Florida Senate Bill 2002, a bill that seeks to impose strict limits on the operations of responsible purebred dog breeders and limit dog ownership, will be considered by the Florida Senate Community Affairs Committee on Tuesday, April 14, at 9:00 AM.
The American Kennel Club and the Florida Association of Kennel Clubs both strongly oppose SB 2002, and encourage all responsible dog breeders and owners in Florida to contact the Florida Senate Community Affairs Committee and urge them to oppose this bill.
The AKC opposes the following provisions, among others, in SB 2002:
- Limits the number of intact dogs 4 months or older a person may possess. The AKC believes that numerical limits do not address the underlying issues of responsible ownership and proper dog care.
- Imposes strict operational requirements upon anyone who possesses 10 or more dogs 4 months of age or older. The AKC believes that strict engineering requirements for facilities should be replaced by performance-based requirements to ensure higher rates of compliance.
- Restricts the breeding of dogs to only those between the ages of 18 months and 8 years, and limits female dogs to whelping one litter per year. The AKC opposes any arbitrary limits placed on the responsible breeding of dogs, especially those proposed without regard for the health of dogs and alternative means of reproduction.
- Allows warrantless searches by animal control and public officials by the officer’s own motion. The AKC believes that inspections of any premises, especially of private residences, should be performed after probable cause has been established and a warrant secured from a neutral magistrate.
The AKC agrees that kennels with deplorable conditions must never be tolerated; however, this measure does not fix the problem of irresponsible dog breeders in Florida and it severely limits the rights of responsible breeders. The American Kennel Club’s mission includes working to protect the rights of all dog owners and promoting responsible dog ownership. We also support 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.
How You Can Help:
- Attend the Senate Community Affairs Committee hearing on Tuesday, April 14. Politely, yet strongly urge the committee to vote “no” on Senate Bill 2002. The hearing details are as follows:
Florida Senate Community Affairs Committee
Tuesday, April 14
9:00 a.m.
Florida State Capitol, Room 412-K
Tallahassee, Florida
- If you are unable to attend the hearing, contact the committee and express your opposition to Senate Bill 2002. The committee contact information is as follows:
Senator Michael S. “Mike” Bennet, Chair
306 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
PHONE: (850) 487-5078
E-MAIL: bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Gary Siplin, Vice Chair
205 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
PHONE: (850) 487-5190
E-MAIL: siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Thad Altman
324 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
PHONE: (850) 487-5053
E-MAIL: altman.thad.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Ted Deutch
216 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
PHONE: (850) 487-5091
E-MAIL: deutch.ted.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Rudy Garcia
414 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
PHONE: (850) 487-5106
E-MAIL: garcia.rudy.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Andy Gardiner (Majority Whip)
308 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
PHONE: (850) 487-5047
E-MAIL: gardiner.andy.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Anthony C. “Tony” Hill, Sr.
213 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
PHONE: (850) 487-5024
E-MAIL: hill.tony.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Jeremy Ring
326 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
PHONE: (850) 487-5094
E-MAIL: ring.jeremy.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Ronda Storms
413 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
PHONE: (850) 487-5072
E-MAIL: storms.ronda.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Stephen R. Wise
410 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
PHONE: (850) 487-5027
E-MAIL: wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov
Florida Senate Bill 2002, a bill that seeks to impose strict limits on the operations of…