CFA: Legislative Alert - Minnesota State Bill SF 121

The "Dog and Cat Breeders Act" MN H 1046 (Companion bill to S 121) will be heard this Thursday, March 15th, in the House Public Safety & Civil Justice Committee at 12:30 p.m. (Room 10). (See update above)

Please attend the hearing. Address the Committee members if possible. Call or email Committee Members offices to let them know you oppose this bill. Contact information is below. OR use our easy-to-send email link.

This bill would require licensing, inspection and regulation of everyone who possesses 6 or more “adult, intact breeding females” (dogs and/or cats). Kittens/puppies 20 weeks of age are considered adults.

There are detailed and stringent standards of care as well as transportation and husbandry requirements.

Inspections of breeders' homes would be required at least annually without notice.

If a veterinarian-inspector determines substantial risk to an animal’s health or welfare the animal may be euthanized for reasons not limited to disease or pain.

Opposition points to make in your own words:

Minnesota will lose its best source of home-raised pedigreed kittens and purebred puppies. Supporters claim the bill exempts “hobby breeders”. H 1046 will eliminate many fine home based breeders from the state because of onerous and unrealistic requirements.
Possession of “six or more adult breeding female animals” means a combination of dogs and cats i.e. persons with 3 intact female dogs and 3 intact female cats would be regulated. A cattery with 6 intact female cats represents a small breeding program concerned with genetic diversity.
This Bill’s definition of “possess” is unrealistic - “to own, have an ownership interest in, care for, have custody of, or have control over”. For example, the 6 intact female threshold would include kittens over 20 weeks being evaluated for show/breeding potential, co-owned cats who may even live outside of the state, female cats temporarily in the home for stud service or on lease. And, this would include any intact female dogs living in a cat breeder's household.
Enforcement would be expensive and difficult as the numbers of cats/dogs in a typical breeder’s household will fluctuate. It is impossible to tell if a female cat is intact or a spayed pet.
Unnoticed inspection is intrusive of home privacy. Kittens are raised in people’s bedrooms not usually open to government inspection. Home breeders are usually working and not at home “during normal business hours”. Yearly inspection is unnecessary and would be expensive for the State. A single complaint would trigger an investigation of a breeder’s home, cats and records. A correction order could mean a penalty up to $10,000.
Standards of Care were derived with no input from hobby breeders. These standards are overly detailed, impractical or undesirable for breeders who raise cats/dogs in their homes. For example - air transport would be impossible since conditions in transit cannot be controlled. If an 8 week old kitten cannot be transported at all how does one receive veterinary care? Cats cannot be “housed” in outdoor confined areas ever – even in good weather. Kittens can not be “housed” with adult altered family pet dogs or cats, which is desirable for socialization. A female could not be bred on the next cycle following a litter even when advised by a veterinarian.

Tell Committee members that husbandry matters should not be decided by government. Each situation is different and should be determined by a breeder with veterinary advice. Conscientious hobby breeding usually means 6 or more intact females for proper genetic diversity.

Good breeders will not be able to comply with this bad law. H 1046 will only advance an agenda to stop cat and dog breeding in Minnesota.

Joan Miller
CFA Legislative Coordinator
JMillerArt@aol.com

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CONTACT INFORMATION

State of Minnesota
House Public Safety & Civil Justice
State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155
651/296-2314

Joe Mullery (Ch)(DFL-58A Hennepin)
651/296-4262
rep.joe.mullery@house.mn

Jeremy Kalin (V-Ch)(DFL-17B Chisago)
651/296-5377
rep.jeremy.kalin@house.mn

Karla Bigham (DFL-57A Washington, Dakota)
651/296-4342
rep.karla.bigham@house.mn

Tony Cornish (R-24B Blue Earth, Waseca, Faribault)
651/296-4240
rep.tony.cornish@house.mn

Chris DeLaForest (R-49A Anoka)
651/296-4231
rep.chris.delaforest@house.mn

Tom Emmer (R-19B Wright)
651/296-4336
rep.tom.emmer@house.mn

Debra Hilstrom (DFL-46B Hennepin)
651/296-3709
rep.debra.hilstrom@house.mn