[gemy]

[QUOTE=Nancy1999;3980923]I posted on the other thread, but I want to post here too. Please read this bill before you believe what is being written about it. This has happened so many times, and the bill is nothing like people are saying. I've been interested in getting this legislation passed. (1) Gail do you understand that right now if you sell directly to the public or over the internet you need no license, no matter how many dogs you sell? The worst puppy mills are unlicensed facilities. People here are always saying stay away from USDA licensed kennels, they are puppy mills, but they are loads better than the places that sell over the internet. (4) I don’t buy the statement that even if you sell one dog this will affect you. (2)Have you read the actual bill instead of a third party statement about the bill? This will give the USDA the same authoritiy as when breeders sold to pet stores. Commercial breeders have been known to target small breeders and fool them into helping them fight their fight. (3) The site that you linked doesn’t sound like an independent site that explains the bill, it sounds like it’s just propaganda for the commercial lobby.

1) I do

2) I have

3) Don't know why you say that. To the best of my knowledge it is not run by a commercial lobby. If I find out that it is. I will rescind my recommendation to read this site.


4) From the Bill
II. Summary of Major Provisions
‘‘Retail pet stores’’ are not required to

obtain a license under the AWA or

comply with the AWA regulations and

standards. Currently, anyone selling, at

retail, the following animals for use as

pets are considered retail pet stores:

Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs,

hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice, gophers,

chinchilla, domestic ferrets, domestic

farm animals, birds, and cold-blooded

species.

This proposed rule would rescind the

‘‘retail pet store’’ status of anyone

selling, at retail for use as pets, the

animals listed above to buyers who do

not physically enter his or her place of

business or residence in order to

personally observe the animals available

for sale prior to purchase and/or to take

custody of the animals after purchase.

Unless otherwise exempt under the

regulations, these entities would be

required to obtain a license from APHIS

and would become subject to the

requirements of the AWA, which

include identification of animals and

recordkeeping requirements, as well as

the following standards: Facilities and

operations (including space, structure

and construction, waste disposal,

heating, ventilation, lighting, and

interior surface requirements for indoor

and outdoor primary enclosures and

housing facilities); animal health and

husbandry (including requirements for

veterinary care, sanitation and feeding,

watering, and separation of animals);

and transportation (including

specifications for primary enclosures,

primary conveyances, terminal

facilities, and feeding, watering, care,

and handling of animals in transit).
]

Please see highlighted items


Now Nancy, I was alerted to this "new regulation" by three very reputable Rare Breeders. Asking for my help if after review of the legislation I thought that either it was a) a clear and present danger to hobby breeders b) ineffective c) cost prohibitive and d) would actually do one whit to curb actual puppy mills.

A while ago I read the requirements for Kennels, and I was appalled. First and foremost in my mind, VERY FEW PUPPIES IF ANY, should be raised outside in kennels. It is poppycock. Dogs are in the main part destined to live in residential homes, and that is exactly where they should be brought up.

I would like to see the demise of ALL COMMERCIAL KENNELS and PUPPY MILLS and BYBERS. But then where would we be? Empty rescues, shelters? Ummmm. I wonder.

Now I have a question for you; have you read the Losey article? It is linked in the Animal Protection and Welfare thread.

I am going to ask a very basic question akin to ; The Emperor's New Clothes (remember that story), why if you want to STOP internet selling of puppies from suspected Puppy Mills, are you NOT looking at an Internet solution?

IS the answer this Regulation , OR is it more importantly, EDUCATION. Education of the buying public.

Now back to this proposed regulation. Four Breeding Bitches? I asked on my comment to them What is the Definiton of a breeding Bitch? Oh wow, just an unspayed female? How damaging. There are females we will retire from breeding, and NOT SPAY due to health risks surmounting any benefit. There are puppy females who are too young for breeding, too young for placement. In any given month we may have a whole lot more than 4 unspayed Bitches in the house. So what do you want me the hobby breeder to do with my beautiful 5 yr old bitch who I've retired from breeding, can't spay but want to keep her in the only home she has ever known? Remember I will work with my breed for their lifetime. I might still be working with her for her Utility Title or Rescue work.

With the Rare breeds and other breeds I know for sure, but particularly the RAre Breeds we network constantly over the internet. Post pics, crow and brag about our accomplishments, show litters, house, training areas, meet each other at shows. Remember many of us may travel 1000 miles or so to get to a show. Oftentimes when at shows, we will purchase a puppy from each other. We have already done the pedigree research, and in this environment, we get to see, to feel, to touch, to watch the movement of the puppy we are interested in. Or we are examining the studs, and bitches that do come to the Nationals or other big shows. The maybe over the phone or internet we arrange the purchase of same. I don't want my ability to purchase a top quality dog to be decimated by this "ruling". We are few enough breeders in North America as is!.

I respect your opinion Nancy, as I hope you do mine;maybe we see things through different lenses.