Alert 2/11/08     Response to AKC re HB538

 

This response to the AKC was written by Sharon Adams, Executive Director of the Virginia Beach SPCA.

 

Please send it to your delegate and to your senator, asking them to support HB538, the puppymill inspection and licensure bill patroned by Del. Bobby Orrock.

 

To find your delegate or senator, click here:

http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform

 

Please let Del. Orrock know you are grateful for his efforts on this bill.

His email:     DelBOrrock@house.state.va.us

 

To review the puppymill bill again, HB538, click here:

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=hb538

 

 

RESPONSE TO AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB LETTER OPPOSING HOUSE BILL 538

  

 

It is always a shock to some folks when they learn that the American Kennel Club(AKC) is not particularly interested in the welfare and care of dogs but deeply committed to the idea that there be no limits on breeding.  They oppose it at the federal level and every state effort.

 

When you recognize that the AKC secures its millions of dollars each year through the unfettered breeding registration fees paid on puppies that they never see and have no idea what conditions they are living in, then it is clear what the motivation is.  Money

 

The recent AKC letter to the Virginia General Assembly is factually incorrect and dishonest in its statement of concerns.  The American Kennel Club does not care what localities in Virginia would have to absorb if House 538 is passed.  If they cared about Virginia localities, they would care about the costs they have already been carrying in dealing with these puppy mills each time they become a crisis. 

 

House bill 538 is not an unfunded mandate; the current situation is an unfunded mandate on localities.  The state government retains the right to prevent localities from enacting ordinances to protect itself from these “breed for greed” operations and then is absent when the locality has to clean up the mess. So long as charities in the form of shelters and rescue organizations come in to assist the localities and absorb the thousands of dollars in cost, some state legislators and breeders and the AKC feel there is no reason to change things.

 

The bill requires a business license “as applicable”.  There is no requirement that a locality which does not have one enact one.  Nevertheless, make no mistake these are businesses and subject to taxes.  It would be interesting to determine whether and how much they pay.

 

The inspection requirement seems to give AKC grave concerns and you can image why.  Think how embarrassing it is each time one of these operations is uncovered, the horrible conditions these animals are subject to and there are those highly valued AKC registrations lying around.  It does beg the question how their protectiveness toward these operations “promotes animal health and well being” which they espouse.

 

We know of no bill or legislation that AKC has ever supported which enhances the welfare of animals in these breeding operations.  It is all about the money.  Please support HB 538.