Amended LD 1771, which would categorize “hobby kennels” as commercial “animal care facilities”, was fast tracked and passed the Maine Senate yesterday.
Last month, the Maine Legislature’s Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (Committee) accepted testimony on LD 1771. Thanks to the Maine dog owners who expressed opposition to the bill, the committee adopted an amendment eliminating one concern raised in AKC’s alert: Having to pay for a dog license for every dog owned, in addition to the increased kennel license fee.
However, despite the change, LD 1771 as amended would:
- Legally categorize “hobby kennels” as commercial “animal care facilities” such as pet shops and boarding kennels;
- Require hobby kennel owners to submit results of a criminal background check to the state with their annual kennel license application; and
- No longer provide suitable individual dog license tags for up to ten (10) dogs covered by the new state kennel license.
A Maine hobby kennel is a home-based endeavor involving five (5) or more personally owned dogs for breeding, hunting, show, training, field trials, sledding, competition or exhibition purposes. The American Kennel Club (AKC) strongly endorses the right to own, keep and breed dogs for these purposes. In contrast, Maine’s licensed animal facilities are commercial businesses. By inappropriately categorizing the hobby kennel as an “animal care facility”, amended LD 1771 would make compliance with department business rules and local non-residential zoning a virtual impossibility for those owning dogs for their personal enjoyment. AKC strongly opposes amended LD 1771 because it would negatively impact owners whose personally-owned dogs participate conformation, performance, and companion events or in other competitions or exhibitions.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Immediately contact your State Representative. Search for your town on this website. Click on your Representative’s name for their contact information. Communicate your name and address before asking them to vote “NO” on LD 1771. Talking points:
- A hobby kennel houses personally owned dogs for private use such as improving the breed, showing, hunting, sledding, or competition.
- It is not operated as an animal care facility business and does not have commercial zoning, staff, or infrastructure, and should not be required to obtain a state “facility” license.
- LD 1771 unacceptably categorizes, licenses, and regulates an owner of some dogs for personal use the same as pet shops and boarding kennels.
For more information on these or other legislative issues in Maine, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.