Pay Attention, Everyone!

[linda040899]

Cross-posted with permission from Bird Breeder-Hobbyist.
I had no idea about this until I found it in my inbox this morning!

Subject: CA AB 1634 threatens future pet ownership

TX-RPOA E-News

From Responsible Pet Owners Alliance,
the reasonable voice regarding animal issues in Texas.

Responsible Pet Owners Alliance is an animal welfare organization,
not "animal rights" and, yes, there is a difference.

Permission granted to crosspost.

May 2, 2007

California has a major battle brewing over AB 1634 which has alarmed the entire country -- a statewide mandatory spay/neuter bill for all dogs 4 months of age. The exemptions cannot be met by dog or cat fanciers we're told. No breeding = No pets!

The committee vote that passed the bill was split along partisan lines with Democrats supporting and Republicans opposing the bill. The "animal rights" movement has been proposing this legislation for 16 years in spite of proof that more animals, not fewer, will be killed at animal control facilities.

RPOA has defeated this legislation in three Texas cities to date -- San Antonio, Austin and Corpus Christi -- but it keeps coming back.

If it isn't defeated in the state of California, it will be in our Texas Legislature next.

[Susan27]

This doesn't affect me directly (although Canada often follows the USA's lead in many areas), but, are they saying that NO ONE is allowed to breed ANY dog EVER? And isn't 4 months a little young for spay or neuter?

[linda040899]

Susan,
I get the very strong feeling that breeding will not ever be allowed, that's what PETA has been trying to do for years! The problem is that, if it passes in one area, that's grounds for it being passed in other locations! The State I watch in the U.S. is New Jersey.......

[Eliza]

The State I watch in the U.S. is New Jersey...

Is NJ a swing state or something? I know that we have very archiac laws regarding certain parrot species and such...

I doubt very much that a law THIS strict and SO against breeding would pass. Don't get me wrong: I do think that breeding for business is completely out of hand in this country. That said, you have to look at the pharmaceutical and bio-medical industry: as sad as it is to say they still depend on live animals for testing. Their lobbyists are a strong force and will fight.

Something to watch out for, regardless :(

-e-

[mjm8321]

Even if something like this passed, it would cause quite a stir and honestly I would think it would spark many illegal breeding situations, a black market, so to speak. Of course, that would cause even more issues since those dogs would lack basic veteranarian care as they would not be legal. Someone is not thinking the whole thing through.

Susan, to the best of my knowledge, they are spaying and neutering as early as 6 weeks old now. I was amazed to see a tiny kittens and puppies that had been neutered/spayed at the Humane Society

[linda040899]

Is NJ a swing state or something? I know that we have very archiac laws regarding certain parrot species and such...
Nope, but NJ has always had some of the strictest laws regarding bird ownership. I figure if it's law in NJ, it could easily be law elsewhere!

[citygrlup]

Personally I think there is a very big problem in some areas with being over runned with stray animals. I lived in NM for a while and found it heart breaking at all of the animals that were in the kill shelter. They had litters of puppies and kitties. Most of the cats and dogs in there were very young (Almost all were found wondering around the streets.) Its sad to see them and know that they have 7 days to find a home or they are put down to make room for other strays. God forbid there is a rabies outbreak in that area. Or any other outbreak that could ever pass form animal to human. I am a HUGE animal lover and would have taken them all if I could. I adopted my dog from there and swore that I would never buy from a pet store or dog breeder since there are so many loving pets stuck in places like this. I can see why they came up with this law....HOWEVER I think that the responsible reputable breeders shouldn't suffer before the owners of puppy mills and ignorant owners who do not wish to have litters but do not take the care to spay or neuter. You are responsible for your pets and you should be responsible for the litters you allow them to have. If we were, we wouldn't have to have off the wall laws like this. Too bad this isn't the case

I also live in NJ right now and agree that there are a lot of laws with exotic animals. If you ever saw local grid lock and how many people are crammed in most areas around here, you would understand the concern for any possible outbreak (probably unlikely) But if something did happen, the whole state would be in an uproar and sew happy that there was never any precautions put into place. This falls under the category "CYA" (cover your a$$) Too bad they cant cover it with a law that would work better then this =-( I dont see how this is a law that can be fully enforced either.

They should allow responsible breeders to register with the states, be inspected by the state and promise to nuter and spay the litters that they sell to families.

Sorry this kind of annoyed me....poor animals.

[linda040899]

They should allow responsible breeders to register with the states, be inspected by the state and promise to nuter and spay the litters that they sell to families.
This would seem to be a logical thing to do but when as many animals are being put down as there currently are, those in charge are not thinking logically!

