Tomorrow, Wednesday, February 4, a Hawaii committee will consider a bill to mandate the sterilization of dogs being imported into the state.
Hawaiian residents are strongly encouraged to contact the committee today and ask them to not support House Bill 1594. Visit the Hawaii Legislature website and create an account to submit written testimony or to register to testify in person to the House Agriculture and Food Systems Committee.
Summary:
House Bill 1594 begins by declaring the purpose of the bill is to address concerns with public health and shelter overpopulation.
Should the bill become law, no dog may be imported into the state unless it is first sterilized, with the following limited exemptions:
- The dog is in the state for less than 90 days and will not be sold or transferred
- The owner has a written veterinarian certification that sterilization will jeopardize the animal’s life or health
- The owner is registered as a breeder – The state would create a “breeder registry” for everyone who wishes to import an intact dog into the state – regardless of whether the person intends to breed the dog. Fees and rules regarding this registry will be developed separately.
Talking Points:
Consider the following talking points when contacting the committee:
- This mandate could risk the health of dogs. Numerous scientific studies demonstrate that delaying the sterilization of a dog prevents significant health issues later in life.
- This mandate could impact the Hawaiian economy – Dogs must be intact to participate in AKC conformation shows. This would prevent any Hawaiians who obtain a dog from the mainland from participating in these events, which generate millions of dollars for local communities. Read more about the economic impact of dog shows in Hawaii.
- This mandate will not address shelter population concerns. A more effective approach would focus resources on funding low-cost spay/neuter programs and support strong enforcement of current animal control laws.
- Dog owners should not be forced to register as a breeder simply to own an intact dog (Share your story – why do you import a dog into Hawaii? Is it a breed you wish to own that is not available in the state? Why do you choose to keep your dog intact?)
AKC Government Relations and the Pacific Pet Alliance are closely monitoring this and other legislation impacting dogs in Hawaii. For questions or more information, contact doglaw@akc.org.