NC UPDATE: SENATE BILL 460 COULD BE HEARD THIS WEEK
[April 28, 2009]
The AKC Government Relations Department has learned that Senate Bill 460, which seeks to regulate breeders, could be heard in the Senate Commerce committee on Thursday, April 30, or early next week. It is essential that all North Carolina responsible dog owners and breeders contact the Senate Commerce Committee TODAY and express your opposition to Senate Bill 460.
The American Kennel Club opposes Senate Bill 460 as introduced. The bill infringes on the rights of responsible dog breeders in North Carolina, and would allow for warrantless inspections of private homes and property.
The AKC opposes the following provisions of SB 460 as introduced:
Defines “commercial breeder” as “any person who, during any 12-month period, maintains 15 or more adult female dogs for the primary purpose of the sale of their offspring as companion animals. However, neither terms “adult” nor “companion animals” are defined in the bill or statutorily, which makes this definition, as currently worded, vague. Additionally, the numerical threshold contained in the definition could reasonably affect many hunting and performance kennels in the Tarheel State.
Calls for the NC Board of Agriculture to develop standards of care, including exercise, veterinary care, housing, and record-keeping, at commercial breeding operations. However, these standards would be different from standards created for animal shelters, boarding kennels, and pet shops.
Limits those classified and licensed as commercial breeders to breeding dogs only between 18 months and eight years of age, without regard to alternative means of reproduction or the health of female dogs not falling into the prescribed age range.
Subjects commercial breeding operations to unannounced inspections, including potential warrantless searches of licensees’ homes. Denial of inspections/searches is ground for license revocation and seizure of dogs, regardless of the care being given to the dogs.
The North Carolina Animal Welfare Act, as provided in Article 3 of Chapter 19A of the North Carolina General Statutes, already effectively deals with animal abuse or mistreatment, making the substance of SB 460 unnecessary.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Contact the members of the Senate Commerce Committee. Ask them to oppose Senate Bill 460.
Senate Commerce Committee Contact Information
Click on the committee member’s name to view the mailing address.
Sen. R.C. Soles, Jr. (Chair)
Phone: (919) 733-5963
E-mail: RC.Soles@ncleg.net
Sen. Floyd McKissick, Jr. (Vice Chair)
Phone: (919) 733-4599
E-mail: Floyd.McKissick@ncleg.net
Sen. David Hoyle (Vice Chair)
Phone: (919) 733-5734
E-mail: David.Hoyle@ncleg.net
Sen. Tony Rand (Vice Chair)
Phone: (919) 733-9892
E-mail: Tony.Rand@ncleg.net
Sen. Tom Apodaca
Phone: (919) 733-5745
E-mail: Tom.Apodaca@ncleg.net
Sen. Philip Berger
Phone: (919) 733-5708
E-mail: Phil.Berger@ncleg.net
Sen. Doug Berger
Phone: (919) 715-8683
E-mail: Doug.Berger@ncleg.net
Sen. Harris Blake
Phone: (919) 733-4809
E-mail: Harris.Blake@ncleg.net
Sen. Julia Boseman
Phone: (919) 715-2525
E-mail: Julia.Boseman@ncleg.net
Sen. Peter Brunstetter
Phone: (919) 733-7850
E-mail: Peter.Brunstetter@ncleg.net
Sen. Debbie Clary
Phone: (919) 715-3038
E-mail: Debbie.Clary@ncleg.net
Sen. Katie Dorsett
Phone: (919)715-3042
E-mail: Katie.Dorsett@ncleg.net
Sen. Tony Foriest
Phone: (919) 301-1446
E-mail: Tony.Foriest@ncleg.net
Sen. James Forrester
Phone: (919) 715-3050
E-mail: James.Forrester@ncleg.net
Sen. Linda Garrou
Phone: (919) 733-5620
E-mail: Linda.Garrou@ncleg.net
Sen. W. Edward Goodall
Phone: (919) 733-7659
E-mail: Eddie.Goodall@ncleg.net
Sen. Steve Goss
Phone: (919) 733-5742
E-mail: Steve.Goss@ncleg.net
Sen. Malcolm Graham
Phone: (919) 733-5650
E-mail: Malcolm.Graham@ncleg.net
Sen. Neal Hunt
Phone: (919) 733-5850
E-mail: Neal.Hunt@ncleg.net
Sen. Jim Jacumin
Phone: (919) 715-7823
E-mail: Jim.Jacumin@ncleg.net
Sen. Clark Jenkins
Phone: (919) 715-3040
E-mail: Clark.Jenkins@ncleg.net
Sen. Martin Nesbitt, Jr.
