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MN Breeders Bill removed from Committee agenda

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Published: Feb 22, 2008 | 3 Minutes
Published: Feb 22, 2008 | 3 Minutes

The Senate Agriculture and Veterans committee has removed SB 2292 from its February 26 agenda. The bill may be still heard at a later date. Please contact the members of the committee to share your concerns about this bill. Continue to check www.akc.org for updates.

Minnesota Breeders Bills Moving Forward
[Wednesday, February 20, 2008]

Minnesota House Bill 2469, known as the Dog and Cat Breeders Act, passed the House Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice by a vote of 8-7 on Tuesday, February 19. It is expected to be heard by the House Agriculture, Rural Economies, and Veterans Affairs Finance Division committee soon.

These bills seek to establish breeder licensing and would require inspection of all “kennels.” They also seek to establish standards of care that are unproven, many of which would be significant burdens on responsible breeders. If passed and signed into law, the changes imposed by these bills would have a profound negative impact on dog breeders in Minnesota. It is imperative that breeders and concerned dog owners contact their Representative, Senator, the committee chairmen, and the committee members to express their opposition.

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. However, many of the changes proposed by HB 2469 and SB 2292 are impractical, unenforceable, and costly. Most importantly, the quality of life for dogs in Minnesota will not improve because of the provisions of this bill. Instead, enactment of this law will create greater burdens for responsible breeders and many will be forced to stop breeding altogether.

For example, the proposed set of laws would require the following;

  • Any breeder with six or more intact adult females will be forced to comply with the requirements of HB 2469 and SB 2292. An adult dog is defined as one who is 24 weeks of age or older. This threshold is both arbitrary and overreaching as it does not focus on the number of litters or puppies produced and sold.
     
  • In addition to annual renewal applications and their associated fees, breeders must also submit annual reports to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health.
     
  • It will be almost impossible for smaller breeders and dog owners who maintain their dogs in their own residential premises to comply with the unreasonable building standards required by HB 2469 and SB 2292.
     
  • HB 2469 and SB 2292 will require an annual inspection of any premises deemed to be a kennel. The inspection may be conducted with no notice.
     
  • Animals may not be tethered or leashed as a means of confinement.

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

 

For more information and regular updates, please check www.akc.org. To contact AKC's Canine Legislation Department call (919) 816-3720 or e-mail doglaw@akc.org.

The Senate Agriculture and Veterans committee has removed SB 2292 from its February 26 agenda. The…

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