[pyrnet] CHAT,BREEDING: AKC Canine Legislation/Puppy Protection Act in Congress

["Barb Bowes" <bamb@monmouth.com>]

Permission to crosspost:

 http://www.akc.org/love/dip/legislat/regulatebreeding.cfm

BACKGROUND

In May 2000, the Doris Day Animal League (DDAL) initiated a
lawsuit against the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand
coverage of the number and types of breeders regulated by the
Animal Welfare Act. Several national animal rights groups
supported this effort. A July US district court decision,
currently under appeal by the federal government, would require a
huge expansion of the Animal Welfare Act's licensing and
inspection activities potentially requiring every person who
sells a dog or cat, including non-commercial and private in-home
hobby breeders, to obtain a federal license and submit to federal
regulations. AKC believes that such expansion would actually
weaken the effectiveness of AWA enforcement by forcing USDA
inspectors to focus more of their limited time and resources
investigating low-risk, small breeding facilities instead of
concentrating their attention where it is most needed, in the
large commercial facilities.

NEW BILLS

Now several of these same organizations are supporting S.
1478/H.R. 3058, legislation that is supposed to deal with "puppy
mills" but which potentially could expand the AWA to apply to all
breeders-large or small, commercial or hobbyist, even those who
sell from their own homes.

Because the vast majority of AKC dog fanciers across the country
already employ higher standards than those set forth in this
legislation, they may not immediately recognize the serious
problems contained in these legislative proposals. Specifically,
the AKC is concerned about the following issues: First, the
bills' findings are presented in a sensational rather than a
scientific format. Such presentation encourages emotional
responses rather than ones that are based on knowledge and fact.
Second, the legislation encourages a level of federal involvement
in breeding decisions that is intrusive and excessive. Third, it
attempts to create an engineering plan for socialization that
would be developed by animal welfare and behavior experts instead
of the recognized experts in the regulated community.

As the nation's leading authority on purebred dogs, the American
Kennel Club would like the opportunity to provide input into
these findings before legislation is considered further. The
AKC's early attempts to work with sponsors of this legislation to
improve the bills' provisions were rebuffed. It's important to
note that the AKC strongly and officially supports proper care
and humane treatment of animals at all times. It not only
advocates strict enforcement of the AWA to ensure humane
treatment of dogs in breeding facilities, but it also conducts
its own inspections and suspends breeders from its registry that
violate its care and conditions standards.

The AKC is studying S. 1478/H.R. 3058 to develop more effective
ways to regulate irresponsible and inhumane breeders who may
currently fall through the cracks of regulation. We know that
there are irresponsible breeders who do not share our concern for
the welfare of their dogs and we want to them brought into
compliance with the AWA. We believe, however, that it is a misuse
of tax dollars and resources to pass overly intrusive and
restrictive laws that would affect responsible breeders who
already maintain exemplary breeding programs.