Nebraska Senator Ken Haar has introduced LB 677, a bill that aims to strictly regulate most dog breeders in Nebraska by imposing ownership limits, dog breeding restrictions, and harsh and unenforceable engineering standards. It is imperative that all concerned responsible dog breeders and owners in Nebraska contact their State Senator and the members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, which will consider the bill on Tuesday, February 3, and respectfully urge them to oppose LB 677.
The American Kennel Club’s mission includes working to protect the rights of all dog owners and promoting responsible dog ownership. The AKC strongly supports the humane treatment of dogs, including providing an adequate and nutritious diet, clean living conditions, regular veterinary care, kind and responsive human companionship and training in appropriate behavior. The AKC believes that numerical limits do not address the underlying issues of responsible ownership and proper dog care. Instead, the AKC supports reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of dogs without restricting the rights of owners or breeders who take their responsibilities seriously.
If adopted, LB 677 would:
- By April 1, 2010, restrict all those defined as “commercial breeders” under existing Nebraska law to owning no more than 75 dogs over the age of four months, without regard to whether dogs currently kept by such persons over that amount are being well cared for, or that dogs may have to be relinquished as a result of this provision.
- Limit the breeding of purebred dogs only to dogs between the ages of 18 months and eight years of age, without regard to the use of alternative reproduction techniques.
- Mandate the implementation of rigid engineering requirements–including, but not limited to, climate conditions, enclosures, building materials, and construction–without regard to the fiscal impact that such standards would have on targeted breeders or the enforceability of such requirements.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
The American Kennel Club urges all responsible dog breeders and owners in Nebraska to contact their elected representative, and the members of Agriculture Committee who will first consider this bill, and respectfully yet strongly urge them to oppose LB 677.
We also encourage responsible dog breeders and owners to attend the committee hearing on February 3.
To find your Senator, please click here.
Nebraska Legislature Agriculture Committee Hearing
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
1:30PM
Room 1524
State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509
Members:
Sen. Tom Carlson, Chair
Room 1022
P.O. Box 94604
State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2732
e-mail: tcarlson@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Brenda Council
Room 1115
P.O. Box 94604
State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2612
e-mail: bcouncil@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Cap Dierks
Room 2108
P.O. Box 94604
State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2801
e-mail: mdierks@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Annette Dubas
Room 1018
P.O. Box 94604
State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2630
e-mail: adubas@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Russ Karpisek
Room 1015
P.O. Box 94604
State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2711
e-mail: rkarpisek@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Scott Price
Room 1528
P.O. Box 94604
State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2627
e-mail: sprice@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Ken Schilz
Room 1202
P.O. Box 94604
State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2616
e-mail: kschilz@leg.ne.gov
Sen. Norman Wallman
Room 1406
P.O. Box 94604
State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2620
e-mail: nwallman@leg.ne.gov
RESOURCES:
- For a copy of the full legislation, please click here.
- For tips on how to effectively communicate with legislators, please click here. For a copy of our Disagree Diplomatically brochure, please click here.
- For more information, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at (919) 816-3720, or e-mail doglaw@akc.org.
Nebraska Senator Ken Haar has introduced LB 677, a bill that aims to strictly regulate most dog…