Minnesota Senate File 1029, which is scheduled to be considered by the Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee on Friday, March 21, 2025, seeks to eliminate longstanding privacy and data protections for commercial breeders, which the state defines as those with more than 10 intact dogs and 5 litters a year. The American Kennel Club (AKC) opposes SF 1029, and encourages all Minnesota dog breeders and owners to contact the members of the committee to request it not approve SF 1029. Scroll down for sample message and contact information.
SF 1029 SUMMARY
- SF 1029 is a slightly changed version of 2024 legislation.
- The bill would gut a current law that describes data collected about commercial breeders as private and nonpublic.
- Requires all commercial breeder licensees to include their license number in all advertisements pertaining to the sale of animals or a link to a website that includes the license number.
- Requires the Board of Animal Health (Board) to post to its website a list of licensed kennels and dealers in good standing, including (1) all business names used in the sale or adoption of dogs or cats; (2) the total number of animals kept, congregated, or confined in the previous year; (3) copies of all annual reports, inspection records, and enforcement records from the past five years for each kennel/dealer; and (4) a list of kennels and dealers whose licenses have expired or been revoked by the Board during the previous five years, including all business names and reasons for revocation.
- Clarifies that Board inspection reports of commercial breeders must contain all business names used by the commercial breeder in connection with the sale of dogs or cats, the facility identification number, name, and city/township where facility is located.
- Amends current law to require the Board to post on its public website (1) a list of commercial breeders licensed and in good standing, including business names used in connection with the sale of dogs or cats and the total number of animals produced and sold in the previous calendar year; (2) copies of all annual reports, inspection forms, and enforcement records from the previous five years for each commercial breeder; and (3) list of commercial breeders whose licenses have expired or been revoked during the previous five years, including all business names used and reasons for revocation.
WHY AKC OPPOSES SF 1029
SF 1029 presents a risk to responsible, licensed, and law-abiding dog breeders. Publication of sensitive information may provide anti-breeder protestors or animal rights extremists with facility location information, and lead to harassment of licensees or business interruptions at their facilities, including at private homes. AKC has long-been concerned with reports of breeders being harassed or retaliated against by individuals who oppose breeding and will use whatever means necessary to interrupt facility operations; or because breeders have defended responsible breeding practices with public officials, commented on troublesome anti-breeder legislation, or testified about it before state and local legislatures. Additionally, criminals can use location information to steal puppies for resale.
EASILY OPPOSE SF 1029 BY SENDING ONE EMAIL (SAMPLE MESSAGE INCLUDED)
Concerned Minnesota residents are strongly encouraged to email the Senate Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee to express concerns with SF 1029. Email the committee administrator at nick.roth@mnsenate.gov with documents to be posted to the entire committee, before 3PM tomorrow, Thursday, March 20, 2025. Late submissions may not be posted in advance of hearing or included in prepared materials for committee members.
SAMPLE MESSAGE
Senators, as a Minnesota resident, I am deeply concerned with SF 1029. I believe the bill will increase risks to responsible, licensed, and law-abiding dog breeders. Publicizing sensitive information may provide facility location information to anti-breeder protestors or animal rights extremists, which may lead to the harassment of licensees or business interruptions at their facilities, including at private homes. Extremists who oppose the breeding of animals are known to use whatever means necessary to interrupt facility operations; and to harass breeders who publicly defended their responsible, law-abiding practices with lawmakers, including by providing in-person testimony. I urge you to vote against SF 1029 because any benefit of this legislation would be far outweighed by the risks it would present to responsible, law-abiding Minnesota residents and the dogs they produce.
Individual committee members may be reached as follows:
State Senator Aric Putnam, Chair – (651) 296-6455, sen.aric.putnam@senate.mn
State Senator Robert Kupec, Vice Chair – (651) 296-3205, sen.robert.kupec@senate.mn
State Senator Torrey Westrom, Ranking Member – (651) 296-3826, sen.torrey.westrom@senate.mn
State Senator Bruce Anderson – (651) 296-5981, sen.bruce.anderson@senate.mn
State Senator Gary Dahms – (651) 296-8138, sen.gary.dahms@senate.mn
State Senator Gene Dornink – (651) 296-5240, sen.gene.dornink@senate.mn
State Senator Heather Gustafson – (651) 296-1253, sen.heather.gustafson@senate.mn
State Senator Mary Kunesh – (651) 296-4334, sen.mary.kunesh@senate.mn
State Senator Judy Seeberger – (651) 297-8060, sen.judy.seeberger@senate.mn
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org