Phone: (919) 715-3001
E-mail: Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net
Sen. William Purcell
Phone: (919) 733-5953
E-mail: William.Purcell@ncleg.net
Sen. Bob Rucho
Phone: (919) 733-5655
E-mail: Bob.Rucho@ncleg.net
Sen. Larry Shaw
Phone: (919) 733-9349
E-mail: Larry.Shaw@ncleg.net
Sen. Josh Stein
Phone: (919)715-6400
E-mail: Josh.Stein@ncleg.net
Sen. Richard Stevens
Phone: (919) 733-5653
E-mail: Richard.Stevens@ncleg.net
Sen. Don Vaughan
Phone: (919)733-5856
E-mail: Don.Vaughan@ncleg.net
NC AKC SAYS URGENT EMAILS NEEDED AS HB 733 IS NOW SB 460
Moderators: Pike Ridge Beagles, Aaron Bartlett
Re: NC AKC SAYS URGENT EMAILS NEEDED AS HB 733 IS NOW SB 460
Just received the alert from SAOVA as well, they are working diligently on this one and several others across the nation.
NORTH CAROLINA ACTION ALERT
SB 460 Commercial Dog Breeders introduced by Senator Don Davis (D, Wayne/Pitt/Greene) is scheduled to be heard in the Commerce Committee on Thursday, April 30 at 9:00 AM, room 1027 LB
BILL SYNOPSIS
SB 460 defines as commercial anyone who has custody or control of more than 15 female dogs over the age of four months at any time. The bill establishes standards for care at commercial breeding operations, including requirements which will be written by the NC Department of Agriculture at a later date, for exercise, veterinary care and record keeping. The bill mandates that commercial breeders cannot breed female dogs less than 18 months or more than eight years of age. SB 460 mandates that an adult female dog cannot be bred without an annual certification from a licensed veterinarian that the dog is in suitable health for breeding.
** TALKING POINTS **
* The bills define as commercial anyone maintaining 15 females during the span of 12 months – does not say intact females, does not define what age is considered adult.
* Thousands of North Carolina citizens breed dogs without creating problems and they do not require state inspections. This is reactive legislation to the recent closure of a substandard kennel. The kennel closure and removal of dogs is evidence that current law adequately dealt with the situation.
* The potential exists for warrantless searches of a citizen's home and kennel while inspecting dogs to determine if license is required.
* SB 460 assumes that an owner of 15 or more dogs is not capable of managing and maintaining their animals in good health without state intervention. It is wrong to use a numerical basis to begin excessive regulation of dog breeders; numbers do not correlate to quality of care. Laws for animal welfare and to prevent animal-cruelty are already in place to protect all animals whether it is one dog or one hundred.
* The requirement for annual veterinary certification of suitable health for breeding is very vague. Certification could require anything from routine physical exam to an expensive panel of blood tests and x-rays. There are no standardized, specific laboratory tests or specialized reproductive examination procedures that are suitable for assessing the health status of bitches for breeding. No other species has this pre-breeding regulation in place. This provision only serves to make breeding dogs more expensive and more complicated. The decision to breed or not breed a dog should remain at the discretion of the owner and not become a legislative mandate.
* Bill supporters claim that small hobby breeders will not be affected. This is not true. Supporters claim the only reason to have 15 females is for mass producing puppies, i.e. continually breeding each female. Also not true. The bill supporters are activists, NOT dog breeders and have no firsthand knowledge of building or maintaining a breeding program. It is quite possible for someone to have 15 females without constantly producing puppies.
