The AKC is committed to maintaining the freedoms we deserve and are fortunate to enjoy when it comes to owning, breeding and showing dogs. We are firmly opposed to any unreasonable infringement on the rights of hobby breeders who are dedicated to nurturing our beloved breeds and responsibly enjoying our sport.
With this in mind, the interest generated by the Pet Animal Welfare Statute (PAWS) of 2005, introduced by U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) on May 27, comes as no surprise. As is often the case with controversy comes confusion. In past weeks, fanciers have raised a number of concerns and I would like to take this opportunity to address them.
At the heart of this bill is the USDA’s ability under the authority of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to regulate individuals who breed and sell large numbers of dogs. Keep in mind that the bill applies to those who breed seven or more litters per year and sell more than 25 dogs per year. Both conditions must be met before a breeder comes before the USDA, thus, if you produce less than seven litters, you are not subject to regulation, even if you sell many more than 25 dogs. Similarly, if you sell fewer than 25 dogs, you can have in excess of six litters and not be covered. I believe, if enacted into law, PAWS will not have a detrimental impact on the fancy’s ability to breed dogs for the show ring or performance events, or to provide dogs as pets to carefully selected buyers.
All of the bill’s provisions are focused squarely on the welfare of dogs and to a large extent will affect puppies that do not have responsible, dedicated breeders like ourselves to protect them. We owe it to the dogs to consider how this legislation can help safeguard them, not only how it may impact us. We believe the bill will only apply to less than four percent of our customers who register litters, the majority of whom are already subject to USDA regulations.
Some have accused the AKC of reversing its stance, but in reality nothing could be farther from the truth. While it may appear that this bill was introduced out of thin air, it is the result of years of behind-the-scenes legislative work. The majority of the bill reflects provisions advocated by the AKC since Sen. Santorum’s original proposal, and represents a victory over animal rights extremists who sought to have their views represented to the exclusion of others. It is an example of the proactive spirit which the AKC has embraced in recent years and which I am intent on pursuing, as I believe our actions in matters such as these are fundamental to the future health of our organization and to our dogs.
Like a fine breeding program, your ideal dog will not be whelped in your first litter. It takes years of dedication, crafting and combining bloodlines from many sources to create a dog that best represents the ideal standard. The same is true with legislation. Working closely with Sen. Santorum and other legislators to impact the development and content of this bill is the single most important thing we can do to ensure that our rights are maintained. To be left out of the discussion entirely would be tantamount to breeding two stray dogs and hoping for a Best in Show winner. The saying “you have to be in it to win it” truly applies here.
Just like there is no perfect dog, there is no perfect bill. That said, I wholeheartedly feel that, as it is now written, this bill is worthy of our support. And by supporting it from the start we will be part of the entire legislative process, from drafting to passage to the writing of the regulatory language. The latter is where our impact can be most beneficial to the fancy. You can be reassured that we will be closely watching this bill to ensure that it progresses in a way that is reasonable for our constituents and effective in protecting dogs.
We have a unique opportunity to take a proactive stand on this issue – something the fancy has encouraged AKC to do more of. Let’s not be “kennel blind” about the benefits of actively engaging and cooperating with our lawmakers in Washington for the benefit of the future of our sport and the welfare of our dogs.
Sincerely,
Ron Menaker
Chairman