Message #46010

[TrueBlueLacys]

Though I understand the issues with the previous version of this bill, and I don't like the idea that this was passed so quickly in the House, it sounds like it is finally doing what it was intended to do.

All mention of hobby breeders has been removed. They now define a commercial breeder as "a person who possesses adult intact female animals that produce 20 or more litters in one calendar year and is engaged in the business of breeding animals for direct or indirect sale or for exchange in return for consideration." So you can have as many intact females as you want, but if you are pumping out over 20 litters a year, you must be have a license. That seems completely reasonable, if not overly generous, because a lot of unscrupulous BYBs and smaller puppy mills will make a huge profit with under 20 litters. I see no limit on the number of dogs you are allowed to own or whether or not those dogs must be fixed.

Yes, I understand the slippery slope argument in regards doing whatever you please with your dogs. But this bill attempts to prevent an issue that reflects poorly on everyone who has ever bred or owned an unaltered dog. I worry that by vehemently fighting reasonable legislation, we will erode the credibility of our cause. We certainly should not support puppy mills and abusive breeders in any way. But what happens when we do and waste our influence on such a bill? Will they still listen when we protest a bill that actually does hurt us?