CFA Legislative ALERT
Last Updated: Thursday, February 22, 2007
Minnesota fanciers;
OPPOSE the "Dog and Cat Breeders Act" - MN SF 121
Introduced by Senators Don Betzold, Paul Koering and Katie Sieben.
CONTACT friends, your veterinarian - anyone you know in the State of Minnesota
who loves pedigreed cats/purebred dogs. Let them know their help is needed to preserve
people's ability to choose home-raised pets.
CALL or EMAIL members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Veterans.
A hearing has not yet been scheduled but they need to know NOW there is strong opposition to SF 121.
READ the entire Bill
Click on "bill search"; Find your Senator.
BACKGROUND -
Minnesota already has adequate laws requiring licensing of "kennels" that take dogs/cats from shelters or abandoned and stray animals (rescue facilities). The State has standards for commercial breeders or dealers that sell dogs/cats to institutions or other dealers. The Consumer Protection statute (1992) applies to pet dealers, breeders who sell to the public or brokers who purchase animals for resale. SF 121 is an unnecessary animal rights agenda to make conscientious breeding programs for cats or dogs impossible in Minnesota.
HIGHLIGHTS -
- The" Dog and Cat Breeders Act" would license, inspect and regulate everyone who possesses 6 or more "adult, intact breeding females" (dogs or cats). Kittens/puppies 20 weeks of age are considered adults.
- Included are detailed and stringent standards of care as well as transportation and husbandry requirements.
- Inspections are required at least annually without notice.
- A veterinarian-inspector who determines substantial risk to an animal's health or welfare may euthanize the animal for reasons not limited to disease or pain.
OPPOSITION -
There are many flaws in this bill. Let the Senators know of a few primary problems. Suggested 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". SF 121 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. Enforcement would be expensive and difficult as the numbers of cats/dogs in a typical breeder's household will fluctuate.
- 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.
- Unnoticed inspection is intrusive of home privacy. Kittens are raised in people's bedrooms in homes not open "during normal business hours". Yearly inspection is unnecessary and 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. A female could not be bred on the next cycle following a litter even when advised by a veterinarian. Husbandry matters should not be decided by government.
Tell Committee members that conscientious hobby breeding usually does means 6 or more intact females and good breeders will not be able to comply with this bad law. SF 121 will only advance an agenda to stop cat and dog breeding in Minnesota.
Joan Miller
CFA Legislative Coordinator
JMillerArt@aol.com
********************************
CONTACT INFORMATION
Senate Committee on Agriculture and Veterans
Senator Jim Vickerman, Chair
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Room 226
St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
(651) 296-5650
Senator Sharon L Erickson Ropes, Vice Chair
(651) 296-5649
sen.sharon.erickson.ropes@senate.mn
Senator Steve Dille, Ranking Minority Member
(651) 296-4131
sen.steve.dille@senate.mn
Senator Satveer S. Chaudhary
(651) 296-4334
sen.satveer.chaudhary@senate.mn
Senator Joe Gimse
(651) 296-3826
sen.joe.gimse@senate.mn
Senator David W. Hann
(651) 296-1749
Email with online form
Senator Bill G. Ingebrigsten
(651) 297-8063
sen.bill.ingebrigtsen@senate.mn
Senator Paul E. Koering (Co-author)
(651) 296-4875
sen.paul.koering@senate.mn
Senator Gary W. Kubly
(651) 296-5094
sen.gary.kubly@senate.mn
Senator Keith Langseth
(651) 296-3205
sen.keith.langseth@senate.mn
Senator Steve Murphy
(651) 296-4264
Email with online form
Senator Rod Skoe
(651) 296-4196
sen.rod.skoe@senate.mn
Senator Dan Skogen
(651) 296-5655
sen.dan.skogen@senate.mn
Senator Betsy L. Wergin
(651) 296-8075
sen.betsy.wergin@senate.mn
Author
Senator Don Betzold
(651) 296-2556
sen.don.betzold@senate.mn
Co-authors
Senator Paul Koering - see above
Senator Katie Sieben
(651) 297-8060
Sen.katie.sieben@senate.mn
To correspond with the CFA Legislative Committee, please send email to legislation@cfa.org
|
