Post by Decatur on Apr 3, 2009 0:47:33 GMT -5
Sporting Dog Rights Under Attack in Texas
Multiple bills in Texas are threatening the future of sporting dog breeders in the state.
Two mandatory spay/neuter bills, House Bill 4277 sponsored by Rep. Jose Menendez (D- San Antonio) and Senate Bill 1845 sponsored by Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D- San Antonio), will devastate sporting dog owners by mandating the sterilization of every dog over six months of age in Texas.
Limited exceptions in the bills do not provide adequate protections for sporting dog owners. The only recourse sporting dog owners have to keep their prized dogs able to reproduce is to apply for an “intact animal permit.”
Unfortunately, this permit will run sporting dog owners and breeders out of business with exorbitant permit costs of $300 per dog.
“These mandates will absolutely devastate legitimate sporting dog breeders in Texas and make it impossible to get a good quality hunting dog,” said Rob Sexton, vice president of government affairs for the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance.
Meanwhile, a “puppy mill” bill, HB 3180, was introduced by state representative Senfronia Thompson (D- Houston).
HB 3180 does not adequately distinguish sporting dog breeders from large scale commercial breeders, known as “puppy mills”, which mass produce animals for retail sale. In addition, the bill puts an arbitrary cap on the number of intact dogs that can be owned.
The low threshold for being classified as a commercial breeder will easily ensnare many sporting dog breeders in new regulations intended for large scale commercial breeders.
If caught up, sporting dog kennels would be subject to a bevy of new laws and regulations that could easily put them out of business.
Those regulations include: extensive record keeping requirements and rigorous kennel construction, sanitization, exercise, and staffing mandates.
It received a hearing on April 1 in the House Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee.
Take Action! Texas sportsmen must contact their state legislators today. Urge them to oppose all three of these bills and ask that before any dog legislation is passed they ensure it includes protections for sporting dog kennels.
Multiple bills in Texas are threatening the future of sporting dog breeders in the state.
Two mandatory spay/neuter bills, House Bill 4277 sponsored by Rep. Jose Menendez (D- San Antonio) and Senate Bill 1845 sponsored by Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D- San Antonio), will devastate sporting dog owners by mandating the sterilization of every dog over six months of age in Texas.
Limited exceptions in the bills do not provide adequate protections for sporting dog owners. The only recourse sporting dog owners have to keep their prized dogs able to reproduce is to apply for an “intact animal permit.”
Unfortunately, this permit will run sporting dog owners and breeders out of business with exorbitant permit costs of $300 per dog.
“These mandates will absolutely devastate legitimate sporting dog breeders in Texas and make it impossible to get a good quality hunting dog,” said Rob Sexton, vice president of government affairs for the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance.
Meanwhile, a “puppy mill” bill, HB 3180, was introduced by state representative Senfronia Thompson (D- Houston).
HB 3180 does not adequately distinguish sporting dog breeders from large scale commercial breeders, known as “puppy mills”, which mass produce animals for retail sale. In addition, the bill puts an arbitrary cap on the number of intact dogs that can be owned.
The low threshold for being classified as a commercial breeder will easily ensnare many sporting dog breeders in new regulations intended for large scale commercial breeders.
If caught up, sporting dog kennels would be subject to a bevy of new laws and regulations that could easily put them out of business.
Those regulations include: extensive record keeping requirements and rigorous kennel construction, sanitization, exercise, and staffing mandates.
It received a hearing on April 1 in the House Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee.
Take Action! Texas sportsmen must contact their state legislators today. Urge them to oppose all three of these bills and ask that before any dog legislation is passed they ensure it includes protections for sporting dog kennels.