This is a placeholder text
Group text
by cledford on 27 January 2008 - 13:01
Please provide some fact about the misinformation proprogated by the proponents - such as the number of animals IMPORTED to be adopted out. Also, other facts/tidbits to put into a quick email on this topic would be a huge help. My personal angle will be that as a small, hoobiest breeder who was contacted during my litter by a SAR team, fire dept, & police dog trainer that such requirements would impact homeland security as the already huge cost with breeding as a hobbiest would amount to too much with new fees forcing myself and other hobbiest out of breeding. Also, any links to PETAs and HSUS real goals (or quotes) tha indicate their *real* adgenda (the elimination of the domestication of animals) would be a huge help.
There was also a link to helth issues for breeding/spaying - does anyone know where the is?
I only found out about this law on friday and I have to have the email sent before Monday morning.
-Calvin
by spirmon on 27 January 2008 - 13:01
Here is a link for spay-neuter health issues. Hope that helps. Norma
by spirmon on 27 January 2008 - 14:01
by Brittany on 27 January 2008 - 16:01
You can go to http://www.neutering.org/
by Dog1 on 27 January 2008 - 17:01
Calvin,
Here's the information that's specific to VA.
The statewide mandatory spay and neuter bill brought to us by Robert Hull, delegate for part of Fairfax County. If you voted for him, or even if you didn't, please contact him and let him know what you think about this one. Politely . Then contact the Ag subcommittee below to tell them this one is not going to solve anything!
HB1570 *** Companion animals; sterilization; penalty (Hull)
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?081+ful+HB1570
Think 'California AB 1634 for Virginia' -- but this one gets commercial sellers too. Animal pounds, shelters, and rescue groups are already required to sterilize animals when sold, either prior to sale or by contract with the buyer for sterilization at a later time. This bill adds 'dealers' to that list. Failure to comply would allow the state veterinarian or a court to void the sale. Both buyer and seller would be fined $150.
There are a number of specific requirements for the pet sales contract. The three kinds of 'good' breeders who would be exempt from the mandatory spay/neuter requirement are defined as follows:
1. "'Breed improver' means a person who: (i) breeds working dogs, show dogs, and hunting dogs or cats of specific breeds, not as a source of income, but to perpetuate the breed or eliminate physical shortcomings and disease, or who could otherwise demonstrate a conscious and deliberate plan of breed improvement; and (iii) adheres to the American Kennel Club's 22 responsible breeding steps, United Kennel Club's breeders code of ethics, American Working Dog Federation's constitution and bylaws, or a substantially similar code of ethics or Cat Fanciers' Association breed standards."
2. "'Fancier breeder' means a person who: (i) regularly shows or competes at competitions sanctioned by the American Kennel Club, the United Kennel Club, the American Working Dog Federation and their member clubs, or the Cat Fanciers' Association and their sanctioned competitions, or similar organizations for rare breed dogs and cats; and (ii) adheres to the American Kennel Club's 22 responsible breeding steps, United Kennel Club's breeders code of ethics, American Working Dog Federation's constitution and bylaws, or a substantially similar code of ethics or Cat Fanciers' Association breed standards."
3. "'Hobby breeder' means a person who wishes to breed and then will find homes for one litter, but not for profit."
Fraudulently claiming to be one of the above would get you a fine of $1000. If this bill could work as written, it would shift Virginia to importing a large fraction of its dogs and cats. In the real world the result would be that a large fraction of our pet owners and nearly all non-commercial breeders would be in violation of the law.
OPPOSE
WHAT'S WRONG:
Mandatory spay/neuter has been proven not to work in so many places that I can't even bring myself to spend any time on this. It does not address the heart of the problem, which is relinquishment of dogs by owners who either cannot or will not deal with them, it is impossible to enforce, it unfairly penalizes responsible breeders and owners...if you want more, let me know.
Here's some more information.
http://www.naiaonline.org/issues/HJerpe_letter_to_CVMA.htm
http://www.cobankopegi.com/blog/2007/04/ma...ources-and.html
http:/
by cledford on 27 January 2008 - 17:01
Here is my draft email. I would fall into the "hobbyst" catagory - but it is still crap as even hobbysts must make somethign from the litters to continue their programs. Please comment if you'd like. I'll finish thsi up and mail this evening.
-Calvin
My name is Calvin Ledford and I am a constituent, a registered voter and someone who has voted in every presidential, mid-term, state, local and primary election held during the 19 years I have been eligible to vote. I am also a dog sports enthusiast, a hobbyist breeder of the German Shepherd Dog, a former law enforcement officer and a former volunteer with a national recognized canine Search and Rescue team based in Virginia.
I am contacting you to express my *VEHEMENT OPPOSITION* to HB 1570 and HB 1486, which seek to impose mandatory Spaying and neutering of dogs and cats, along with expansive (and expensive) licensing of the breeders of such animals.
