hunting/The ex
trial/performance and sled dog kennels remains. We fought long and
hard for this exemption last year in LD 2171. Larry Doyon, the
commercial kennel representative on this task force, launched a last-
minute attack on this exemption. His effort failed. The exemption
stands.
Another last-minute effort from Katie Lisnik of HSUS also failed.
Lisnik attempted an eleventh-hour addition to LD 2010 that would have
written into Maine law that no person in the state could ever own
more than 50 dogs at one time. This language would have negatively
impacted the sled dog enthusiasts, and suffice it to say that the
opposition to this proposed language was fierce. The proposed
language was quickly removed.
Norma will draft the final language of LD 2010 and make it available
to the task force members soon. When the final language is drafted,
we will share it with everyone for comment, and those comments will
be submitted as part of the minority report.
Please keep in mind that all of the work of this task force will now
be submitted to the Agriculture Committee in a report from Norma
Worley's Animal Welfare Department by the deadline of January 15,
2009. Remember, too, that FMDC will be part of this report with our
minority opinion. The final outcome of LD 2010 rests with the
Agriculture Committee.
Folks, we worked hard on this. And, although we were not successful
in getting the language we want at this time, the Federation of Maine
Dog Clubs was very successful in having our voices heard. FMDC has
achieved tremendous credibility in the state capital. We are now
regarded as a serious and credible organization that is the true
expert on responsible dog ownership and breeding. When you consider
that only one year ago no one in Augusta had even heard of FMDC, this
is a great accomplishment.
Thank you once again, to each and every one of you, for everything
you have done, and will continue to do, in support of our cause.
Jay Kitchener
Legislative Chair, Federation of Maine Dog Clubs, Inc.
President, York County Kennel Club of Maine, Inc
Addemdum from Jay
.I know all of this is confusing. I can hardly keep it all straight
myself.
First, this LD 2010 Task Force is not AWAC, the Animal Welfare
Advisory Council. AWAC is an entirely different animal, so to
speak. Members of AWAC must be appointed by the Governor. I
continue to maintain that FMDC must have a seat on AWAC. AWAC, like
this LD 2010 Task Force, is heavily slanted toward the "animal
advocacy" groups. FMDC's requests to be seated on AWAC have been
refused for years.
Now, about the license...we still have to wait for Norma to write the
final language to LD 2010, and I do not trust her farther than I
could throw her, but, from my understanding small hobby breeders will
continue to be exempt from state licensing requirements. When a
hobby kennel exceeds 10 intact bitches, then it would be become a
small commercial kennel and would be required to try to obtain
a state license.
I need to post an addendum to my report because I forgot to mention
two things:
1) There is a part of LD 2010 that says the Animal Welfare
Department will write rules that must be followed in order to become
state licensed. I insisted, at Newell's suggestion, that those rules
be "major substantive" which means the department may draft them, but
those rules must come back before the Agric Comm for approval. Like
I said, I don't trust Norma.
2) Laurie insisted that some type of "interim" or "temporary"
license be created to cover those kennel applications that have had
to wait over one year from the time the application was submitted and
the time the inspection and granting of the license took place.
Remember, too, that all of this deals with LD 2010. Norma's "October
Surprise" is still another separate animal that we will have to deal
with. It's a whole different piece of legislation. That "October
Surprise" is currently on the Governor's desk. When it leaves his
desk, it will get a name, a number, and a sponsor. And the process
star ts all over again.
Jay Kitchener
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