The Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners reports that the Budget Conference Committee has approved the final version of the state budget, and it does not include a House-approved amendment requiring regulation of those who breed and sell more than five litters of puppies or kittens per year.
This development is welcome news to the AKC and to the many Massachusetts fanciers who have for months been contacting state officials, including members of the conference committee, to express their strong opposition to the amendment. The Senate version of the budget bill did not include the breeder regulation language, and the conferees were charged with reconciling this and other differences between the two bills. As a result of the controversy raised by responsible breeders and owners, coupled with the fact that the breeder regulation language was not relevant to the budget, the amendment was “held in conference.”
At this point, the conference committee can either take no action on the amendment (effectively killing it) or they may release it later for an individual vote. If it is released, both the House and Senate would have to approve the amendment as part of the budget before it goes to the Governor for signature.
What You Can Do:
The Massachusetts Federation of Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners is urging fanciers who are constituents of the Budget Committee conferees listed below to once again contact the members and thank them for not including the breeder amendment in the final budget. Additionally, dog owners should ask the members to allow the amendment to die in committee and to refrain from releasing it for individual vote.
Massachusetts fanciers should be proud of their successful efforts to date. Keep up the good work!
Members of the Budget Conference Committee
Senator Therese Murray (Kingston, Pembroke, Plymouth and Plympton, Barnstable, Bourne, Falmouth and Sandwich)
State House, Room 212
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: (617) 722-1330, FAX: (617) 722-1072
TMurray@senate.state.ma.us
Senator Steven Panagiotakos (Lowell, Dunstable, Groton, Pepperell, Tyngsborough, and Westboro)
State House, Room 218
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: (617) 722-1630
SPanagio@senate.state.ma.us
Senator Michael R. Knapik (Chicopee, ward 1, precincts A and B, ward, 3, precincts A to C, inclusive, ward 6, precincts A and B, ward 7, precincts A and B, ward 8, precincts A and B, ward 9, precincts A and B, Holyoke, Westfield, Blandford, Chester, Granville, Montgomery, Russell, Southwick, Tolland, Easthampton, and Southampton)
State House, Room 421
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: (617) 722-1415
MKnapik@senate.state.ma.us
Representative Peter Larkin (Third Berkshire, consisting of precinct A of ward 1, all precincts of wards 2, 3, 4, precinct A of ward 5, and all precincts of wards 6 and 7, of the city of Pittsfield, in the county of Berkshire)
State House, Room 238
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: (617) 722-2380, FAX: (617) 722-2847
Rep.PeterLarkin@hou.state.ma.us
Representative John Rogers (Twelfth Norfolk, consisting of the town of Norwood, precincts 1, 2, 6 and 7, of the town of Walpole, both in the county of Norfolk)
State House, Room 243
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: (617) 722-2990, FAX: (617-722-2998)
JRogers@hwm.state.ma.us
Representative Viriato Manuel deMacedo (First Plymouth, consisting of precincts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14, of the town of Plymouth, in the county of Plymouth)
State House, Room 124
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: (617) 722-2100, FAX: (617) 722-2390
Rep.VinnyDemacedo@hou.state.ma.us
For more information, contact:
Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners
jrembrandtseeley@aol.com
AKC's Canine Legislation department
919-816-3720, doglaw@akc.org
The Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners reports that the Budget…