On Wednesday, December 8, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Board will consider extensive, onerous regulations for breeders who sell 25 or more dogs each year.
Responsible dog owners and breeders are encouraged to attend the hearing and indicate on the sign-in form that you are attending in opposition to the proposed regulations as currently written. Even if you do not wish to speak, the Board will take notice of the number of citizens who are concerned with the proposal. If you are not able to attend, please consider contacting the Board and expressing your concerns.
Meeting and Contact Information
Date: Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection Building
2811 Agriculture Drive
Board Room
Madison, WI 53718
Board Contact Information:
DATCP Board
Attn: Karen Schultz
2811 Agriculture Drive
Madison, WI 53718
E-mail: Karen.Schultz@wi.gov (Please indicate “Comments re: Dog Seller Regulations for DATCP Board” in the subject line)
Summary of Regulations
Wisconsin Act 90, passed by the Wisconsin Legislature in 2009, regulates dog breeders who sell 25 or more dogs/year that they have raised, provided that all the dogs come from more than three litters. An advisory committee established under this Act has proposed numerous broad regulations regarding licensing and care and conditions. While several amendments have been made to address the concerns of the AKC, some concerns still remain, including:
- Vague, complicated, and expensive kennel standards – The care standards include very specific enclosure requirements, where even a one-inch difference in measurement may require a significantly different enclosure size. Furthermore, the proposed enclosure requirements are significantly larger than the USDA requirements, which would result in numerous breeders being forced to rebuild their kennels at significant cost, even if they are currently in compliance.
- Extensive requirements for transportation of dogs – Anyone transporting a dog owned by a licensee must comply with extensive requirements, unless the dog is being transported to a dog trial that is less than five miles away. The AKC is requesting that this section be amended.
- Extensive recordkeeping requirements – In addition to records on each dog kept, bred, and sold, the licensee must keep the names and addresses of any “home custody provider”, meaning anyone who ever keeps a dog owned by a licensee in their home. This could include co-ownerships, boarding, etc. While the AKC strongly encourages extensive and thorough recordkeeping, this level of detail is unreasonable.
The AKC strongly supports the humane treatment of dogs. We believe all dogs should be bred and raised in a safe, healthy environment, and support laws that ensure this without imposing burdensome and costly regulations or infringing on the rights of responsible dog breeders.
Read the AKC's Issue Analysis The Value of Responsible Dog Breeders
On Wednesday, December 8, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection…