[ SHOWGSD-L ] NC: NAIA alert: SB 460 targets North Carolina breeders, still

From: Stormy Hope <Stormy435@xxxxxxx>
To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 16:50:25 -0700
Once again.
NC:  NAIA alert:  SB 460 targets North Carolina breeders, Please urg

Wed May 6, 2009 4:20 pm (PDT)



******* Please Crosspost *******

http://capwiz.com/naiatrust/issues/alert/?alertid278881&type=CT&show_alert=1

http://tinyurl.com/cq79ds

SB 460 targets North Carolina breeders
Please urge the committee to oppose!

May 4, 2009

A North Carolina bill aimed at regulating commercial breeders, but
written broadly enough to ensnare many hobby breeders, has cleared the
Senate Commerce Committee and now moves to the Senate Finance Committee
where it could be scheduled for a hearing within the next week.

Please write the Senate Finance Committee with your concerns about SB
460, using the talking points below. We must insist that they oppose any
bill that would unfairly penalize those who maintain intact dogs for
sport, showing or hobby breeding, or that would unduly restrict anyone
who breeds responsibly.

In a nutshell, SB 460 does the following:

* Defines commercial breeder too broadly as â??any person who,
during any 12 month period, maintains 15 or more female intact dogs of
breeding age for the primary purpose of the sale of their offspring as
companion animals.â?? This could be loosely interpreted to include small
hobby breeders or those who show dogs if not properly clarified.

* Charges the Department of Agriculture with determining adequate
standards of care for commercial breeding operations without allowing
for fair and appropriate stakeholder input.

* Dictates that a female dog may not be bred by a commercial
breeder without annual certification from a veterinarian.

* Permits warrantless inspections of the records and premises where
dogs are bred or maintained, which may include a commercial breederâ??s
home. Denial of access would be grounds for revoking the license.

Click here to read the full text of SB 460.

While we strongly believe that steps should be taken to identify and
eliminate substandard kennels and ensure humane care and conditions for
breeding dogs in North Carolina, this bill blurs the lines between
different types of kennels and could have unintended consequences. By
basing the definition of commercial breeder solely on the number of
intact female dogs without sufficiently clarifying that these dogs are
in fact actively being bred on the premises, it unfairly targets anyone
with 15 or more intact females. Furthermore, it subjects its targets to
warrantless inspections as well as overly prescriptive breeding
requirements and unspecified standards of care.

There are more effective solutions available to help eliminate
substandard facilities, from greater enforcement of existing
anti-cruelty and nuisance laws to educating consumers about how to seek
out responsible and humane sources of healthy pets.

Again, please take a moment to write a quick email to the Senate Finance
Committee, urging them to oppose SB 460.

Be sure to mention that this bill comes with a fiscal price tag to the
state of an estimated $400,000 per year to administer. At a time of
financial strain and program cuts, it would be irresponsible to approve
an expensive new law that will not have any tangible benefit for dogs
and may in fact punish the responsible breeders who provide the
healthiest pets to the community.

If you can not see the talking points below yet, please CLICK HERE TO
TAKE ACTION on behalf of North Carolina's pets and pet owners!

If you received this email from a friend, be sure to sign up HERE to
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TALKING POINTS:

I am writing to you as a North Carolinian who is very concerned about
animal legislation. I recently learned that SB 460, which seeks to
impose a burdensome system of licensing on commercial dog breeders has
been referred to your Senate Finance Committee. I urge you to oppose
this misguided bill.

Eliminating substandard kennels is a worthwhile goal, but SB 460 needs a
lot of work to achieve its goal.

The vague definitions provided for what would make someone a commercial
breeder and subject them to fees and restrictions are unclear.

If you have 15 intact females animals and breed one litter, you could be
considered a commercial breeder under this law.

The lack of clarity in this bill could make hobby breeders, showers,
handlers and private rescue networks vulnerable to commercial  
requirements.

Under SB 460 breeders could be subject to invasive and warrantless
inspections of their homes.

Responsible breeders should be treated as partners in helping to improve
kennel standards and eliminate bad breeders, but this bill threatens to
alienate the very community that can help most.

This issue should be studied further to determine how many commercial
breeders and kennels are located in North Carolina, to allow time for
input from the stakeholder groups and to design an effective program
that will be self-funding.

This bill would cost the state an estimated $400,000 per year to
administer. At a time of financial strain and program cuts, it would be
irresponsible to approve an expensive new law that will not have any
tangible benefit for dogs and may in fact punish the responsible
breeders who provide the healthiest pets to the community.

What is needed is greater enforcement of existing cruelty and nuisance
laws to crack down on those who disobey the law, not more regulation for
law-abiding citizens.

A positive step would be to educate consumers about how to research the
source of their pets and distinguish the good breeders from the bad. In
that way we shut down substandard kennels by cutting off their customer
base.

Please be fair and thoughtful as you consider this bill.

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[ SHOWGSD-L ] NC: NAIA alert: SB 460 targets North Carolina breeders, still

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