Tomorrow (Wednesday, January 20), the Virginia House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources, Agriculture Sub-Committee will be considering House Bill 2109, which seeks to expands the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services by adding as an at-large member an expert in companion animal welfare who is employed by a releasing agency in the Commonwealth.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is charged, in part, with oversight of animals and animal shelters. Currently, the advisory board does not have a designated space for a companion animal welfare expert. We agree that an expert in companion animal welfare is important, but also believe that it is essential that the board provide a balanced perspective. As such, we are requesting that should a member from a releasing agency be added, the board should also include an additional at-large member who is licensed as a breeder in the Commonwealth, or a member of the Virginia Federation of Dog Clubs and Breeders.
What You Can Do:
Contact the bill sponsor, Delegate Farris via email at DelMFariss@house.viriginia.gov or telephone at (804) 698-1059 and respectfully educate him on the expertise and value that a licensed breeder can provide to the board. Request that an additional at-large member is added who is licensed as a breeder in the Commonwealth or a member of the Virginia Federation of Dog Clubs and Breeders.
Contact the Virginia House ACNR Agriculture Subcommittee prior to its hearing TOMORROW, January 20, at 11am:
Del. Wendy Gooditis, Chair
Phone: (804) 698-1010
Email: DelWGooditis@house.virginia.gov
Del. Roslyn Tyler
Phone: (804) 698-1075
Email: DelRTyler@house.virginia.gov
Del. Mark Keam
Phone: (804) 698-1035
Email: DelMKeam@house.virginia.gov
Del. Joshua Cole
Phone: (804) 698-1028
Email: DelJCole@house.virginia.gov
Del. Sally Hudson
Phone: (804) 698-1057
Email: DelSHudson@house.virginia.gov
Del. Daniel Marshall III
Phone: (804) 698-1014
Email: DelDMarshall@house.virginia.gov
Del. Charles Poindexter
Phone: (804) 698-1009
Email: DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov
Del. Tony Wilt
Phone: (804) 698-1026
Email: DelTWilt@house.virginia.gov
Del. Kenneth Plum
Phone: (804) 698-1036
Email: DelKPlum@house.virginia.gov
Should the bill gain approval by the Subcommittee, it may come before the full ACNR Committee during the full committee meeting in the afternoon. As such, you are also encouraged to contact the members of the full ACNR Committee.
AKC Government Relations will continue to monitor the bill. For questions or more information, email doglaw@akc.org. .