On March 11, 2015, the Arkansas House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development is scheduled to consider House Bill 1620, which would establish regulations, fees, inspections, and problematic requirements for dog breeders and for dogs “sold for commercial purposes.”
The definitions in the bill are contradictory. A “commercial breeding kennel” would be defined as a kennel that has ten or more intact female dogs over the age of six months that are maintained for the purpose of breeding offspring to sell as pets. However, the bill further defines a “commercial breeding kennel” as “a kennel that is not registered.” This could potentially include every breeder in the state.
An exemption for “hunting dogs” is unclear and appears to exclude only dogs “sold” for hunting — not dogs that are owned or bred for that purpose.
Additional provisions of concern in HB 1620 include, but are not limited to:
- The bill would define how frequently a female dog may be bred. The AKC believes that such decisions should be made by an owner in consultation with a veterinarian and not dictated by statute.
- A definition of “sufficient housing” would require that dogs be provided “constant and unfettered access” to an enclosure kept between 39 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This requirement would not allow a dog to be kept in an outdoor enclosure with access to a properly insulated dog house.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Attend the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development meeting and express your concerns with HB 1620.
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Room 138, State Capitol, Little Rock, AR
Contact members of the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development to express your concerns.
- Representative Dan M. Douglas, Chair, dan-douglas@sbcglobal.net
- Representative David Hillman, Vice Chair, dhillman@futura.net
- Representative Lane Jean, l_jean@sbcglobal.net
- Representative Matthew Shepherd, matthew.shepherd@arkansashouse.org
- Representative Sheilla E. Lampkin, Sheilla.Lampkin@arkansashouse.org
- Representative Mark D. McElroy, mdmcelroy1@yahoo.com
- Representative Ken Bragg, kenbragg@windstream.net
- Representative Charles L. Armstrong, ffa191@sbcglobal.net
- Representative Andy Davis, andy.davis@arkansashouse.org
- Representative Douglas House, housedouglas@gmail.com
- Representative James Ratliff, jamesratliff3468@gmail.com
- Representative John Payton, paytonforthepeople@yahoo.com
- Representative Rick Beck, rick.beck@arkansashouse.org
- Representative David Meeks, David.Meeks@arkansashouse.org
- Representative Jon S. Eubanks, Jon.Eubanks@arkansashouse.org
- Representative Mathew W. Pitsch, mathew.pitsch@cox.net
- Representative David L. Branscum, davidlbranscum@hotmail.com
- Representative David Whitaker, david.whitaker@arkansashouse.org
- Representative Ron McNair, rmcnair1950@gmail.com
- Representative Kim Hendren, kim.hendren@arkansashouse.org
Resources:
For questions or more information, please contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org or (919) 816-3720.
On March 11, 2015, the Arkansas House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development is scheduled to consider House Bill 1620, which would establish regulations, fees, inspections, and problematic requirements for dog breeders and for dogs “sold for commercial purposes.”