AKC and California dog owners are outraged by legislation that prohibits hunting with dogs or training for that purpose. This bill (AB342) was intended to restrict the hunting of fur-bearing animals with dogs but is extremely poorly worded. As written, AB342 makes it illegal for any dog to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill any mammal, or to train a dog for such purposes. If this legislation passes, earthdog, tracking, coonhound, herding, lure coursing, and field trial events could be prohibited. Additionally, any dog that instinctually takes a wild or feral mammal not as an organized hunting or performance event would likewise violate AB342. In effect, any dog chasing a rabbit in his backyard would be prohibited.
AB342 was referred to the Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife. A hearing is scheduled for March 25, 2003. The committee wants to hear from dog owners that will be impacted by this bill. California dog owners should act now.
What You Should Do:
- Write to the committee and ask them to vote no on AB342. Clearly mark you correspondence “OPPOSITION TO AB342.”
The Honorable Joe Canciamilla, Chairman
CA Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife
1020 N Street, Room 160
Sacramento, CA 95814
- Share this information with fellow sporting dog lovers in California.
For more information, contact:
AKC Canine Legislation Department, 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.
CA Federation of Dog Clubs, 1-800-498-3746, ext. 106 or shojudge@aol.com.
AKC and California dog owners are outraged by legislation that prohibits hunting with dogs or…