Alert 2/15/08 One More Once!!
Contact Senate Ag Committee & More
Passing the puppymill bill will be a huge step for Virginia’s animals. Let’s do it!
The puppymill bill, HB538, having successfully passed in the House, will be heard on Monday, 2/18, by the Senate Ag Committee.
This committee will be able to pass this bill or kill it.
Please work for its support by the Senate Ag Committee so that, next, the full Senate can pass this important legislation.
Contact your Senator and put in the subject line: Support HB538
In the message portion, ask the Senator to support HB538; it needn’t be longer than one or two lines. If you want talking points, see what Catherine Harold (thank you, Catherine!) wrote – below.
If your Senator is not a member of the Senate Ag committee, consider also contacting senators who areon the Ag Committee, even if they are not your personal Senator (list below). When serving on that committee, they represent all of Virginia. They should hear from you if you want their attention and support.
And send very short and simple messages to the same Senators on HB656 (animal fighting bill), HB999 (posting bond for seized animals), and for HB673 (adequate water required for animals). (See the “click here” below for these bills.)
Thank you! We are making significant and wonderful progress this session on so many animal bills! Please keep helping, and please keep the momentum going!
Lillian Clancy and Don Marro
_____________________________
Click here to find your Senator:
http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform
Here is the Senate Ag Committee:
Sen. Patsy Ticer 804-698-7530
Chair, Senate Ag Committee
district30@sov.state.va.us
Sen. Harry Blevins 804-698-7514
district14@sov.state.va.us
Sen. Creigh Deeds 804-698-7525
district25@sov.state.va.us
Sen. Emmett Hanger 804-698-7524
district24@sov.state.va.us
Sen. Ryan McDougle 804-698-7504
district04@sov.state.va.us
Sen. Donald McEachin 804-698-7509
district09@sov.state.va.us
Sen. Ralph Northam 804-698-7506
district06@sov.state.va.us
Sen. Mark Obenshain 804-698-7526
district26@sov.state.va.us
Sen. Chap Petersen 804-698-7534
district34@sov.state.va.us
Sen. Phillip Puckett 804-698-7538
district38@sov.state.va.us
Sen. Roscoe Reynolds 804-698-7520
district20@sov.state.va.us
Sen. Frank Ruff 804-698-7515
district15@sov.state.va.us
Sen. Richard Stuart 804-698-7528
district28@sov.state.va.us
Sen. John Watkins 804-698-7510
district10@sov.state.va.us
Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple 804-698-7531
district31@sov.state.va.us
__________________________________
The bills to support:
Click here to review the puppymill bill (HB538):
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=hb538
Click here for HB656, the animal fighting bill:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=hb656
Click here for HB999 (posting bond):
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=hb999
Click here for HB673 (water):
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=hb673
____________________________________
Talking points for HB538, the puppymill bill from Catherine Harold:
House Bill 538
Key Provisions of bill –
- Prohibits pet stores from selling dogs from unlicensed (USDA) breeders
- Defines commercial breeders (maintaining > 30 female dogs in a 12-month period) [Note: Language crafted with guidance/consultation of long-term hobby breeders/hunters/hunt clubs; intent is not to include hobby breeders or hunters in bill language]
- Requires operators to have local business license
- Establishes maximum # dogs (50) > 1 yr old at any time
- Establishes parameters on how dogs no longer wanted may be disposed
- Establishes record keeping requirements
- Establishes duty to enforce law’s provisions by Commonwealth Attorneys
- Establishes penalties (Class I Misdemeanor)
- Allows (not require) the State Vet Office to inspect puppy mill operations
- Prohibits breeders to have any interest in a releasing agency
Why Legislation is Needed -
Puppy mills contribute to the unwanted dogs that populate animal shelters
6-8 million animals enter US shelters every year, 3-4 million of these euthanized
Dogs/puppies kept in cramped, unsanitary conditions often exposed to cold/hot temperatures
“Unproductive” dogs no longer wanted are killed, taken to pounds, auctioned to smaller puppy-millers
Pet stores sell from unlicensed breeders, won’t disclose name/location of breeder
Many internet/newspaper classified sales
Local governments and the State may be missing out on $$ millions in sales taxes
- Humane standards can’t be enforced if ACOs don’t know location of operations/can’t inspect them
- USDA regulations only apply to operations that sell dogs to pet shops (many sell to the general public)
- There are only 70 inspectors for the entire US (puppy mills are only one area of responsibilities)
- Puppy mills operate in remote locations, can’t be seen, existence unknown to localities
- Local ACOs encounter typically after a crisis or purchasers complaints about sick puppy
- The dogs are often kept in cramped unsanitary/inhumane conditions, some for their entire lives
- Poses a public health threat - dogs without required rabies vaccinations, licenses, needed medical care
Typical Puppy Mill Conditions –
Small crowded kennels, backyards, basements
Mothers/puppies living in feces
Typically no temperature controls (very hot/cold conditions)
Often animals without required vaccines, licenses, needed medical care
VA Examples -
- Bland County mass breeding, commercial operation burned March ’07
- 172 dogs perished
- Officials in Bland County were unaware that facility existed
- local animal groups rescued surviving dogs
- Hillsville, Carroll County large-scale breeding operation raided
- 1,000 dogs found living in poor conditions
- Over 700 dogs were taken to other facilities – their fate unknown (would be subject to same procedures/policies as any other dog brought into shelter)
- Operator charged with 14 counts animal cruelty, 25 counts neglect
- Operator continues to sell dogs/puppies from his kennel
- 75% of dogs removed from Bland & Carroll facilities, had visible health concerns
- Upon further veterinary examination, many suffered from serious/costly medical conditions