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This was forwarded by our local KC delegate. FYI . . . louise
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From: "Connie Clapp" <clappc@comcast.net>
To: "Tex Peel" <ssnoklassic@aol.com>, "keith olsen" <Olsenkeith@msn.com>, "Judy Macauley" <LoonsongGR@aol.com>, "Jill Britton" <glenauldyn2paw@yahoo.com>, "Janine Gabel" <pjborzoi@aol.com>, "Anne Marie Taylor" <ItsAnAkita@aol.com>, "Carol Swanson" <ceswan@centurytel.net>, "Cindy Collins" <veritygoldens@comcast.net>, "Carl Liepmann" <cen06886@centurytel.net>, "Karen Cunningham" <kscus@yahoo.com>, "Louise Cohen" <cachetnorwich@comcast.net>, "Lynn Thigpen" <lthigpen@edtech.mcc.edu>, "Gail Knapp" <gknapp@edtech.mcc.edu>, "Ron Hoshal" <rhoshal1@centurytel.net>, "Pat McMullen" <michanda@webtv.net>, "Connie Hutchins" <poodle@tds.net>, "Mike Cobane" <louwalk2@yahoo.com>, "Ken Vagt" <kkrismis@sbcglobal.net>, "Annie Cogo" <windfall@ismi.net>, "Jill Smith" <dreamersacd@sbcglobal.net>, "Pauline Mortier" <pauline@lubberline.com>
Subject: Santorum Statement on PAWS
Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2005 22:30:05 +0000
Subject: Santorum Statement on PAWS
The following are the key sections of Senator Santorum's statement released
on July 27.
"For example, if an Irish Setter breeder has 6 litters that average 6
puppies each for a total of 36 puppies, they can sell them without being
regulated. If a toy breeder has 10 litters that average only 2 puppies each
for a total of 20 puppies, they can sell them without being regulated. These
breeders could also sell 25 or fewer other dogs a year not bred or raised on
their own premises such as stud puppies or puppies from co-ownerships,
without being regulated. I firmly believe that the sport and hobby of
breeding and raising dogs and cats should not be a federally regulated
activity. PAWS will, for the first time, put an explicit exemption into the
Animal Welfare Act to protect small hobby and show breeders from regulation.
Some persons who sell dogs for hunting purposes have expressed a concern
that PAWS will bring them under regulation. The current Animal Welfare Act
already covers persons who sell hunting dogs, and has for almost 30 years.
They are regulated on the same basis as those who sell dogs for pets. PAWS
will continue to regulate sellers of hunting dogs on the same basis as those
who sell dogs as pets. Only high volume sellers who exceed the exemptions
set forth in PAWS will be subject to regulation.
Some rescue and shelter organizations have expressed concern that because
they often charge an adoption fee to those who adopt the dogs they place,
these organizations will fall within the definition of "dealers" in PAWS and
be regulated. True rescue and shelter organizations who do not sell dogs or
cats in commerce, for profit, will not be brought under regulation by PAWS,
whether or not they are formally incorporated as not for profit
organizations.
Some high volume dealers in cats and dogs who will be brought under
coverage of the Animal Welfare Act by PAWS, but who are still small enough
that they breed and raise dogs or cats in essentially a residential
environment, have expressed concern that they will be forced to build
kennels and catteries and will no longer be able to raise animals in a
residential environment. There is nothing in PAWS, or in the current Animal
Welfare Act, that precludes persons from breeding and raising animals in a
residential setting, provided the animals are properly housed and cared for.
In implementing PAWS, the Secretary of Agriculture will have to assure that
the animal care regulations take into account breeders and dealers who
conduct their operations in a residential setting.
I want to make clear that PAWS is a very different piece of legislation
than the bills that Senator Durbin and I have introduced in previous
Congresses. PAWS does not require or justify creating any new animal care
standards, like our previous legislation did. It focuses only on bringing
under regulation high volume commercial dealers currently evading regulation
and on strengthening the Secretary of Agriculture's ability to identify and
bring into compliance high volume dealers who are not in compliance with
existing law or, as a last resort, shut them down."
"... no legislation is perfect when introduced. As Chairman of the Senate
Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Research, Nutrition and General
Legislation, which has jurisdiction over PAWS, I intend to convene a hearing
and mark-up of PAWS shortly after the August recess to make technical
corrections, and to clarify some of the bill's language to better reflect
our intentions as set forth in this statement. "
The full statement can be found at
http://santorum.senate.gov/public/index.cfm
Crossposting of this and the previous message is permitted and encouraged.
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