MN- "Breeders Bills" moving Forward

Minnesota Breeders Bills Moving Forward

[Wednesday, February 20, 2008]
Minnesota House Bill 2469, known as the Dog and Cat Breeders Act, passed the House Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice by a vote of 8-7 on Tuesday, February 19. It is expected to be heard by the House Agriculture, Rural Economies, and Veterans Affairs Finance Division committee soon. Its companion in the Senate, Senate Bill 2292, will be heard in the Senate Agriculture and Veterans committee Tuesday, February 26 at 3 PM in Room 107 of the State Office Building.

These bills seek to establish breeder licensing and would require inspection of all “kennels.” They also seek to establish standards of care that are unproven, many of which would be significant burdens on responsible breeders. If passed and signed into law, the changes imposed by these bills would have a profound negative impact on dog breeders in Minnesota. It is imperative that breeders and concerned dog owners contact their Representative, Senator, the committee chairmen, and the committee members to express their opposition.

The American Kennel Club strongly supports humane treatment of dogs, including an adequate and nutritious diet, clean water, clean living conditions, regular veterinary care, kind and responsive human companionship, and training in appropriate behavior. However, many of the changes proposed by HB 2469 and SB 2292 are impractical, unenforceable, and costly. Most importantly, the quality of life for dogs in Minnesota will not improve because of the provisions of this bill. Instead, enactment of this law will create greater burdens for responsible breeders and many will be forced to stop breeding altogether.

For example, the proposed set of laws would require the following;
Any breeder with six or more intact adult females will be forced to comply with the requirements of HB 2469 and SB 2292. An adult dog is defined as one who is 24 weeks of age or older. This threshold is both arbitrary and overreaching as it does not focus on the number of litters or puppies produced and sold.


In addition to annual renewal applications and their associated fees, breeders must also submit annual reports to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health.


It will be almost impossible for smaller breeders and dog owners who maintain their dogs in their own residential premises to comply with the unreasonable building standards required by HB 2469 and SB 2292.


HB 2469 and SB 2292 will require an annual inspection of any premises deemed to be a kennel. The inspection may be conducted with no notice.


Animals may not be tethered or leashed as a means of confinement.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Attend the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Veterans meeting and express your opposition to SB 2292. The committee will consider the bill Tuesday, February 26 at 3:00PM, in Room 107 of the State Office Building, 110 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Saint Paul, MN 55155.


Contact your Representative to express your opposition. To find your Representative, click here.


Contact your Senator to express your opposition. To find your Senator, click here.


Contact the members of Minnesota Senate Agriculture and Veterans Committee.

Chair: Jim Vickerman
296-5650
sen.jim.vickerman@senate.mn

Vice Chair: Sharon L. Erickson Ropes
296-5649
sen.sharon.erickson.ropes@senate.mn

Ranking Minority Member: Steve Dille
296-4131
sen.steve.dille@senate.mn

Satveer S. Chaudhary
296-4334
sen.satveer.chaudhary@senate.mn

Joe Gimse
296-3826
sen.joe.gimse@senate.mn

David W. Hann
296-1749
sen.david.hann@senate.mn

Bill G. Ingebrigtsen
297-8063
sen.bill.ingebrigtsen@senate.mn

Paul E. Koering
296-4875
sen.paul.koering@senate.mn

Gary W. Kubly
296-5094
sen.gary.kubly@senate.mn

Keith Langseth
296-3205
sen.keith.langseth@senate.mn

Tony Lourey
296-0293
sen.tony.lourey@senate.mn

Steve Murphy
296-4264
sen.steve.murphy@senate.mn

Rod Skoe
296-4196
sen.rod.skoe@senate.mn

Dan Skogen
296-5655
sen.dan.skogen@senate.mn

Betsy L. Wergin
296-8075
sen.betsy.wergin@senate.mn


Contact the members of the Minnesota House Agriculture, Rural Economies, and Veterans Affairs Finance Division Committee on who will consider this bill.

Chair: Mary Ellen Otremba (DFL)
296-3201
rep.maryellen.otremba@house.mn

Vice Chair: Tim Faust (DFL)
296-0518
rep.tim.faust@house.mn

Lead-GOP: Rod Hamilton (R)
296-5373
rep.rod.hamilton@house.mn

Robin Brown (DFL)
296-8216
rep.robin.brown@house.mn

Al Doty (DFL)
296-4247
rep.al.doty@house.mn

Steve Drazkowski (R)
296-2273
rep.steve.drazkowski@house.mn

Kent Eken (DFL)
296-9918
rep.kent.eken@house.mn

Brad Finstad (R)
296-9303
rep.brad.finstad@house.mn

Larry Hosch (DFL)
296-4373
rep.larry.hosch@house.mn

Al Juhnke (DFL)
296-6206
rep.al.juhnke@house.mn

Terry Morrow (DFL)
296-8634
rep.terry.morrow@house.mn

Ron Shimanski (R)
296-1534
rep.ron.shimanski@house.mn

Dean Urdahl (R)
296-4344
rep.dean.urdahl@house.mn
For more information and regular updates, please check www.akc.org. To contact AKC's Canine Legislation Department call (919) 816-3720 or e-mail doglaw@akc.org.