USKBTC Legislative Newsletter
January 2005

Dog laws continue to be in the news to the extent that it behooves all of us to watch our regional and local papers for activity. You would not want a "bad" law to sneak by you.

Legislative Alert For Dog Ganciers in Stanislaus County, California
Update as of December 14, 2004:
A revised ordinance was passed with 4 YES & 1 NO votes at the Dec. 14, 2004 Stanislaus County Board Of Supervisor meeting. The revision has a "reduced unaltered license fee" of $28.00 for (1) those who own or operate a ranch or farming operation of more than two acres, or (2) for those who are an active member in a state or nationally recognized Parent Club or organization for showing, training, agility and hunting of dogs and cats. Otherwise the fee will be $100.00. Also excluded were people who provide licensed boarding, kennel, training or veterinarian services. The County will now try to get the city of Modesto to adopt the revised ordinance. Stanislaus County provides the animal control services for most of the cities in the county.

Legislative Alert For Dogs in Oklahoma
Wednesday, January 19, 2005:
Oklahoma is currently one of 12 states that prohibit municipalities from enacting breed-specific laws. That would change if S247 (scheduled to be introduced February 7) is allowed to pass. Sponsored by Sen. Jim Reynolds, the bill allows cites and counties to regulate dangerous dogs based on breed. For more information go to AKC News.

UPDATE! Bill H2927 has been WITHDRAWN.
Virginia Breeders Face Licensing and Mandatory Spay/Neuter Bill
Monday, January 24, 2005:
Immediate help is needed to oppose H2927, a bill that would require "releasing agencies" to sterilize and microchip all animals prior to adoption. Releasing agencies are defined animal shelters, rescue groups, dealers, pet stores, and "for-profit breeders." Responsible hobby breeders who sell any animals to the public, regardless of whether they truly make money or even recoup veterinary expenses, will likely be considered for-profit. Violators will face a $150 fine.

H2927 would further require dealers to obtain a $150 annual business license. In Virginia, "dealers" include "anyone who in the regular course of business for compensation or profit buys, sells, transfers, exchanges or barters companion animals." Again, a hobby breeder who sells even one puppy could be interpreted as being a dealer. Under the bill, dealers could not advertise their services without a valid business license, and the license number would have to be included in any newspaper advertisements. Violations of any portion of the licensing requirement would be fined $1,000.

More information at AKC News.

Corpus Christi, Texas
(This was reported by the Responsible Pet Owner's Alliance.)
Corpus Christi animal rights activists don't take "No" for an answer and continue to push for a Mandatory Spay/Neuter and Breeders Permit Ordinance. The Corpus Christi City Council was told by their city attorney that Breeder Permits would not solve their animal problems and have voted this down already. But the debate continues. The following message is from the Corpus Christi Kennel Club. All true animal lovers should attend this meeting to preserve our historic use of animals, including pet ownership.

The Corpus Christi City Council will take up the matter of the petition signed by 50 residents which requires mandatory spay/ neuter of all dogs and cats in the City and breeders permits. This petition was delivered to the City Council in December and referred to the Animal Control Advisory Committee. They held their meeting on Thursday, January 13, and voted NOT to recommend this proposal.

The City Council may vote with the Committee's recommendation, in which case the petitioners would have 60 or 90 days to gather the signatures of 5% of the registered voters to place the matter on the April, 2007 election ballot.

The City Council may vote to accept the proposed ordinance- which the American Kennel Club, Responsible Pet Owners Alliance and Corpus Christi Kennel Club oppose.

We need to be present to speak against the proposed change- if the matter is brought up for public comment and the petitioners speak in favor of their proposal. The City Council has so far voted twice- once in November and once in December- NOT to require breeders permits. They will likely vote that way again (just as they did with the anti-smoking ordinance), but we don't know for sure. Click on City Council agenda to read more on this proposal. The item is No. 25. As we have seen in the past, the matter may come up at any time during the meeting.

Dodge City, Kansas
The Dodge City Canine Corporation made its case Tuesday (1/19/05) that the Dodge City Commission should reconsider the city's ban on pit bulls, but the commission did not act on the group's request. The Canine Corporation, a group of advocates for pit bulls and other dogs, sought to persuade the commission to repeal the ban before it takes effect Feb. 1. The group presented its arguments during the visitors' section of the commission's regular meeting, but the commission does not normally act immediately on requests made during the visitors' section unless there is an emergency. The Canine Corporation opposes the ban on pit bulls on the grounds that the city should crack down on vicious dogs of all types instead of singling out a specific breed. Link to the complete article at The Dodge Globe.

San Francisco, California
Three New Laws Passes January 11, 2005
Better Treatment Standards For Mans Best Friend

Breed Specific Legislation UPDATE 1/27/05
From AKC Canine Legislation Department

BSL Introduced in New Mexico
(Wednesday, January 26, 2005)
Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort last week introduced the "Pit Bull Breeding Ban Act" (S188). Provisions of the bill will place severe restrictions on ownership and acquisition of a "pit bull" (defined as a Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, or dog identifiable as or known as a pit bull. Owners of these dogs must not:

• Acquire a pit bull after July 1, 2005
  
• Breed a pit bull either privately or commercially
  
• Keep existing pit bulls unless they are spayed or neutered
  
• They must be licensed at a cost of $250 per year
  
• They must be kept indoors or outside in a six-foot-tall iron or steel pen with roof
  
• They must be chained and muzzled when off the owner's property
  
• Owners must be covered by a $100,000 liability insurance policy or surety bond
  
• Pit bull owners will face $1000 fine if their dog is found at large.
  

Last Updated: 02/08/2005, 10:03 am