Virginia MSN Bill -- HB 1853 -- CROSSPOST OK Sat Jan 6, 2007 7:44 pm (PST) Yep, it's time for the annual mandatory spay/neuter bill from the 'Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare,' aka Lillian Clancy and Donald Marro. Here's the link to the bill itself: _http://leg1.http://lehttp://leg1http://leg1.http://leg1.<W_ (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+HB1853) As usual, plain text is existing law, strikethroughs indicate text that would be removed if the bill passes, and italics show text that would be added. 'Releasing agencies' are shelters, pounds, humane societies, and pet rescue groups. The definition of 'dealer' is: "... any person who in the regular course of business for compensation or profit buys, sells, transfers, exchanges, or barters companion animals. The following shall not be considered dealers: (i) any person who transports companion animals in the regular course of business as a common carrier, or (ii) any person or organization whose primary purpose is to find permanent adoptive homes for companion animals." This is generally considered to include hobby breeders. In short this bill would require: 1. Anyone buying a dog or cat must have it sterilized within 30 days after it becomes sexually mature. $150 fine if you don't. 2. Anyone selling a dog or cat must either sterilize it or require that to be done within 30 days after it becomes sexually mature. $150 fine if you don't. Fraud is punishable by a fine of $1000. If the State Veterinarian finds that the right things haven't been done, he can reverse the sale. Three kinds of sellers would be exempt from these requirements. The following are exact quotes from the bill: 1 "... A fancier breeder that (i) regularly shows the dog or cat being bred at competitions sanctioned by the American Kennel Club (AKC), United Kennel Club (UKC), American Working Dog Federation (AWDF) and their member clubs, or the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) and their sanctioned competitions; and (ii) adheres to AKC's 22 responsible breeding steps, UKC's breeders code of ethics, AWDF's constitution and bylaws, or CFA's breed standards; 2. "... A breed improver that (i) breeds working dogs, show dogs, or cats of specific breeds, not for profit but to perpetuate the breed or to eliminate physical shortcomings and disease, or who could otherwise demonstrate a conscious and deliberate plan of breed improvement; and (ii) adheres to AKC's 22 responsible breeding steps, UKC's breeders code of ethics, AWDF's constitution and bylaws, or CFA's breed standards; or 3. "A hobby breeder that wishes to breed and find homes for one litter, but not for profit. Again, if you fraudulently claim exemption there's a $1000 fine. There are of course a few problems with the mechanics of this but not as many as usual for a VVAW bill. The real problem is the intent to eliminate unsterilized cats and dogs in Virginia. If you don't want to take the trip then it doesn't matter if the car has square wheels, does it? This bill has a history. It was first introduced in 2004 as SJ 37, a Senate Joint Resolution calling for the State Veterinarian to conduct a study proving that Virginia needed MSN and then write a bill requiring the same; Ms. Clancy and Mr. Marro were going to pick up part of the cost of the study. In 2005 it showed up as HB 2927, a real MSN bill plus dealer licensing. In 2006 it returned for the third time, again with dealer licensing plus mandatory microchipping. All of these were from the VVAW and all were defeated -- the last two years with help from out of state folks. This year's HB 1853 is obviously an attempt to pass a stripped-down version; it's fair to guess that the previous versions show us where they want to go with the idea. As in the last three years Virginia isn't buying it and again this time I'm going to ask for your help in requesting that the sponsoring Delegate withdraw his bill. CROSSPOST OKAY! Thanks everyone! Walt Hutchens Timbreblue Whippets Virginia ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2006. 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. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================