* Promoted with the usual anti-puppy mill hype and emotion, the bill focuses on labeling dog breeders, i.e., commercial=puppy mill to justify this over-the-top legislation. The term puppy mill has been promoted by animal rights activists in the same manner as a racial slur to cast a negative picture on the whole industry of breeding dogs; the goal is to eventually make all the words interchangeable, commercial=puppy mill=breeder.
* The cost to dog owners/breeders for construction of commercial grade facilities to meet state requirements will be enormous. It is irresponsible for legislators to force this expense on citizens who are already financially stressed in the current recession.
* There is no hard evidence that substandard kennel conditions are rampant throughout the state. It is pure conjecture for anyone to discuss whether dogs are housed in adequate or substandard conditions. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture estimates 79 kennels are likely to have 15 females; however, this does not automatically correlate to those kennels being substandard and/or in need of state intervention and regulation.
* The Fiscal Note on SB 460 has been provided by the Fiscal Research Division with input from NC DACS. The Department’s Animal Welfare Section estimates costs to implement a regulatory
program are a staggering quarter of a million dollars for this year and increase to almost a half million dollars going forward with virtually no income. With a state budget shortfall in excess of three billion dollars and government programs being cut, it is the height of irresponsibility to burden NCDA with this initiative.
ACTION IS NEEDED NOW! PLEASE CALL AND EMAIL SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE AND OPPOSE SB 460:
Sen. R.C. Soles, Jr. (Chair)
Phone: (919) 733-5963
RC.Soles@ncleg.net
Sen. Floyd McKissick, Jr. (Vice Chair)
Phone: (919) 733-4599
Floyd.McKissick@ncleg.net
Sen. David Hoyle (Vice Chair)
Phone: (919) 733-5734
David.Hoyle@ncleg.net
Sen. Tony Rand (Vice Chair)
Phone: (919) 733-9892
Tony.Rand@ncleg.net
Sen. Tom Apodaca
Phone: (919) 733-5745
Tom.Apodaca@ncleg.net
Sen. Philip Berger
Phone: (919) 733-5708
Phil.Berger@ncleg.net
Sen. Doug Berger
Phone: (919) 715-8683
Doug.Berger@ncleg.net
Sen. Harris Blake
Phone: (919) 733-4809
Harris.Blake@ncleg.net
Sen. Julia Boseman
Phone: (919) 715-2525
Julia.Boseman@ncleg.net
Sen. Peter Brunstetter
Phone: (919) 733-7850
Peter.Brunstetter@ncleg.net
Sen. Debbie Clary
Phone: (919) 715-3038
Debbie.Clary@ncleg.net
Sen. Katie Dorsett
Phone: (919)715-3042
Katie.Dorsett@ncleg.net
Sen. Tony Foriest
Phone: (919) 301-1446
Tony.Foriest@ncleg.net
Sen. James Forrester
Phone: (919) 715-3050
James.Forrester@ncleg.net
Sen. Linda Garrou
Phone: (919) 733-5620
Linda.Garrou@ncleg.net
Sen. W. Edward Goodall
Phone: (919) 733-7659
Eddie.Goodall@ncleg.net
Sen. Steve Goss
Phone: (919) 733-5742
Steve.Goss@ncleg.net
Sen. Malcolm Graham
Phone: (919) 733-5650
Malcolm.Graham@ncleg.net
Sen. Neal Hunt
Phone: (919) 733-5850
Neal.Hunt@ncleg.net
Sen. Jim Jacumin
Phone: (919) 715-7823
Jim.Jacumin@ncleg.net
Sen. Clark Jenkins
Phone: (919) 715-3040
Clark.Jenkins@ncleg.net
Sen. Martin Nesbitt, Jr.
Phone: (919) 715-3001
Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net
Sen. William Purcell
Phone: (919) 733-5953
William.Purcell@ncleg.net
Sen. Bob Rucho
Phone: (919) 733-5655
Bob.Rucho@ncleg.net
Sen. Larry Shaw
Phone: (919) 733-9349
Larry.Shaw@ncleg.net
Sen. Josh Stein
Phone: (919)715-6400
Josh.Stein@ncleg.net
Sen. Richard Stevens
Phone: (919) 733-5653
Richard.Stevens@ncleg.net
Sen. Don Vaughan
Phone: (919)733-5856
Don.Vaughan@ncleg.net
Additional talking points and contact information are available on the SAOVA website
http://www.saova.org/northcarolina2.html and North Carolina Responsible Animal Owners Alliance [NCRAOA] http://www.ncraoa.com/alertsSB460.html
Please share this message widely.
