North Carolina House Bill 733, filed on Thursday, March 19th, seeks to strictly regulate dog breeding in the Tarheel State by imposing ownership and breeding limits. This measure is sponsored by Representatives McElraft, Dickson, Sager, and Allen. Bills similar to HB 733 have been introduced across the country since the start of 2009 – including in West Virginia, Texas, Oregon, Illinois, Maryland, Florida, Indiana, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Montana – and are indicative of a radical national legislative agenda aimed at limiting the freedoms and liberties of Americans by attempting to restrict the number of animals they can own. The American Kennel Club – with its operations center located in Raleigh – and its North Carolina federation, the North Carolina Federation of Dog Clubs, both strongly oppose this legislation, and encourage all concerned responsible dog breeders and owners in North Carolina to contact the bill's sponsors and their elected state officials, and express their respectful yet strong opposition to this radical legislation.
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. The AKC supports reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of purebred dogs and do not restrict the rights of breeders and owners who take their responsibilities seriously.
House Bill 733:
- Classifies “commercial breeders” 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.
- Defines “commercial breeding operation” as the physical location or facility at which the commercial breeder breeds or maintains adult female dogs and their offspring, but will not include hunting, sporting, herding, or guide dogs.
- Requires commercial breeders to be annually licensed, at a cost of $50 per year.
- Limits commercial breeders from owning more than 20 female dogs over the age of four months at any time.
- Restricts commercial breeders from breeding female dogs less than 18 months or more than 8 years of age.
- Mandates inspection of commercial breeding operations, including records, premises (including private homes, if applicable), and any animals used for breeding.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Concerned North Carolina residents are encouraged to contact the bill's sponsors and their elected representatives in Raleigh. Respectfully yet strongly let them know that you oppose the attempt to limit their property rights signified in HB 733.
To find your North Carolina elected officials, click here and enter your zip+4 information on the bottom right side of the page.
HB 733 Sponsors:
Representative Pat McElraft
NC House of Representatives
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 603
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
PHONE: (919) 733-6275
E-MAIL: Pat.McElraft@ncleg.net
Representative Margaret Highsmith Dickson
NC House of Representatives
16 W. Jones Street, Room 2217
Raleigh, NC 27601-1096
PHONE: (919) 733-5776
E-MAIL: Margaret.Dickson@ncleg.net
Representative Efton M. Sager
508 Legislative Office Building
NC House of Representatives
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 508
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
PHONE: (919) 733-5755
E-MAIL: Efton.Sager@ncleg.net
Representative Lucy T. Allen
NC House of Representatives
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 419B
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
PHONE: (919) 733-5860
E-MAIL: Lucy.Allen@ncleg.net
RESOURCES:
- For a copy of the bill, 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.
North Carolina House Bill 733, filed on Thursday, March 19th, seeks to strictly regulate dog…