Animal Activists are pushing federal breeder restrictions that could require small hobby breeders to place their dogs in industrial, commercial-style kennels and impose arbitrary, one-size-fits-all requirements that could undermine proper care of dogs.
Members of Congress are currently in their local, “home” districts. They are hearing from many anti-breeder activists who want the so-called Puppy Protection Act (H.R. 1624) and Goldie’s Act (H.R. 1788) placed in the 2024 Farm Bill. They need to hear opposition to the bills from local constituents while they are at home in their districts.
Please contact your member of Congress TODAY! Let them know you are a constituent and ask them to not support the Puppy Protection Act (H.R. 1624) and Goldie’s Act (H.R. 1788). Instead, ask them to support additional funding to enforce current animal welfare requirements that have not been fully implemented and enforced. Read AKC’s previous alert for more in-depth information on these bills.
Visit AKC’s Legislative Action Center and type your address in the “Find Your Elected Officials” box to find out who represents you and get their contact information. Contact them at their local office and tell them you are a constituent and oppose adding new dog breeding regulations to the Farm Bill.
Talking Points:
- Ask them to oppose the Puppy Protection Act (H.R. 1624) and Goldie’s Act (H.R. 1788) because their one-size-fits-all mandates undermine animal wellbeing and enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act. These bills are “feel good” proposals developed without the experience and scientific expertise of breeder experts. The one-size-fits-all requirements fail to recognize the diversity of licensees and the types or breeds of dogs impacted and could harm to some dogs.
- Explain you are a constituent. Respectfully share your experience and concerns as a dog owner/breeder/expert.
- Ask them to not support advancing the Puppy Protection Act or Goldie’s Act out committee or in the Farm Bill. Tell them, despite claims being made by animal rights groups, these bills do impact responsible small breeders.
- Ask them to instead support additional financial resources for USDA so they can appropriately enforce the requirements they already have.
Federal Breeder Rules Apply To:
- Anyone subject to USDA breeder/dealer licensing. Breeders are subject to USDA licensing if they maintain more than 4 “breeding females” (a term that is undefined but is generally considered to mean an intact female) and transfer even one of the offspring “sight unseen”. “Breeding females” include any combination of cats, dogs, or other small pet mammals such as hamsters, guinea pigs, etc. (Learn more).
Additional Talking Points:
Proposal Would Undermine Animal Welfare, DC Journal, April 20, 2023
Breeder Expertise, Thoughtful Analysis Demonstrate Dangerous Flaws in ‘Feel Good’ Dog Law
Your Member of Congress needs to hear from you TODAY!
Visit AKC’s Legislative Action Center and type your address in the “Find Your Elected Officials” box to find out who represents you and get their contact information.
If possible, please let the AKC GR team (doglaw@akc.org) know you contacted your lawmakers and if you received any response.
For questions or more information, contact doglaw@akc.org, visit AKC’s Legislative Action Center www.akcgr.org or contact 919-816-3720.