>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. <
Herein lies the problem. We do not know, at this point, how the proposed law defines the word, "dealer". If you bring hobby breeders under the "dealer" definition, especially at the federal level, you get into a morass of regulations on just how your animals must be kept.
Did you realize, that individuals with USDA licensed facilities may NOT house dogs or cats, for that matter, in their HOMES???? To comply with USDA regulations, it's been estimated that a kennel building will cost approximately $100,000.00. How many "hobby breeders" can afford such a thing, even IF they lived in an area zoned for such a facility? Must they then raise and sell dogs or cats commercially, to pay for the kennel facility?
At some point, the puppy buyer needs to take some responsibility for the proliferation of puppy mills. If a puppy buyer contacts any breeder, and is horrified with the conditions of the buyer's premises, must the buyer take the puppy, simply because the seller's price was $150.00 less than the other breeders in town? According to the posts on this thread, Florida already has a "Puppy Lemon Law" (a very good thing, imho). Buyers should insist, if the seller doesn't offer it first, on the right to return the dog if buyer's vet finds a defect or disease.
You raise valid concerns. I'm not familiar with the USDA stuff at all, and on that issue, I'm sure I agree with you.
I would not want to purchase a dog that was NOT raised in a home. My dog will live in my home and I want him to be home friendly.
I heard a well known Retriever trainer comment at the Sport Show in Milwaukee a couple of years ago, "Some people say that hunting dogs should live only in a kennel. I don't agree. All of my dogs -- whether my own, or guest dogs at my place for training -- spend time in the house with me on a rotating several times a week. We are blessed with the companionship of a dog for such a short time (referring to the fact that large dogs have a life span of only 9-15 years), why would we want to waste any of those years by keeping them confined to a kennel in the barn, or garage."
I agree.