This proposed legislation is simply “feel good” type law creation that directly impacts homeland security, serves no real good and severely hurts those was who care about the animals the most – all the while furthering the real goals of organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of animals (PETA) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). PETA (categorized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a Domestic Terrorist organization) has stated on numerous occasions that their true end goal is the elimination of the domestication of all animals. To further this goal their Norfolk Virginia based “shelter” had an astounding 97% kill ratio for the calendar year 2006. This astonishingly high incidence of euthanization is not due to a lack of interested parties to adopt animals received by their operation, it is due to their unofficial, yet widely known policy of “better dead then enslaved by humans” belief. The HSUS, only slightly less extreme in their agenda, also is very much opposed to the continued breeding of domestic cats and dogs. These long term goals for both organizations, incrementally achieved through carefully disguised “good” legislation, seeks to play on the heart strings of legislative members and the uninvolved general public. The reality is that this legislation would drive hobbyist breeders (the ones who truly care about their animals and those that they produce) out of the field, reduce the number of available working dogs that perform valuable services for mankind and drastically reduce the gene pool from which healthy animals can be produced. Finally, and most insidiously, there are also huge health implications for the animals subjected to these knee jerk and potentially unnecessary medical procedures. It is well documented by numerous studies published in the Journal of American Veterinary Medicine Association, that early spaying/neutering of canines leads to increased incidence of severe orthopedic conditions, a dramatically increased incidence of several common and virulent forms of cancer and other severe heath issues such as hypothryroidism. While PETA and HSUS can likely “trot out” numerous local veterinaries who might support blanket spay/neuter legislation (likely at excessively young ages), how many of their “experts” have been published in veterinary journals? How many work for non-profit or educational facilities and stand TO NOT PROFIT from the passage of such legislation? None I would wager…
It has been my lifelong dream to work with German Shepherds, to become a steward of the working traits of the br
by cledford on 27 January 2008 - 17:01
It has been my lifelong dream to work with German Shepherds, to become a steward of the working traits of the breed and do my part to preserve the most versatile and useful dog breed known to man. To this end I invested over $15,000 dollars and hundreds of hours of personal time in pursuit of this goal. As anyone who cares about breeding dogs, strives to improve the breed, while producing healthy, useful examples of the breed will tell you about the endeavor – it is a *break even proposal at best* from a financial perspective. Contrary to popular belief, given the several thousands of dollars (or more depending on potential complications) required to produce a single successful litter, a hobbyist breeder *is very lucky* to not LOSE money on each attempt and in reality only recovers enough financially to continue their program. Having said that, we are the ones who domestically produce the VAST MAJORITY of dogs used by our police departments, search as rescue teams, assistance dog programs, etc. During my last litter I was contacted by members of a Federal Emergency Management SAR team, the Fairfax County fire department and a local police K9 trainer who supplies dogs to several local and federal agencies, all seeking puppies for their programs. Should this proposed legislation become law it would add yet another finical burden to a situation that is already barely financial tenable to breeder such as myself. Furthermore, in many cases dogs used in breeding programs such as mine, but who are not actually OWNED BY THE BREEDER, CANNOT EVEN BE EVALUATED FOR BREED WORTHNESS UNTIL AT LEAST 2 YEARS OF AGE. The non-breeding Individuals who own these dogs, whether K9 or SAR handlers, sport enthusiasts, etc. are not going to pay exorbitant fees to allow their animals to remain intact so that they can *potentially* be used in someone else’s breeding program. This directly leads to a diminished gene pool and directly impacts homeland security by forcing organizations within the USA to seek viable candidates for working dogs from Europe or elsewhere – where there is no national interest associated with providing these animals.
Simply put, the proposed bills reduce my civil liberties, place a huge financial burden on myself and others like me (who strive to produce sound, useful companion and working dogs) while furthering the political agendas of those who seek to eliminate all domestication of animals. Should the legislature choose to allow this to take place, I will first vote my displeasure at the ballot box, then with my feet – by leaving Virginia. As a white collar, technical professional who makes his living providing technology services to local infrastructure and the Federal Government, the loss of my substantial contribution to the tax base of the commonwealth will be significant and sorely missed in this time of belt tightening in the state budget.
I hope in the end that you chose to not cave to the thinly disguised “feel good” agendas of extremists and chose to instead look past their hyperbole and support those who support the breeding of useful and healthy working and companion animals, which among other their many other roles, serve to maintain our collective freedoms.
Sincerely,
Calvin W. Ledford
by Dog1 on 27 January 2008 - 17:01
Detailed information on all the proposed Virginia Legislation can be found on GSD World.
http://www.gsdworld.net/invboard/index.php?act=Search&CODE=show&searchid=bc50c1edae7c2b255e4860e94fba54f7&search_in=posts&result_type=topics&highlite=legislation
by Silbersee on 27 January 2008 - 19:01
I am not a Virginia resident (yet) but I would like to make a suggestion to anybody who wishes to contact politicians. Keep it short, simple and a "matter of fact". I personally know through my work that they will not read lengthy essays. Calvin, while it is well intentioned I personally think it is just too long.
Chris
by Bob-O on 28 January 2008 - 13:01
Chris, I agree. I am a politcal activist for a couple of motorcycle groups and the accepted format for any letter to a legislator follows this construction : Three (3) paragraphs of three (3) sentences each. And, be Specific-Be Thorough-Be Brief.
Regards, and Good Luck!
Bob-O
Contact information Disclaimer Privacy Statement Copyright Information Terms of Service Cookie policy ↑ Back to top