Although dogs sold for hunting are not affected by this rule, almost anyone else could be.   Comment period begins now and ends July 16


Visit http://saovanews.blogspot.com/ for the links.  Please read the transcript of the teleconference held by APHIS as the announced the proposed rule.

This is a proposed rule by an agency, not a law Congress will vote on. The comment period is only for 60 days and APHIS needs to hear how this affects you.

APHIS cannot make a realistic analysis without understanding the dynamics of conflict with existing state/local ordinances and potential impact to small scale breeders that will be created by revising the current exemption.

Susan

Computer is giving me a fit today.  What I tried to post was that this message about the rules is at the SAOVA blog.  http://saovanews.blogspot.com/ which has a facebook button to use for sharing.  That should work and I will keep that site updated.
Susan

quote author=halfbreed link=topic=50326.msg350758#msg350758 date=1336754572]
susan do ya'll have a facebook page and what would it take to get one and have facebook updates to post and spread ? kinda like the humanewatch site does . us old farts ain't to computor litterate and crossposting savy facebook feeds makes it simple and far reaching .
[/quote

susan do ya'll have a facebook page and what would it take to get one and have facebook updates to post and spread ? kinda like the humanewatch site does . us old farts ain't to computor litterate and crossposting savy facebook feeds makes it simple and far reaching .

We'll work on something over the weekend.  Right now, we are still analyzing the full extent of the bill.  The comment period for this will only last 60 days unless there is a tremendous effort to push for an extension.  I'm also trying to get the audio of yesterday's USDA conference transcribed so it can be read online.
Susan

A SAOVA message to sportsmen, pet owners and farmers concerned about protecting their traditions, avocations and livelihoods from anti-hunting, anti-breeding, animal guardianship advocates. Forwarding and cross posting, with attribution, encouraged.
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USDA seeks change to regulate Internet and retail pet sales

Dear SAOVA Friends,

This afternoon USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) held a stakeholders conference call to announce a forthcoming proposal to revise its definition of “retail pet store”.  APHIS states this proposal restores the definition to its original intent so that it limits the retail pet store exemption to only those places where buyers physically enter to observe the animals available for sale prior to purchasing them and where certain animals are sold or offered for sale at retail for use as pets.  The definition of pet includes dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice, gophers, chinchilla, domestic ferrets, domestic farm animals, birds, and coldblooded species.

To meet the exemption requirements for the newly defined retail pet store, buyers must be allowed to physically enter the retail seller’s place of business or residence in order to personally observe the animals available for sale prior to purchase and/or to take custody of the animals after purchase. In addition, breeders must have four or less breeding females and can only sell the offspring of the breeding females that were born and raised on their premises, and sold for pets or exhibition.

USDA/APHIS issued a press release this afternoon: USDA Proposes to Close Loophole on Retail Pet Sales to Ensure Health and Humane Treatment which can be found at this link: http://tinyurl.com/7b9kbpj

The notice is scheduled for publication within a week in the Federal Register. The proposed rule and an FAQ are currently available at www.aphis.usda.gov. 

Proposed Rule is Docket No. APHIS-2011-0003, Regulatory Analysis and Development PPD APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD, 20737-1238.

Once the rule is published there will be a 60 day comment period. 

The APHIS Factsheet states: under the proposed rule, no dog or other pet animal will be sold at retail without either public or APHIS oversight. Obviously this rulemaking proposal will have far reaching impacts on sportsmen, dog, cat, and small animal breeders. SAOVA will distribute further analysis and updates as the rule making process continues. 

Susan Wolf

Sportsmen’s & Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance
Working to Identify and Elect Supportive Legislators

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The message above was posted to North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana and Texas residents by the Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance (SAOVA).

SAOVA is a nonpartisan volunteer group working to protect Americans from the legislative and political threats of radical animal rightists. Visit our website at http://saova.org for this program's goals, methodology and list signup details.

To unsubscribe from this list, exercise that option at http://mailman.montana.com/mailman/listinfo/saova_south

The bill passed out of committee today.  HSUS already has a press release posted on their website.  Committee vote was 5 in favor, 3 against.  According to their press release over 200 supporters attended the hearing.  And Judd Hanna, former California Fish and Game commissioner, current CalTIP Foundation president and president of the California Game Wardens Foundation, hunter, rancher, and outdoorsman testified in support of the bill.

News & Legislation Briefs February 13, 2012

Dear SAOVA Friends,

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has requested that interested parties provide comments on the Draft Rules for implementing the Dog or Cat Breeder Program after HB1451 was enacted into law. It is extremely important to submit comments on the Draft Rules as HSUS disciples are already flooding TDLR with supportive emails and requests for even harsher regulation. The bill we fought last year is law and cannot be changed without new legislation, but its impact on Texas dog and cat breeders needs to be noted and recorded.

SPORTSMEN TAKE NOTE.  The exemption included in HB1451 for dogs bred with the intent to be used primarily for hunting, tracking, or retrieving game has been narrowed by stipulations in the Draft Rules.  The Rules now state a dog is presumed to count toward licensing requirements unless evidence such as entry registration forms or event receipts are submitted to TDLR to prove these hunting dogs qualify for exemption from kennel licensing.  Eroding this exemption is unacceptable. Please email TDLR and copy your legislator.

More information is at the SAOVA site: http://saova.org/Texas_TDLR.html

THE DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS IS FEBRUARY 20th.  Send comments by Fax (512) 475-3032 or by email erule.comments@license.state.tx.us  to:

Melissa Rinard, Legal Assistant, General Counsel's Office
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
P.O. Box 12157, Austin Texas 78711

As always, we encourage cross posting of these messages.

Susan Wolf
Sportsmen’s & Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance

Be a SAOVA volunteer and take part in the network of defense against the animal rights agenda and those who would restrict or remove our use and ownership of animals. Email saova@earthlink.net or cubhill@earthlink.net