CFA: Legislative Alert - Proposed Amendments to Animal Ordinance, Ann Arbor, MI

This bill just came through on our state legislative tracking system. It would affect any breeder selling more than one litter or two cats/dogs over 6 months of age in a year. It is unlike other state pet warranty bills because 30 days is unusually long for consumers to have compensation or remedies in case of infectious disease symptoms. More common is 14 days or 10 days. There is no provision for breeders to have their own veterinarian examine an animal claimed to be sick or to obtain their own autopsy. There is no provision for a buyer to promptly, within 10 business days, notify a breeder of illness symptoms or to take the cat/dog to a veterinarian for treatment. If a pet dies (no matter what the cause or age of death) the breeder must refund the full purchase price !!

Most warranty laws apply to pet stores or large commercial breeders only. Very few cover cats at all. This bill would include all small home-based breeders of cats and dogs. Inherited disorders/diseases (such as FIP) can be impossible to diagnose in cats. The bill has no provision for the breeder to inform the buyer of a known or suspected disorder prior to selling the kitten/cat and obtain a waiver based on a personal agreement with an accepting pet buyer. For instance a kitten with a heart murmur can live a long life as a pet.

We will be monitoring HB 5738. Contact your own Representatives and Senators to express your concern with this bill as a breeder or as a pet owner since warranty laws mean prices for purebred puppies/pedigreed kittens will go up. Ask that it be withdrawn or extensively amended to be fair. When the bill is assigned to a committee watch for Alerts. Warranty laws have been passed in many states but need to be fair and are usually directed to those in business for profit.

"Lemon law" compensation for animals, and providing health certificates, may be in line with what breeders already do; however, history in other states has shown that even requirements appearing to be reasonable in warranty laws can escalate so that every year it becomes more difficult if not impossible for the small home-based breeders to comply without enormous burden and cost. Warranty laws should not be a means to discourage the home-based breeders.

Forward to other cat and dog breeders in Michigan.

Joan Miller
CFA Legislative Coordinator

To correspond with the CFA Legislative Committee, please send email to legislation@cfa.org

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