Senate Bill1139 Bad/Good?
 

I think we ALL need to take a closer look at this new Bill that might be passed at the end of this month. I went to my local all breed club meeting last night and they are ALL upset. Yes, some show, but we also have pet owners, Rescue people, etc... And this Bill will affect all of them. For example if you co-own a dog, you must include all puppies whelped and adult dogs you own and are co-owned. If someone goes to pick up a dog for you that you just bought - you will need to have a USDA license as well as the person picking up the dog for you. If you are a small hobby breeder and buy a dog out of country - you will need a USDA license. If you buy a dog and later sell it - you will need a USDA license. If you stud your dog out - you are only allowed so many but that also includes studs you co-own. You will also be very responsible to what the other person you co-own does. If you only breed one or two litters a year, but also rescue dogs, foster, and placement on the side for which you change owners for a small fee - you will need a USDA license. :eek:
I thought this was a good Bill until it was actually defined in layman terms. My club is very upset. We had everyone stand and as the Bill was read and explained - in a short time everyone was sitting showing that we all would have needed a USDA license. What does that mean? Do you know how much land is required for a license and what kind of building would be needed to house the dogs? Can you be allowed to own a companion pet if you are license? Do we have any lawyers in our group that can tell us exactly who will be affected by this Bill and how? I think it is the resonsibility of all of us to take a closer look at this Bill and decide for ourselves.
I want puppy mills to stop for the protection of the dogs, but is this the way? This Bill could be passed by the end of this month. Here are just a few links I found, but please research and make your own decision. We have the right to be informed.
T.
You can also call 1-202-224-2035 and say "I oppose Senate Bill 1139"
http://www.dfow.org/PAWS_2005_FAQ.pdf

I didn't even know about this Bill until last night. I do not want puppymills. If it is a Bill that would help - I am all for it. I just think that as loving dog owners we need to educate ourselves so that we really know what this Bill is and how it would affect us. From what information I got last night at the meeting - there is just too many loopholes in it as it is now and would be open easily for changes that would affect all pet owners too. If we could just have them be stricter on the puppymills making them close - all the better. Any suggestions? They also said last night that AKC would gain income from this Bill and that show and hobby breeders only make up 4 percent of AKC's income. So if this is true - what does it mean? I am just wanting the best for my dogs and want to keep my babies. I can't afford 20 acres or a 10,000. fine. And I only own 4 yorkies, 2 are males and 1 is a pup. Would this Bill affect me?
T.

I read the pros and cons...and IMO I don't think you have anything to worry about..there are a couple of points that I am not crazy about but in general it does more good then harm, also it does not mean you have to have 10 acres of land because you have pets...this does not even seem to be striking out at the hobby breeders..

As always, I am willing to help. Just PM me and I can answer questions about what I know. :D

Good! Then why was my dog club so upset last night? Did they get it wrong? Confused.
T.
P.S. One of my males is altered/fixed and the other male goes next week. They are both old now. But I love them all.

Kim, would you put your translation of this bill as a reply so that others can read it, too?

Kimberley~

I would be happy to. I will do some research and reply here later. I have already started reading and it is a complex bill. :eek:

Usda
 

Would a breeder with a USDA license have to follow USDA rules? They are so strict about where you can house breeding stock/puppies. I know people are sick of hearing it, but you can not have these dogs in your house, they have to be separate...
I was reading what one USDA breeder posted...the Inspector showed up unexcepted as they do and she had a litter of pups in her kitchen..she was fined.

From what they said at the meeting last night - Yes, you would have to follow USDA regualtions. And I think the fine is like 10,000 a dog. I can't afford that and besides - I could never part with my dogs out in a big back building - too cold and sterile of an environment.
T.

I know nothing about the USDA except it has to do something with stake.

How can tell us where to keep our 'breeding dogs'. Gimmie a break. How can they track all this anyway? Will they work with the AKC? I don't mind the 7/25 rule but weather or not I can keep them in my home???? ...OH NOOOO!! NOBODY'S gonna stop me from living in the 'dog house' :D

I am not kidding if this ends up being as you described I will alter all the ones that I have and retire from breeding. I am getting gray roots because of all this stress!!!

Irene

Way to go Kim! Thank you so much for researching this and helping us to get to the bottom of what this Bill would really mean before it is too late. Like I said - if it helps close down the puppymills - Great. I just don't want us ending up in the future - not being able to own a pet a all. That would be sad for all of us.
T.

Again - they said last night that AKC does have an investment in getting this Bill passed. They are going to be doing the researching for them for money. And guess what - if you have registered with AKC - they have background on you now.
T.

I am still researching but in general....

The ramifications obviously vary depending on whether you are a huge breeder/puppymill, a small or medium sized breeder, a consumer, a broker, or a pet store or hobby breeder. The hobby breeder who loses money or doesn't make more than $500 per year is unaffected, as are the pet stores because the USDA feels people can SEE for themselves the conditions in which the dogs are kept and they are considered "retail". ( Don't jump on me for this as I don't agree!)

For the medium size breeder who brreds from her home, there are soem potentially negative implications like the necessity of following USDA licensing guidelines which are very strict about housing, feeding, vet car, etc. I am having trouble locating all of the "guidelines and licensing requirements. Doe snayone know a site which lists everything in "legalese", not the condensed version. I couldn't find it in a brief search of the USDA's main site, but I will look again if someone else cannot give me the link.

I think this would then put most of us as medium breeders, since we mostly all sell our yorkies for over 500.00. I have only had 3 litters in 15 years, and have spent a lot lately from this last litter on grooming table, show supplies, grooming room added to our home - so my kitchen won't get messed up and purchasing a new baby, but what about the future. I do not plan to breed until 2-3 years from now, because of showing. But what happens to me after that? I am trying to show and produce the best quality yorkies possible. I do not plan to just give away my litters. I probably will only have a litter a year, if lucky - but the selling price of them may place me in that medium breeder bracket.
Thanks Kim for researching. Now I am understanding why my club members were upset. Many are top show people for their breed and don't give away their babies either. Plus they said there was more - like rescue dogs (many resue for their breed and then find good homes - they don\'t charge but do
transport them to the new owner and many co-own with others. They did voice they are in the process of changing all that on paper so they will not co-own any dog.
T.