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February 2, 2009
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is on the march
again, this time in Washington State. Emboldened by their victories
in winning constitutional rights for pigs in Florida and trashing
the egg industry in California, HSUS is now going state to state
with legislation that attempts to regulate dog breeding with number
limits and draconian engineering standards for kennel facilities.
The Washington version is one of the worst of this year’s crop.
If passed, SB 5651 would empower an animal control officer “upon
receiving a complaint or upon his own motion” to enter premises
where animals may be bred or maintained…” to investigate violations.
SB 5651 is sponsored by Senators Kohl-Welles, Delvin, Kline and Tom.
It was read for the first time on January 28, 2009 and referred to
the Judiciary Committee. SB 5651 contains ineffective, unreasonable
and unenforceable new regulations that threaten to seriously
undermine the ability to keep and breed dogs in Washington. Not
surprisingly, it resembles HSUS anti-breeder legislation that has
shown up in several other states, including neighboring Oregon.
NAIA supports animal welfare laws that are thoughtfully designed to
solve real animal well welfare problems, but SB 5651 offers nothing
more than a rebuke of breeders and pet owners who keep more than an
arbitrary number of intact dogs.
A summary of Washington SB 5651:
- Imposes a 25 dog numbers limit on the possession of intact
dogs over 4 months of age;
- Treats anyone with 10 or more unaltered adult dogs as a
commercial breeder;
- Uses the terms puppy mill and commercial breeding
interchangeably implying that the number of dogs one possesses
determines the status of a breeder;
- Requires that breeders with 10 or more intact dogs meet new
space, housing and exercise requirements, and mandates new
veterinary exams;
- Empowers animal control officers to enter premises “upon
receiving a complaint or upon his own motion” to investigate
violations and inspect breeders books; and
- Exempts public shelters, private adoption agencies,
veterinarian offices, pet stores, research facilities, boarders
and groomers.
Click Here to read the full text of this bill.
NAIA strongly opposes Washington SB 5651. Not only is its
overall approach misdirected and punitive, its enforcement
provisions violate basic privacy rights. SB 5651 blurs the
distinction between pet owners, hobby breeders and commercial
breeders and claims that possession of an arbitrary number of intact
dogs alone makes someone a puppy mill and therefore subject to this
bill’s provisions. This bill is a glaring example of some of the
worst animal legislation currently proposed in the country.
Now is the time for all responsible animal owners in Washington
to contact your State Senators with the message that SB 5651 is
overzealous and misdirected and must not be allowed to move forward.
While we believe that steps should be taken to identify and
eliminate substandard kennels, this bill stretches way beyond that
goal and targets all breeders and sportsmen, commercial and hobby,
good and bad, on the basis of numbers alone.
Washington has recently proved that its current anti-cruelty laws
are capable of closing substandard kennels when they are enforced.
At a time of economic hardship mandating new kennel standards that
are virtually unenforceable is misdirected and wasteful. There are
more effective solutions available to help eliminate substandard
kennels, ranging from stronger enforcement of existing cruelty and
nuisance laws to educating consumers about how to seek out
responsible and humane sources of healthy pets.
Unreasonable laws like SB 5651 simply push bad operators underground
while wrapping good pet owners and breeders in red tape – all
without raising animal welfare standards.
Please use the talking points below to write an email to your State
Senator today, educating them about this bill early in the process,
before it receives formal consideration.
Politely let them know that responsible Washington breeders --
dedicated dog lovers with great subject matter expertise and
experience raising, breeding, placing, rescuing and training dogs --
are ready to share their knowledge and offer NAIA's alternative
solutions to more effectively and reasonably address concerns about
animal welfare.
Thank you for
TAKING ACTION on behalf of pets and pet owners!
If you received this email from a friend, be sure to sign up
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animal legislation in your state -- and nationally.
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