Two dog-related bills continue to advance in the Vermont General Assembly. The American Kennel Club (AKC) encourages Vermont residents to contact legislators on the following issues.
HOUSE BILL 626 – ESTABLISHES DIVISION OF ANIMAL WELFARE
Amended H. 626 would establish a Division of Animal Welfare at the Department of Public Safety, which will be charged with developing, implementing, and administering a centralized program for investigating and enforcing animal welfare requirements in the state.
With strong support of the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Vermont Federation of Dog Clubs (VT Federation), and others, the Vermont House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs amended the bill, which then successfully passed in the House of Representatives.
The oversight of animal shelters and rescues and instituting stronger animal welfare protections have been sought by many for two decades. Media coverage has detailed serious incidents of animal neglect and cruelty warranting action. Erika Holm, Chair of the Animal Cruelty Investigation Advisory Board, has publicly noted that the huge explosion in adoptions from other states can bring animal diseases into Vermont. Amended H. 626 would take an initial step in addressing these problems.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Click here to learn more about amended H. 626, and how you can ACT NOW to support passage in the Senate before the Vermont session adjourns on May 9.
SENATE BILL 301 – PET SHOP LANGUAGE ADDED TO AG BILL
In additional to multiple agricultural provisions, S. 301, as amended on April 25, would (on page 22) allow Vermont licensed and inspected pet shops to only transfer dogs or cats if sourced from animal shelters and rescues. The one exception would be for a single shop, as long as it does not transfer shop ownership or more dogs and cats than last year. The text is similar to the restrictions considered in H. 567, as noted in this AKC opposition alert. AKC strongly opposes any measure that restricts choice by compelling people and/or retailors to obtain pets solely from shelter or rescue distributors.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Concerned Vermont residents are encouraged to immediately contact their state representative.
- Search the contact information for your state representative by inserting your town here.
- Click on your representative’s name to get their email address.
- In the subject line insert “Reject S. 301 pet shop amendment”.
- In the body of the email, identify the town where you live and why the bill could pose a risk to you and your pets. Please use the points included in AKC’s opposition alert and those included below.
- Conclude your email by asking them to fix S. 301 before advancing it further.
Consider these talking points.
- As reported by the Better Business Bureau, if consumers are unwilling to wait for a puppy from a licensed pet dealer breeder and cannot visit and obtain the pet they want from licensed pet shops that are required to give pet purchase protections, they are at significant risk of online scams.
- Vermont has no registration or licensure requirement to oversee animal import organizations and certify the health of animals being brought into the state.
- Shelter and rescue animals can present behavioral challenges or costly medical issues that might not be a good option for every family that wants a pet.
AKC Government Relations (GR) will continue to provide updates on these and other legislative issues in Vermont as developments warrant. For more information, contact AKC GR at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.