Minnesota Senate Bill 121, known as the Dog and Cat Breeders Bill, has been introduced by Senators Betzold and Koering. It seeks to establish breeder licensing, inspection of all “kennels”, and unproven care standards. If passed and signed into law, the changes imposed by this bill would have a profound impact on dog breeders in Minnesota. It is imperative that breeders and concerned dog owners contact their senator and the committee chairman to express their opposition.
The American Kennel Club strongly supports humane treatment of dogs, including an adequate and nutritious diet, clean water, clean living conditions, regular veterinary care, kind and responsive human companionship, and training in appropriate behavior. However, many of the changes proposed by SB 121 are impractical, unenforceable, and costly. Most importantly, it will not improve the quality of life for dogs in Minnesota. Instead, enactment of this law will create greater burdens for responsible breeders and many will be forced to stop breeding altogether.
For example, the proposed set of laws would require the following:
- Any breeder with six or more intact adult females will be forced to comply with the requirements of SB 121. An adult dog is defined as one who is over 20 weeks of age. This threshold is both arbitrary and overreaching as it does not focus on the number of litters or puppies produced and sold.
- If a veterinarian is part of the inspection team and determines there is a substantial risk to the health and welfare of an animal, including, but not limited to, disease or pain, the veterinarian may immediately euthanize the animal.
- It will be almost impossible for smaller breeders and dog owners who maintain their dogs in their own residential premises to comply with the unreasonable building standards required by SB 121.
- SB 121 will require an annual inspection of any premises deemed to be a kennel. The inspection report will be made available to the public within 60 days of the inspection.
- Under SB 121, the amount of space required of each dog is based on the dog’s weight. There is no scientific or accepted husbandry basis for these requirements.
- Animals may not be tethered or leashed as a means of confinement.
You can read the bill in its entirety here.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Contact the members of the Minnesota Senate Committee on Agriculture and Veterans who will consider this bill.
Senator Jim Vickerman, Chair
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Room 226
St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
(651) 296-5650
Senator Sharon L Erickson Ropes, Vice Chair
(651) 296-5649
sen.sharon.erickson.ropes@senate.mn
Senator Steve Dille, Ranking Minority Member
(651) 296-4131
sen.steve.dille@senate.mn
Senator Satveer S. Chaudhary
(651) 296-4334
sen.satveer.chaudhary@senate.mn
Senator Joe Gimse
(651) 296-3826
sen.joe.gimse@senate.mn
Senator David W. Hann
(651) 296-1749
Senator Bill G. Ingebrigsten
(651) 297-8063
sen.bill.ingebrigtsen@senate.mn
Senator Paul E. Koering
(651) 296-4875
sen.paul.koering@senate.mn
Senator Gary W. Kubly
(651) 296-5094
sen.gary.kubly@senate.mn
Senator Keith Langseth
(651) 296-3205
sen.keith.langseth@senate.mn
Senator Steve Murphy
(651) 296-4264
Senator Rod Skoe
(651) 296-4196
sen.rod.skoe@senate.mn
Senator Dan Skogen
(651) 296-5655
sen.dan.skogen@senate.mn
Senator Betsy L. Wergin
(651) 296-8075
sen.betsy.wergin@senate.mn
To find your Senator, click here.
For more information, contact AKC’s Canine Legislation Department at (919) 816-3720, or e-mail at doglaw@akc.org.
Minnesota Senate Bill 121, known as the Dog and Cat Breeders Bill, has been introduced by Senators…