Hawaii Senate Bill 1522 SD2 HD1, a bill that would extensively regulate dog breeding and limit ownership to 50 intact dogs of any age, has passed the House of Representatives and has been returned to the Senate to be voted into law.

It is imperative that responsible dog owners and breeders immediately contact their Senators to advise them that this bill creates regulations that are potentially dangerous to dogs and ask them to vote “no” to SB1522. Click here to read AKC’s most recent letter of concern.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) has strong concerns about the impact this bill could have on responsible hobby breeders. SB 1522 requires licensing as a “large-scale dog breeder” and adherence to strict dog enclosure and care regulations of any person who:

• Offers for sale, exchange or lease 25 or more puppies in any one-year period, or

• Owns or harbors 20 or more intact female dogs over 6 months of age that are “intended for breeding,” or

• Owns or harbors 30 intact dogs over 6 months of age that are intended for breeding.

Because the bill does not indicate how “intended for breeding” is defined, it could require licensing as a “large-scale dog breeder” by dog owners who never or rarely produce a litter. The bill also establishes undetermined annual licensing fees and strict requirements for dog enclosures. Applications for licensing would require the prior approval of the appropriate county department of planning and permitting.

Additional concerns about this bill include, but are not limited to:

• Potentially harmful enclosure and care requirements – This bill would establish numerous requirements for dog care and enclosures that do not take into account a dog’s breed, age or health status. Strict requirements such as “constant and unfettered access to an outdoor exercise area” could prove lethal to an aged or ill dog and would prevent a responsible owner from confining dogs indoors in the evenings so that barking and other noises do not create a nuisance.

• Limits to 50 the number of intact dogs a person may have on his premises – There is no age indicated, therefore, this 50-dog limit would include newborn puppies. The AKC believes that responsible dog ownership is determined by the care and conditions under which dogs are kept, not by the number of dogs a person owns.

• Requires unannounced inspections – This bill would allow inspections at any time “during business hours” of those portions of all buildings, yards, pens and other areas in which dogs are kept, handled or transported. Inspections would be carried out to ensure compliance with provisions of this bill and with any future rules adopted pursuant to this measure. There is no exemption for personal residences.

• Excessive civil penalties – This bill would subject violators to civil penalties of $1,000 per day for licensing violations and $1,000 per citation for violations of current and future. Fines of $2000 per dog would be imposed for violations of prohibited acts.

• Oversight and rulemaking by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs – In most jurisdictions, oversight and rulemaking for animal care and breeding fall under a department with expertise in animal husbandry such as the Department of Agriculture.

For additional information:

Read AKC’s Letter of Concern for additional talking points about SB1522
Read AKC’s Issue Analysis "The Value of Responsible Dog Breeders"
Read AKC’s Issue Brief on Responsible Breeding Practices

How You Can Help:

Immediately contact Senators to politely express your concerns and ask them to vote “no” on SB1522.

Shan Tsutsui, President of the Senate
Phone (808) 586-7344
Fax (808) 586-7348
sentsutsui@capitol.hawaii.gov

Rosalyn Baker
Phone (808) 586-6070
Fax (808) 586-6071
senbaker@capitol.hawaii.gov

Suzanne Chun-Oakland
Phone (808) 586-6130
Fax (808) 586-6131
senchunoakland@capitol.hawaii.gov

Donovan Dela Cruz
Phone (808) 586-6090
Fax (808) 586-6091
sendelacruz@capitol.hawaii.gov

Jaime English
Phone (808) 587-7225
Fax (808) 587-7230
senenglish@capitol.hawaii.gov

Willie Espero
Phone (808) 586-6360
Fax (808) 586-6361
senespero@capitol.hawaii.gov

Carol Fukunaga
Phone (808) 586-6890
Fax (808) 586-6899
senfukunaga@capitol.hawaii.gov

Mike Gabbard
Phone (808) 586-6830
Fax (808) 586-6679
sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov

Brickwood Galuteria
Phone (808) 586-6740
Fax (808) 586-6829
sengaluteria@capitol.hawaii.gov

Josh Green
Phone (808) 586-9385
Fax (808) 586-9391
sengreen@capitol.hawaii.gov

Colleen Hanabusa
Phone (808) 586-7793
Fax (808) 586-7797
senhanabusa@capitol.hawaii.gov

Clayton Hee
Phone (808) 586-7330
Fax (808) 586-7334
senhee@capitol.hawaii.gov

David Ige
Phone (808) 586-6230
Fax (808) 586-6231
sendige@capitol.hawaii.gov

Les Ihara
Phone (808) 586-6250
Fax (808) 586-6251
senihara@capitol.hawaii.gov

Michelle Kidani
Phone (808) 586-7100
Fax (808) 586-7109
senkidani@capitol.hawaii.gov

Donna Kim
Phone (808) 587-7200
Fax (808) 587-7205
senkim@capitol.hawaii.gov

Russell Kokubun
Phone (808) 586-6760
Fax (808) 586-6689
senkokubun@capitol.hawaii.gov

Ronald Kouchi
Phone (808) 586-6030
Fax (808) 586-6031
senkouchi@capitol.hawaii.gov

Clarence Nishihara
Phone (808) 586-6970
Fax (808) 586-6879
sennishihara@capitol.hawaii.gov

Pohai Ryan
Phone (808) 587-8388
Fax (808) 587-7240
senryan@capitol.hawaii.gov

Samuel Slom
Phone (808) 586-8420
Fax (808) 586-8426
senslom@capitol.hawaii.gov

Malama Solomon
Phone (808) 586-7335
Fax (808) 586-7339
sensolomon@capitol.hawaii.gov

Brian Taniguchi
Phone (808) 586-6460
Fax (808) 586-6461
sentaniguchi@capitol.hawaii.gov

Jill Tokuda
Phone (808) 587-7215
Fax (808) 587-7220
sentokuda@capitol.hawaii.gov

Glenn Wakai
Phone (808) 586-8585
Fax (808) 586-8588
senwakai@capitol.hawaii.gov