New Jersey Kennel owners/or dog breeders

[TC]

PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL BREED AND GENERAL DOG LISTS

Forwarded from Pet-Law@yahoogroups.com

New Jersey bill A3401, filed July 4th, gets the pet-law
revolving trophy for the worst pet animal bill in the United
States. We need to kill this one fast and we need your help!
Yes, OUT OF STATE CAN HELP. While lawmakers do pay more
attention to the people who can vote for them, they listen
if their in box fills up, the fax runs out of paper over the
weekend, and the phone rings off the hook on Monday.

Some key points for NJ A3401:
If you sell over five cats or dogs in a year you are a breeder:
Breeders must be licensed.
Breeders must comply with the federal AWA (Animal Welfare Act)
standards -- non-porous surfaces, separate food preparation
room, bitches in whelp in another building, and so on. Plus
a few extra tweaks that will make things tougher.

Enclosures must be tall enough for dogs to stand on hind
legs with 6" of clearance and must have access to an outdoor run. Air
must be changed 8-12 times/hour.

Bitches/queens may not be bred over once per year and not
more than five litters per breeder are allowed per year.

Any violation is cause for revocation or denial of a license
with a five year or longer ban. Fines run $500-10,000.
Snitches (who 'out' a violator) can get 10% of any civil
penalty imposed.

Basically it will be impossible to continue home breeding of
dogs or cats in New Jersey if this bill should pass. There's
MUCH more in the bill: You can read it in the original at
the address near the end of this.

To oppose New Jersey A3401:
Write to the two primary sponsors:
Assemblyman Neil M. Cohen
You can contact Mr. Cohen through his home page at:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/cohen.asp

And

Assemblywoman Joan M. Voss
Her page is: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/voss.asp

These sponsors should be asked to "Please WITHDRAW A3401."
Use that for a subject line and end your message with it.
Keep emails/faxes short. It may be a challenge, but BE POLITE.

The other people to contact are the NJ Assembly Agriculture
and Natural Resources Committee. You can find their names at
the top of the page at:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/committees/assembly.asp

You can contact each of them from there -- just click the names.

Committee members should be asked to "Please OPPOSE A3401."
Use that for a subject line and end your message with it.

You can read NJ A3401 in the original at:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills ... 401_I1.HTM

Do you have friends, family, puppy or kitten buyers in New
Jersey? Please ask them to make the contacts above.

It's good to get a quick start on these things -- if you
have the time, PLEASE SEND EMAILS AND FAXES OVER THE WEEKEND.

Walt Hutchens
Timbreblue Whippets
Virginia
http://www.pet-law.com