Hawaii Committees to Consider Dog Bills Tomorrow (2/18)

A Hawaii Senate Committee will consider a bill tomorrow  (Wednesday, February 18, at 9:30 AM), that seeks to define a dog breeder, set care and conditions for dog breeders, assess regular fees through a licensing system, limit accepted dog breeding practices, and cap total number of dogs allowed to be owned.

Hawaiian residents are encouraged to contact the committee today and ask them to not support Senate Bill 2710.  Visit the Legislature website and create an account to submit written testimony or to register to testify in person (or Zoom) to the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Summary:

• Senate Bill 2710, among other provisions, defines a “dog breeder” as any person who owns, possesses, controls, or otherwise has charge or custody of more than ten dogs over the age of twelve months with intact sexual organs, and who sells, barters, or otherwise transfers more than three litters and more than twenty-five dogs per calendar year.
  • New requirements for dog breeders:
    • Require licensing.
    • Require to be subject to inspection.
    • Restrict ages for breeding, without consideration of the best interest and health of individual dogs.
• The bill would disallow owning more than 30 intact dogs over the age of twelve months.

Talking Points:

Consider the following talking points when contacting the committee:

• Arbitrary limits on numbers of dogs owned or bred are not good proxies in determining whether a breeder or owner are responsible, and do not address the best interest of every dog.
• Hawai’i has laws on the books protecting dogs from animal cruelty; they should be rigorously enforced.

Additional Hawaii Legislative Update:

Two weeks ago a Hawaii House committee deferred consideration of a bill to mandate the sterilization of dogs being imported into the state. However, on Friday, February 13, a Senate committee voted to advance a “companion” bill with the same legislative text. More to come on this proposal soon in future alerts.

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.