The AKC Government Relations Department has learned that Senate Bill 460, which seeks to regulate breeders, could be heard in the Senate Commerce committee on Thursday, April 30, or early next week. It is essential that all North Carolina responsible dog owners and breeders contact the Senate Commerce Committee TODAY and express your opposition to Senate Bill 460.
The American Kennel Club opposes Senate Bill 460 as introduced. The bill infringes on the rights of responsible dog breeders in North Carolina, and would allow for warrantless inspections of private homes and property.
The AKC opposes the following provisions of SB 460 as introduced:
- Defines “commercial breeder” as “any person who, during any 12-month period, maintains 15 or more adult female dogs for the primary purpose of the sale of their offspring as companion animals. However, neither terms “adult” nor “companion animals” are defined in the bill or statutorily, which makes this definition, as currently worded, vague. Additionally, the numerical threshold contained in the definition could reasonably affect many hunting and performance kennels in the Tarheel State.
- Calls for the NC Board of Agriculture to develop standards of care, including exercise, veterinary care, housing, and record-keeping, at commercial breeding operations. However, these standards would be different from standards created for animal shelters, boarding kennels, and pet shops.
- Limits those classified and licensed as commercial breeders to breeding dogs only between 18 months and eight years of age, without regard to alternative means of reproduction or the health of female dogs not falling into the prescribed age range.
- Subjects commercial breeding operations to unannounced inspections, including potential warrantless searches of licensees’ homes. Denial of inspections/searches is ground for license revocation and seizure of dogs, regardless of the care being given to the dogs.
The North Carolina Animal Welfare Act, as provided in Article 3 of Chapter 19A of the North Carolina General Statutes, already effectively deals with animal abuse or mistreatment, making the substance of SB 460 unnecessary.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Contact the members of the Senate Commerce Committee. Ask them to oppose Senate Bill 460.
Senate Commerce Committee Contact Information:
Click on the committee member’s name to view the mailing address.
Sen. R.C. Soles, Jr. (Chair)
Phone: (919) 733-5963
E-mail: RC.Soles@ncleg.net
Sen. Floyd McKissick, Jr. (Vice Chair)
Phone: (919) 733-4599
E-mail: Floyd.McKissick@ncleg.net
Sen. David Hoyle (Vice Chair)
Phone: (919) 733-5734
E-mail: David.Hoyle@ncleg.net
Sen. Tony Rand (Vice Chair)
Phone: (919) 733-9892
E-mail: Tony.Rand@ncleg.net
Sen. Tom Apodaca
Phone: (919) 733-5745
E-mail: Tom.Apodaca@ncleg.net
Sen. Philip Berger
Phone: (919) 733-5708
E-mail: Phil.Berger@ncleg.net
Sen. Doug Berger
Phone: (919) 715-8363
E-mail: Doug.Berger@ncleg.netSen. Harris Blake
Phone: (919) 733-4809
E-mail: Harris.Blake@ncleg.net
Sen. Julia Boseman
Phone: (919) 715-2525
E-mail: Julia.Boseman@ncleg.net
Sen. Peter Brunstetter
Phone: (919) 733-7850
E-mail: Peter.Brunstetter@ncleg.net
Sen. Debbie Clary
Phone: (919) 715-3038
E-mail: Debbie.Clary@ncleg.net
Sen. Katie Dorsett
Phone: (919)715-3042
E-mail: Katie.Dorsett@ncleg.net
Sen. Tony Foriest
Phone: (919) 301-1446
E-mail: Tony.Foriest@ncleg.net
Sen. James Forrester
Phone: (919) 715-3050
E-mail: James.Forrester@ncleg.net
Sen. Linda Garrou
Phone: (919) 733-5620
E-mail: Linda.Garrou@ncleg.net
Sen. W. Edward Goodall
Phone: (919) 733-7659
E-mail: Eddie.Goodall@ncleg.net
Sen. Steve Goss
Phone: (919) 733-5742
E-mail: Steve.Goss@ncleg.net
Sen. Malcolm Graham
Phone: (919) 733-5650
E-mail: Malcolm.Graham@ncleg.net
Sen. Neal Hunt
Phone: (919) 733-5850
E-mail: Neal.Hunt@ncleg.netSen. Jim Jacumin
Phone: (919) 715-7823
E-mail: Jim.Jacumin@ncleg.net
Sen. Clark Jenkins
Phone: (919) 715-3040
E-mail: Clark.Jenkins@ncleg.net
Sen. Martin Nesbitt, Jr.
Phone: (919) 715-3001
E-mail: Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net
Sen. William Purcell
Phone: (919) 733-5953
E-mail: William.Purcell@ncleg.net
Sen. Bob Rucho
Phone: (919) 733-5655
E-mail: Bob.Rucho@ncleg.net
Sen. Larry Shaw
Phone: (919) 733-9349
E-mail: Larry.Shaw@ncleg.net
Sen. Josh Stein
Phone: (919)715-6400
E-mail: Josh.Stein@ncleg.net
Sen. Richard Stevens
Phone: (919) 733-5653
E-mail: Richard.Stevens@ncleg.net
Sen. Don Vaughan
Phone: (919)733-5856
E-mail: Don.Vaughan@ncleg.net
The AKC Government Relations Department has learned that Senate Bill 460, which seeks to regulate…