Posted on 03/20/2006 1:01:21 PM PST by doc30
Normally, I don't post requests for help on issues, but there are a fair number of more knowlegeable animal lover Freepers than I. They may be interested and/or could offer some insight into 2 bills pending in FL.
Here are the Senate Summaries of these 2 bills coming before the Senate Agriculture Committee in FL and are to be voted on the 21st. Has anyone heard of these bills and does anyone have any idea what their impact will be?
Some have said that this will cripple the dog/cat breeders in FL and will include private, non-profit animal rescue groups as "pet dealers" and make them subject to licensing requirements. Such volunteer organizations are in no place to administer government regulations and they perform an important community function. It will also shut down home/hobby breeders. For those interested, here is a list of the committee members.
Bullard 850-487-5127
Argenziano 850-487-5017
Bennett 850-487-5078
Haridopolos 850-487-5056
Peaden 850-487-5000
Smith 850-487-5020
Some areas go after neglect and abuse more vigorously than others. This at least carries some teeth to go after abusive puppy mills by establishing fines and the ability to pull licenses.
Sorry... I'm on the other corner of the country and don't know more about the FLA bill than has been posted here.
Virtually every hobby breeder I know has been working for years to put puppy mills out of business and educate the public. In addition, MOST puppies sold by hobby breeders are required to be spayed or neutered.
If states would enforce their own laws on animal abuse, MANY of the puppy mills would not be in business today. I doubt they will be able to enforce this new law either, however I really REALLY don't want to have more government intrusion in my life.
BTW, a couple of my friends in successfully got a puppy mill to close down, as they did a little undercover work and got her on AKC violations, so she lost her ability to register dogs via AKC. It was alot of work, but it was worth it, as her facility was really really bad.
susie
Please rephrase your question, because I'm not sure what you disagree with. I think the law is bad for hobby breeders (unwarranted government intrusion). I'm not sure what that has to do with puppy mills or pet shops. In fact, Florida already has a puppy lemon law that covers the health issue.
susie
Animal abuse is already against the law. It's not being effectively enforced. Why will another law change things?
In fact, I suspect the upshoot of this is that fewer hobby breeders will equal more puppy mills (and btw, most pet shops get their puppies out of state).
susie
One of my best friends shows/breeds cockers. I spent alot of time traveling with her and her crazy little dogs over the years (I say that with great affection!)
susie
This is a state level enforcement of PAWS that is on the table for signing at the federal level.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/awa.html
What has stalled at Federal is being pushed through at state levels to try to force federal signature.
Home breeding does not constitue puppy mills. And this new licensing rule does not consitute all situations on how animals are bred and sold.
With this new law comes animal seizer costs. If you have your animals seized, you are billed for the costs of seizing plus upkeep for where ever they are kept/housed.
This PAWS also has the same data collection and tagging as NAIS.
I understand you don't want the intrusion. But you have to understand that the difference between 'hobby breeder' and 'puppy mill' is only perspective. One is a happy word and one is not. From the outside, few people could tell the difference unless they could inspect.
This law would allow for inspection and licensing action to be taken against breeders who do not maintain good standards.
It's relevant that FL has some kind of puppy lemon law... since this one speaks to medical reimbursement to the buyer (not just return for refund) and also to requiring sick animals get treated, I'm wondering is that new or redundant?
The problem is that these animals are not the pruducts of hobby breeders. Most of the animals at shelters are street-bred animals, not pedigreed pets. Most breeders I know are very careful who gets their animals and are not into it for the money. Breeders like this are very lucky if they can break even. If there is only an estimated 20% compliance with county dog licensing, then how is this law going to stop the production of unwanted pets?
"fyi...I got my Cocker Spaniel from a AKC breeder. I wouldn't trade her for anything. My wife used to show dogs at AKC events."
I have 2 miniature dachshunds that are AKC registered. There is no problem with that. The problem is with the breeders that do NOT follow the AKC guidelines.
Not sure that's really true.... not by much of a margin anyway. There's a lot of mutts, to be sure... but a large proportion too of apparently purebred dogs.
My concern, and I'm not fluent in legalese, is the provison that any entity that sells more than 20 dogs per year or 2 litters per year can be considered a 'pet dealer' under these two laws. That may include the different private rescue groups out there and that's where I begin to get defensive.
Here are the links to the specific bills in their current form.
http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb0674.html&Directory=session/2006/Senate/bills/billtext/html
http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb0470.html&Directory=session/2006/Senate/bills/billtext/html
Also, the reason why I am worried is that rescue groups do an invaluable service by helping to socialize out of control, unwanted animals. My experience with shelters such as the local SPCA is that these rescue animals could easily be labeled unadoptable and euthanized when all they really needed was someoen to get them properly socialized. Most shelters simply do not have the resources to do that function. They stack them up in kennels and triage the animals for adoptability based on health and behavior. Heck, the bully breed animals are the only ones not spade or neutered in advance because these are the most likely to be euthanized! All the otehrs get fixed before going up for adoption.
The only bad part might be the fees... and that's a concern for any profit or nonprofit group, but what's wrong with these rescue groups being inspected just like any breeder? Certainly there have been cases where even 'rescue groups' have been guilty of poor care.
I'm just going by my own volunteer experience in Pinellas County, FL at the SPCA. About a third are "bully breed mixes" and at least half are Heinze 57's. But out of the ones that seem purebred, how many are from breeders or are from folks that just want some extra $ so they get with someone and breed their dogs? Also, you rarely find small breed dogs in shelters. It is typically the large breed animals with poor canine skills.
If they need to be licensed and they are home based, municipalities may cite them for inapropriate land use. They may suddenly be considered a business in a residential neighborhood. I know of several rescues that are in this fully developed county and have exists before urban sprawl surrounded their property. I also get worried about what regualtions inspections will entail. Even on this website, there is a wide perspective of what entails proper care of animals. What id a bunch of PETA types get in and start to set the agenda?
Dog and cat breeders do not need legislators determining cattery or kennel
management, proper environment for breeding animals, and, especially,
reproductive decisions concerning numbers and spacing of litters. Assuring the
welfare of breeding animals is not directly related to pet overpopulation or
euthanasia. It is a separate matter.
"Most of the animals at shelters are street-bred animals, not pedigreed pets."
Not so!! Our dachshund rescue groups check the shelters for the breed. They are fostered by loving people - treated for illness and neglect and placed for adoption to loving families.
Most are pure bred dogs who were not properly house broken or trained and the buyers do not want to bother with them. Some of these are dumped outside the shelters during the night. Some are owner surrendered because they can't afford to keep them - or treat them for medical reasons.
Case in point of a breeder is a 2 yrs old little dachshund who went blind. The breeder dumped her because she is no longer useful for making money!!
This pup is being picked up and fostered until a loving family adopts her. There is even an underground transport where volunteers give their time to transport the pups to other states - and even including Canada. Just out of the goodness of their hearts.
Others disagree...
The current AWA laws do not allow homes or homesteads to get kennel licenses. They are only available for brick and mortar kennels.
Theses laws that are going through at state level to force the federal legislature would essentially wipe out working dog breeders.
(away from desk....)
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