Susan Wolf
Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance - http://saova.org
Issue lobbying and working to identify and elect supportive legislators
NORTH CAROLINA ACTION ALERT
SB 460 Commercial Dog Breeders introduced by Senator Don Davis (D, Wayne/Pitt/Greene) is scheduled to be heard in the Commerce Committee on Thursday, April 30 at 9:00 AM, room 1027 LB
BILL SYNOPSIS
SB 460 defines as commercial anyone who has custody or control of more than 15 female dogs over the age of four months at any time. The bill establishes standards for care at commercial breeding operations, including requirements which will be written by the NC Department of Agriculture at a later date, for exercise, veterinary care and record keeping. The bill mandates that commercial breeders cannot breed female dogs less than 18 months or more than eight years of age. SB 460 mandates that an adult female dog cannot be bred without an annual certification from a licensed veterinarian that the dog is in suitable health for breeding.
** TALKING POINTS **
* The bills define as commercial anyone maintaining 15 females during the span of 12 months – does not say intact females, does not define what age is considered adult.
* Thousands of North Carolina citizens breed dogs without creating problems and they do not require state inspections. This is reactive legislation to the recent closure of a substandard kennel. The kennel closure and removal of dogs is evidence that current law adequately dealt with the situation.
* The potential exists for warrantless searches of a citizen's home and kennel while inspecting dogs to determine if license is required.
* SB 460 assumes that an owner of 15 or more dogs is not capable of managing and maintaining their animals in good health without state intervention. It is wrong to use a numerical basis to begin excessive regulation of dog breeders; numbers do not correlate to quality of care. Laws for animal welfare and to prevent animal-cruelty are already in place to protect all animals whether it is one dog or one hundred.
* The requirement for annual veterinary certification of suitable health for breeding is very vague. Certification could require anything from routine physical exam to an expensive panel of blood tests and x-rays. There are no standardized, specific laboratory tests or specialized reproductive examination procedures that are suitable for assessing the health status of bitches for breeding. No other species has this pre-breeding regulation in place. This provision only serves to make breeding dogs more expensive and more complicated. The decision to breed or not breed a dog should remain at the discretion of the owner and not become a legislative mandate.
* Bill supporters claim that small hobby breeders will not be affected. This is not true. Supporters claim the only reason to have 15 females is for mass producing puppies, i.e. continually breeding each female. Also not true. The bill supporters are activists, NOT dog breeders and have no firsthand knowledge of building or maintaining a breeding program. It is quite possible for someone to have 15 females without constantly producing puppies.
* Promoted with the usual anti-puppy mill hype and emotion, the bill focuses on labeling dog breeders, i.e., commercial=puppy mill to justify this over-the-top legislation. The term puppy mill has been promoted by animal rights activists in the same manner as a racial slur to cast a negative picture on the whole industry of breeding dogs; the goal is to eventually make all the words interchangeable, commercial=puppy mill=breeder.
* The cost to dog owners/breeders for construction of commercial grade facilities to meet state requirements will be enormous. It is irresponsible for legislators to force this expense on citizens who are already financially stressed in the current recession.
* There is no hard evidence that substandard kennel conditions are rampant throughout the state. It is pure conjecture for anyone to discuss whether dogs are housed in adequate or substandard conditions. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture estimates 79 kennels are likely to have 15 females; however, this does not automatically correlate to those kennels being substandard and/or in need of state intervention and regulation.
* The Fiscal Note on SB 460 has been provided by the Fiscal Research Division with input from NC DACS. The Department’s Animal Welfare Section estimates costs to implement a regulatory
program are a staggering quarter of a million dollars for this year and increase to almost a half million dollars going forward with virtually no income. With a state budget shortfall in excess of three billion dollars and government programs being cut, it is the height of irresponsibility to burden NCDA with this initiative.
