AKC has just learned that a bill seeking to address overcrowding in animal shelters by regulating hobby breeders, will be considered in committee TOMORROW (Tuesday, April 29).
The proposal, sponsored by Social Compassion in Legislation, insinuates that people who breed as few as ONE litter are contributing to animal shelter population concerns, and, therefore, should incur significant regulations.
What You Can Do:
Club members are encouraged to take the following actions TODAY on Assembly Bill 1482:
1) Upload a letter to the online portal. While the letter will not make it into the official bill analysis, lawmakers will be able to see it and it will remain in the official bill record.
2) Contact the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee on Business and Professions to express your opposition to the portion of AB 1482 expanding the definition of “dog breeder”. If you are a constituent, be sure to mention that when contacting their office:
Chairman Marc Berman (Dist. 23- San Mateo, Santa Clara Counties)
Sacramento Office: (916) 319-2023
Palo Alto Office: (650) 324-0224
Online Contact Form
Vice Chair Heath Flora (Dist. 9- Amador, Calaveras, Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus Counties)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2009
Ripon Office ((209) 599-2112
3) Contact the new bill author, Assemblymember Leticia Castillo (Dist. 58- Riverside and San Bernadino Counties), and respectfully express your concerns. If you are a constituent, be sure to mention that when contacting her office:
Sacramento Office: (916) 319-2058
Corona Office: (951) 371-6860
Online Contact Form
Summary:
Assembly Bill 1482 was originally authored by Assemblymember Bill Essayli. He recently left the Assembly for a federal position and the bill was inactive. However, Assemblymember Leticia Castillo has just recently agreed to author the bill.
For the entire bill click here. Some of the key aspects are detailed below:
- Changes the definition of “dog breeder” from selling, transferring, or giving away all or part of 2 or more litters OR 10 or more dogs in the preceding 12 months. Depending on the breed, this threshold could impact those who have one litter in a year. Current law regulates breeders with 3 or more litters or 20 or more dogs during the preceding 12 months.
- Many localities in California use the state definition as a guideline when developing their breeder regulations.
- This new definition opens the door to future legislation further impacting hobby breeders.
Talking Points
- Large scale dog breeding is already regulated in California. Broadening the definition of dog breeding will only constrain enforcement with new targets on hobbyist dog breeding.
- Just last week, the Business and Professions Committee adopted amendments to AB 506, requiring all who sell a dog – including hobbyists – to provide certain information at the time of sale to protect consumers. The portion of this bill regulating hobbyists is unnecessary.
- Purebred dog enthusiasts and hobby breeders are not the cause of shelter overcrowding. When contacting the author, let him know if you are a hobby breeder and what steps you take to ensure dogs you raise never end up in the shelter.
- Further limiting the choices of Californians to select the dog of their choice will likely result in many people obtaining dogs that do not work for their families—and many of these dogs will end up back in the animal shelter system.
- The California Penal Code already holds accountable those who deprive animals of necessary sustenance or shelter and subject animals to needless suffering. These laws apply to all dog owners – including hobby breeders. It is not necessary to expand the definition to ensure dogs raised by hobbyists are protected.
AKC Government Relations continues to monitor bills in California impacting dog owners and will provide updates. For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.