The Indiana House Courts and Criminal Code Committee has agreed to hear a proposed amendment that would require any breeder who owns 10 or more intact female dogs over four months old to register as a commercial breeder. The amendment also bans ownership of more than 20 intact dogs that are a year of age or older.
This last-minute, proposed amendment would be placed into a bill regarding animal cruelty.
It is imperative that all responsible dog owners and breeders in Indiana contact the members of the committee and tell them to vote NO on House Bill 1468 Amendment #1!
The American Kennel Club’s mission includes working to protect the rights of all dog owners and promoting responsible dog ownership. The AKC strongly supports the humane treatment of dogs, including providing an adequate and nutritious diet, clean living conditions, regular veterinary care, kind and responsive human companionship and training in appropriate behavior. We believe, however, that numerical limits do not address the underlying issues of responsible ownership and proper dog care. Instead, the AKC supports 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.
If adopted, the amendment would, among other provisions:
- Require any breeder who owns at least 10 intact female dogs over 4 months old to register as a commercial breeder and renew the license each year.
- Ban the ownership of more than 20 intact dogs over one year of age.
- Establish strict engineering requirements regarding enclosures for the animals.
- Allow local governments to adopt stricter laws than those outlined in this amendment.
How You Can Help
The Committee will meet today (Wednesday, February 11) at 1:30 p.m. Please contact the committee immediately and politely, yet strongly express your opposition to Amendment #1 to House Bill 1468.
Members of the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee:
To e-mail the committee members, click here and select their name from the list.
Representative Matt Pierce, Chair
Phone: (317) 232-9600
Toll Free: (800) 382-9842
Representative Nancy Dembowski, Vice-Chair
Phone: (317) 232-9600
Toll Free: (800) 382-9842
Representative Jacqueline Clements
Phone: (800) 382-9841
Representative Ryan Dvorak
Phone: (317) 232-9600
Toll Free: (800) 382-9842
Representative Ralph Foley
Phone: (800) 382-9841
Representative Eric Koch
Phone: (800) 382-9841
Representative Linda Lawson
Phone: (317) 232-9600
Toll Free: (800) 382-9842
Representative Gregory Porter
Phone: (317) 232-9600
Toll Free: (800) 382-9842
Representative Vernon Smith
Phone: (317) 232-9600
Toll Free: (800) 382-9842
Representative Greg Steuerwald
Phone: (800) 382-9841
Representative Vern Tincher
Phone: (317) 232-9600
Toll Free: (800) 382-9842
Representative Randolph Truitt
Phone: (800) 382-9841
The Indiana House Courts and Criminal Code Committee has agreed to hear a proposed amendment that…