Please note the very end...after all the impossible requirements are listed, you will find that this proposed law will PAY people to turn you in........sort of like when the Nazis encouraged children to turn in their parents... No matter where you live, if this is allowed to become law in New Jersey, you can bet it will not be too long before it gets to YOUR state. Please write and ask for the bill to be withdrawn...and get everyone you know to write, too. Thank you to Sue Cone, Ramapo Kennel Club, for "working up" this email. The information is so valuable, please contact the appropriate parties ASAP. Peggy Here's contact info for Assembly Members Neil Cohen and Joan Voss. E-mail them and ask for the bill to be WITHDRAWN. This bill will kill home breeding, the best source for puppies and kittens. No home breeder could comply with it. In NJ, A3401 from last session has been introduced as A1591 http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/A2000/1591_I1.HTM The language is exactly the same as last time. The sponsors are: Assm. Neil Cohen asmcohen@xxxxxxxxx http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=62 and Assw. Joan Voss aswvoss@xxxxxxxxx http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=244 It is in the Agriculture & Natural Resouces Committee, but they're not scheduled to do anything about it any time soon. This is for future reference. The last time they put this up, we caught wind of it and they received 800 emails over one weekend. Cohen whined about getting "input," but wouldn't meet with anyone to discuss it. Highlights below. The bill specifies dogs and cats-I'm reducing it to animals for brevity. Agriculture and Natural Resources committee: Fisher, Douglas H. - Chair http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=199 Albano, Nelson T. - Vice-Chair http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=248 Amodeo, John F. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=267 Conaway, Herb http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=186 Karrow, Marcia A. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=255 A "breeder" is a person who owns or operates a "breeding facility" and sells or offers to sell more than 5 animals per year, regardless if they are exempt from having a license from the USDA. "Breeding facility" is any building that houses two animals for the purposes of breeding and selling animals. A "pet dealer" is any person who sells animal at retail for use as pets, or at wholesale to those who sell at retail. It includes Class A & Class B breeders and also those selling more than 5 animals who are otherwise exempted from federal license requirements. Individuals who sell 5 or fewer animals per year and animal shelters shall not be considered pet dealers under this act. No person may sell more than 25 cats or dogs per year for use as pets to individuals, kennels or pet shops in the State. Requires yearly registration with the Dept. of Health, and signing of a document that attests to the breeder's knowledge of State law, and compliance with the federal requirements established in the AWA. The Dept. of Health, in consultation with "professional veterinarian associations, HSUS & NJSPCA and other groups, associations and organizations involved in the proper care and treatment of animals," will set forth rules and regulations establishing a standardized program of responsible veterinary care. Each breeder will be required to comply with federal regulations established by the AWA, including 1. Indoor temperatures at minimum of 50 and maximum of 80 for animals older than 8 weeks, and a minimum of 65 and maximum of 80 for animals younger than 8 weeks. 2. Air will be circulated at least 8-12 times per hour. 3. Flooring will be nonporous and able to be sanitized. 4. Wire flooring must be plastic coated and space properly. 5. Each dog enclosure must have a height of at least 6 inches above the head when the dog is standing on its hind legs and shall provide access to an outdoor run. Enclosures for dogs 50 lbs. or more must be minimum 4'x 8' and an outdoor run of at least 4'x 15', with similar requirements for medium and small breeds. 6. Cats must have at least 9 cubic feet, 3' x 3' x 3', no more than one cat per enclosure, except nursing kittens. 7. Ground areas cleaned daily and dry bedding provided, newspaper prohibited. 8. Constant access to potable water in mounted feeders where possible. 9. Cages, bowls, etc. shall be cleaned and sanitized daily. 10. Unleashed exercise per dog for at least 20 minutes daily in an area no smaller than 4' x 10. 11. Standardized veterinary care as discussed above. The Dept. shall annually compile, publish and make available to the public a list of breeders doing business as pet dealers. No pet dealer may purchase from anyone who is not a registered breeder. Every pet dealer will provide the purchaser with info regarding the breeder, including name, street address, and federal dealer ID number if appropriate. If purebred or registerable, registration info from OFA. Standard info regarding past or ongoing health issues, with forms signed prior to 14 days of sale. Written return policy, including a 26 month guarantee to accept the animal for a full refund if congenital or genetic defects appear in an animal sold as pedigree. Any violation specifies first time offender-prohibition on selling for 5 years, second offense-5 additional years per offense. It also specifies that the violator has to pay for the cost of the investigation, and provides for civil penalties-first time breeder offense, $5000, second or subsequent, $10,000 per offense. First time offense by non-breeder, $1000, second $2500. In addition, civil action may be commenced by the local board of health, county health dept. or the commissioner-first offense by breeder, $5000, second $10,000. *******A member of the public who supplies info that results in collection of a civil penalty shall be rewarded with 10% of the penalty collected or $250, whichever is greater. ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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