ACTION IS NEEDED NOW! PLEASE CALL AND EMAIL SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE AND OPPOSE SB 460:
Sen. R.C. Soles, Jr. (Chair)
Phone: (919) 733-5963
RC.Soles@ncleg.net
Sen. Floyd McKissick, Jr. (Vice Chair)
Phone: (919) 733-4599
Floyd.McKissick@ncleg.net
Sen. David Hoyle (Vice Chair)
Phone: (919) 733-5734
David.Hoyle@ncleg.net
Sen. Tony Rand (Vice Chair)
Phone: (919) 733-9892
Tony.Rand@ncleg.net
Sen. Tom Apodaca
Phone: (919) 733-5745
Tom.Apodaca@ncleg.net
Sen. Philip Berger
Phone: (919) 733-5708
Phil.Berger@ncleg.net
Sen. Doug Berger
Phone: (919) 715-8683
Doug.Berger@ncleg.net
Sen. Harris Blake
Phone: (919) 733-4809
Harris.Blake@ncleg.net
Sen. Julia Boseman
Phone: (919) 715-2525
Julia.Boseman@ncleg.net
Sen. Peter Brunstetter
Phone: (919) 733-7850
Peter.Brunstetter@ncleg.net
Sen. Debbie Clary
Phone: (919) 715-3038
Debbie.Clary@ncleg.net
Sen. Katie Dorsett
Phone: (919)715-3042
Katie.Dorsett@ncleg.net
Sen. Tony Foriest
Phone: (919) 301-1446
Tony.Foriest@ncleg.net
Sen. James Forrester
Phone: (919) 715-3050
James.Forrester@ncleg.net
Sen. Linda Garrou
Phone: (919) 733-5620
Linda.Garrou@ncleg.net
Sen. W. Edward Goodall
Phone: (919) 733-7659
Eddie.Goodall@ncleg.net
Sen. Steve Goss
Phone: (919) 733-5742
Steve.Goss@ncleg.net
Sen. Malcolm Graham
Phone: (919) 733-5650
Malcolm.Graham@ncleg.net
Sen. Neal Hunt
Phone: (919) 733-5850
Neal.Hunt@ncleg.net
Sen. Jim Jacumin
Phone: (919) 715-7823
Jim.Jacumin@ncleg.net
Sen. Clark Jenkins
Phone: (919) 715-3040
Clark.Jenkins@ncleg.net
Sen. Martin Nesbitt, Jr.
Phone: (919) 715-3001
Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net
Sen. William Purcell
Phone: (919) 733-5953
William.Purcell@ncleg.net
Sen. Bob Rucho
Phone: (919) 733-5655
Bob.Rucho@ncleg.net
Sen. Larry Shaw
Phone: (919) 733-9349
Larry.Shaw@ncleg.net
Sen. Josh Stein
Phone: (919)715-6400
Josh.Stein@ncleg.net
Sen. Richard Stevens
Phone: (919) 733-5653
Richard.Stevens@ncleg.net
Sen. Don Vaughan
Phone: (919)733-5856
Don.Vaughan@ncleg.net
Additional talking points and contact information are available on the SAOVA website
http://www.saova.org/northcarolina2.html and North Carolina Responsible Animal Owners Alliance [NCRAOA] http://www.ncraoa.com/alertsSB460.html
Please share this message widely.
Susan Wolf
Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance - http://saova.org
Issue lobbying and working to identify and elect supportive legislators
From Field to Show and Show to Field the way it should be
Re: NC AKC SAYS URGENT EMAILS NEEDED AS HB 733 IS NOW SB 460
SUSAN NICE JOB YOUR ORGAIZATION IS DOING.I ADVISE ALL TO BOOKMARK AND SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR SITE'S EMAIL WARNINGS AND OFFER ANY CASH DONATIONS. WE NEED SITES LIKE THIS SO WE CAN FIGHT AS ONE ARMY!!! Nationwide.i have posted a link to this site on several sporting dog boards.