Not Again! Farm

Note to all: I am not now, nor will I ever be anywhere near the number of dogs that will be directly affected by this bill, however, as a dog owner and a groomer, this bill will have an effect on me.

If you are reading this you probably have or want to have a purebred dog. Right now, today, dog breeders in Virginia are under attack by the Humane Society of the United States. If you love your dog, if you want a puppy in the near future, help us to let our Senators know that VIRGINIA IS FOR DOG LOVERS.  The following is from testimony today at the Senate Agriculture Committee.

My name is Donnita Ackley. I live in Prince William County. I am a
pet owner, rescuer, a member of the Pomeranian Club of Central Virginia, and
the Pomeranian Club’s delegate to the Virginia Hunting Dog Owners
Association. I am not a breeder. I am here today representing VHDOA and
its groups and members to request you not report HB538.

HB538 is unnecessary and the costs to the localities and the taxpayers of
Virginia will be enormous. This bill is a hasty reaction to a media
inflamed issue. VHDOA and many other clubs, associations, and federations
weren’t consulted at any time during the development of HB538.

HB538 is a duplication of existing USDA licensing and registration
requirements defined in the Animal Welfare Act. The existing federal system
registers, licenses, and inspects all large dog breeders and investigates
any dog breeder with four (4) or more females about whom a tip or a
legitimate complaint has been received.

Junior Horton in Carroll County was known to the animal control officer,
authorities, and the community. He had a local business license and a 500
dog kennel permit. But he wasn’t federally licensed and inspected as
required by federal law. This could have been remedied with a call
reporting him to the headquarters or regional offices of USDA APHIS Animal
Care.

HB538 would require localities to designate an Animal Control Officer to
inspect and ensure compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.
The USDA APHIS Animal Care inspections are conducted by a staff of
veterinarians and animal health technicians. The inspections check
compliance with 60 pages of detailed dog care standards. Virginia’s Animal
Control Officers’ training program does not adequately prepare them for
these duties.

HB538 contains many conflicts with federal law and unintended impacts on
hobby breeders. Examples of these conflicts would be veterinarian breeding
approval required annually for each female. A hobby breeder would be
prohibited from selling to a pet store because they are a non-commercial
breeder. If a hunt club or a hobby breeder that co-owns 30 females has one
litter HB538 is triggered. It limits a kennel to a maximum of 50 dogs.
Many hunt club kennels exceed this number.

The challenge Virginia should be facing is how to get commercial breeders
federally licensed and inspected rather than putting a large unfunded
mandate on the localities to inspect and regulate them.

If you love purebred dogs, call or email the Senators on the Agriculture Committee and Ask them to VOTE NO ON BILL HB538. You must include your name and address or your voice will not be heard.

Email Addresses below:

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR VA SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

Chairwoman
Patricia S. Ticer
district30@sov.state.va.us
Phone: (804) 698-7530
Fax: (804) 698-7651

John Watkins
district10@sov.state.va.us
Phone: (804) 698-7510
Fax: (804) 698-7651

Mary Margaret Whipple,
district31@sov.state.va.us
Phone: (804) 698-7531
Fax: (804) 698-7651

Emmett W. Hanger, Jr.
district24@sov.state.va.us
Phone: (804) 698-7524
Fax: (804) 698-7651

Wm. Roscoe Reynolds,
district20@sov.state.va.us
Phone: (804) 698-7520
Fax: (804) 698-7651

Frank M. Ruff, Jr.
district15@sov.state.va.us
Phone: (804) 698-7515
Fax: (804) 698-7651

Phillip P. Puckett
district38@sov.state.va.us
Phone: (804) 698-7538
Fax: (804) 698-7651

Harry B. Blevins
district14@sov.state.va.us
Phone: (804) 698-7514
Fax: (804) 698-7651

R. Creigh Deeds
district25@sov.state.va.us
Phone: (804) 698-7525
Fax: (804) 698-7651

Mark D. Obenshain
district26@sov.state.va.us
Phone: (804) 698-7526
Fax: (804) 698-7651

Ryan T. McDougle
district04@sov.state.va.us
Phone: (804) 698-7504
Fax: (804) 698-7943

A. Donald McEachin
district09@sov.state.va.us
Phone: (804) 698-7509
Fax: (804) 698-7651

Chap Petersen
district34@sov.state.va.us
Phone: (804) 698-7534
Fax: (804) 698-7651

Ralph S. Northam
district06@sov.state.va.us
Phone: (804) 698-7506
Fax: (804) 698-7651

Richard H. Stuart
district28@sov.state.va.us
Phone: (804) 698-7528
Fax: (804) 698-7651