Indiana Bill Targets Breeders - Page 1

[Thursday, February 01, 2007] Indiana House Bill 1607 has been introduced by Representative Van Haaften. It seeks to establish regulation of pet dealers by the State Board of Animal Health (SBAH). If passed and signed into law, the changes imposed by this bill will have a profound impact on dog breeders in Indiana. It is imperative that breeders and concerned dog owners contact the committee chairman to express their opposition. The American Kennel Club strongly supports humane treatment of dogs, including an adequate and nutritious diet, clean water, clean living conditions, regular veterinary care, kind and responsive human companionship, and training in appropriate behavior. However, we do not believe that the proposed changes will achieve these aims. Instead enactment of these regulations would burden responsible breeders. Many of the regulations are impractical, unenforceable, and costly, and will not improve the quality of life for dogs in Indiana. For example, the proposed bill would: * Require any breeder who sells any number of dogs for profit, or who sells six or more dogs in one year, to be considered a pet dealer and subject to these proposals. These thresholds are arbitrary as they are not based on the number of litters or puppies produced, and overreaching as they can apply to some breeders who produce and sell one large litter annually. * Allow the SBAH to set fees to cover the cost of regulating pet dealers. * Require breeders to provide a 14-day guarantee period, during which the breeder would be responsible for most veterinary medical costs. * Require mandatory veterinary examinations of dog prior to sale. * Require mandatory recordkeeping requirements to be kept an undetermined period of time. * Require mandatory kennel signage requirements. * Allow investigations of purported violators of this bill and enforcement of its provisions.

What You Can Do: Contact the members of the Indiana House Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development who will consider this bill. Representative Phil Pflum, Chair 200 W. Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 46204 1-800-382-9842 (from anywhere within Indiana) Representative Steve Stemler, Vice Chair 1-800-382-9842 (from anywhere within Indiana) Representative Kreg Battles 1-800-382-9842 (from anywhere within Indiana) Representative Robert J. Bischoff 1-800-382-9842 (from anywhere within Indiana) Representative Nancy Dembowski 1-800-382-9842 (from anywhere within Indiana) Representative Terry Goodin 1-800-382-9842 (from anywhere within Indiana) Representative F. Dale Grubb 1-800-382-9842 (from anywhere within Indiana) Representative Eric A. Gutwein 1-800-382-9841 (from anywhere within Indiana) h16@IN.gov Representative William C. Friend 1-800-382-9841 (from anywhere within Indiana) h23@IN.gov Representative Thomas Knollman 1-800-382-9841 (from anywhere within Indiana) h55@IN.gov Representative Don Lehe 1-800-382-9841 (from anywhere within Indiana) h15@IN.gov Representative Marlin Stutzman 1-800-382-9841 (from anywhere within Indiana) h52@IN.gov For more information, contact AKC's Canine Legislation Department at (919) 816-3720, or e-mail at doglaw@akc.org. http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3123

Do you think if they keep this up the dogs can make the endangered species list?

Hey Brittany you left one out "PLEASE READ" http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3124 Mandatory Microchipping and Fees Proposed in Indiana. Indiana House Bill 1719, introduced by Representative Bardon, seeks to require that all dogs over six months of age be microchipped, that a new state-run microchip registry be developed, that owners of intact dogs be assessed a $50 annual fee, and that "Beware of Dog" signs be put up for every intact dog. If passed and signed into law, the changes imposed by this bill would have a detrimental impact on dog breeders in Indiana. It is vitally important that breeders and dog owners contact their representative and the committee chairman to express their opposition. As part of the American Kennel Club's ongoing efforts to promote responsible dog ownership, we encourage dog owners to properly identify their pets. We believe, however, that the final decision about identification—whether by collar, tattoo or microchip—should be made by the owner, not the government. The AKC also supports reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of purebred dogs and do not restrict the right of responsible breeders and owners. Imposing financial sanctions on owners of dogs not spayed or neutered is an ineffective solution to animal control problems because it fails to address the heart of the issue—irresponsible ownership. These laws are extremely difficult to enforce and can be evaded by irresponsible animal owners who will purposefully not comply with this bill's provisions. This proposal will unfairly punish responsible owners who are already complying with local animal control laws, while irresponsible owners will continue to make problems for the community and local shelters. For example, the proposed set of laws would require: All dogs over six months of age be microchipped with a state-sanctioned chip. All microchip data be stored in a state-run registry. All owners of dogs not spayed or neutered be assessed a $50 per year per dog fee. All owners of dogs not spayed or neutered to post a sign for each dog saying "Beware of Dog" and containing a warning symbol for children. Violators of any of these requirements be subject to a $500 fine. What You Can Do: Contact the members of the Indiana House Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures who will consider this bill. (For those legislators listed without e-mail addresses, go here.) Representative Scott Pelath, Chair Indiana House of Representatives 200 W. Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 46204 1-800-382-9842 (from anywhere within Indiana) Representative Russ Stilwell, Vice Chair 1-800-382-9842 (from anywhere within Indiana) Representative Terri Austin 1-800-382-9842 (from anywhere within Indiana) Representative Earl Harris 1-800-382-9842 (from anywhere within Indiana) Representative Robert Kuzman 1-800-382-9842 (from anywhere within Indiana) Representative Denny Oxley 1-800-382-9842 (from anywhere within Indiana) Representative Matt Whetstone 1-800-382-9842 (from anywhere within Indiana) h40@IN.gov Representative Randy L. Borror 1-800-382-9842 (from anywhere within Indiana) h84@IN.gov Representative Ralph Foley 1-800-382-9842 (from anywhere within Indiana) h47@IN.gov Representative P. Eric Turner 1-800-382-9842 (from anywhere within Indiana) H32@IN.gov For more information, contact AKC's Canine Legislation Department at (919) 816-3720, or e-mail at doglaw@akc.org.

Indiana General Assembly http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2007&session=1&request=getBill&docno=1607 http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2007&session=1&request=getBill&docno=1719