I was reading an article in our local paper about the animal shelter in the county where I live. According to statistics, over 70% of the animals dropped off at the shelter are not adopted. Oddly enough, it's not for lack of interested people. Our local shelter doesn't display all available animals and some go to their deaths without anyone even being aware that they are adoptable!!! >: >: >: >: A new shelter with more room is under construction but that won't benefit any animals with the need to be adopted NOW! Very sad situation for our animal companions. :(

[mjm8321]

I can say here in Portland, we are extremely lucky that the Humane Society here is huge and they do a great job of adopting out dogs, cats, bunnies, etc... On weekends they are likely to adopt out 50+ animals. All cats and dogs are spayed or neutered. They also offer coupons for spaying and neutering at discount prices at local vets. $28 for male cats, $38 for females. Dogs, $44-60 depending upon weight.
They literally get dogs and cats from all over the state here because they have such a high rate of adoption. They even flew to New Orleans to save animals after Katrina and literally flew the animals back here. I wish I could find the link for the pictyure of a chartered airplane full of dogs (yes sitting in the seats we humans do!).

The whole issue comes down to accountability and so many people just don't give a **** about anything except what's best in their interest. :mad:


*** I found a link that has the picture http://www.snopes.com/katrina/photos/dogrescue.asp

[Chiappone]

I agree that having reputable breeders be able to buy a license for breeding, wouldn't be a bad idea at all. I've heard some talk of places wanting to do that. Would really help cut down on the amount of back yard breeders (and my personal pet peeve- the people trying to make money off all the "designer dogs" which are just mutts they want you to pay $1000 dollars for! I have no problem with the dogs, just people marking them up at ridiculous prices when they have no papers or have only had one litter with no health checks or lineage info).
I worked at a Humane Society in KY that was actually VERY VERY good about getting all their dogs up on petfinder and trying to get rescues to take dogs and did lots of fund-raising, transports, and community events to try and get things done, but where I was in KY was very much the stereotypical southerner who thought dogs were disposable and cats were nothing since they couldn't hunt with them, so we could get in over 50 animals in a day! There was just no room at the end of the week for everyone, it was heartbreaking. ( More than half of my pets were from a shelter of some kind- including a purebred English Bulldog, and a Komondor! You never know what you can find in those places)

[LauraO]

While there are no doubt bad breeders and others selling animals, it's usually the owners who disguard their animals for whatever reason or they don't spay or neuter them and they have babies and more babies that are thrown away. In Hawaii, there are tons of cat colonies throughout the island of wild and uneutered cats that keep breeding and breeding. Some people adopt certain areas and work with the humane society at catching them, spaying and neutering them, and then releasing them, but there are so many it's always hard to get the job done.

While I think stopping breeding wholesale is a bad idea, we may have to start somewhere this drastic to actually make some substantial progress. Licensing breeding sounds like an easy answer, but it costs money and manpower, which no State is in excess of at the moment. You would also have to develop a way for puppies to be spayed and neutered before they leave a breeder's home to ensure no breeding takes place without approval.

[michael]

Laws in regards to breeders should be strict and performed by licensed responsible individuals. Unfortunately it does little good to curtail the stray and abandoned animals left by a society who's general attitude about pet ownership is self indulgent. Our local news teams vehemently suggest getting pets spayed or neutered, yet in my back yard alone stray cats and kittens constantly roam the area. I know there's lots of poeple who care deeply about their pets and the stray ones that go through their yards, but whats really sad is it only takes one or two families in the neighborhood that disregard proper pet care to defeat the efforts of so many poeple. It may be an eye opener if we could somehow get the news to broadcast how many pets and homeless animals are put to sleep each and every day because there has to be room made for more. You know, part of our country's freedom included the right to have domestic animals. but under certain circumstances today that may seem inexplicable. The reality of all the animals that suffer always seem to be clouded by the sedition stirred up whenever changes need to be made to actually take care of the problem itself. Now I wonder why that is? Michael and sleeping Goofy

[Ilovelovies]

[QUOTE=Chiappone} ,but where I was in KY was very much the stereotypical southerner who thought dogs were disposable and cats were nothing since they couldn't hunt with them,

I very much, take offense to your statement. I was born and raised in the south, and i, and plenty of other southerners are responsible pet owners who love our pets very much. There are irresponsible pet owners all over the world. I'm proud to be from the south and this just rubbed me the wrong way.

Sharon

[Ducky]

I doubt that this will become the norm. It's a basic property issue legally. While I certainly don't think of my pets as "property", legally they can't tell you that you can't use your animals the way you wish. Once again, I see it as more of an education and public awareness issue than a legal one. That's the only way we'll see any real results. Otherwise, the blackmarket reigns.

[Chiappone]

I very much, take offense to your statement. I was born and raised in the south, and i, and plenty of other southerners are responsible pet owners who love our pets very much. There are irresponsible pet owners all over the world. I'm proud to be from the south and this just rubbed me the wrong way.

Sharon[/QUOTE]

I didn't mean to offend, I know there are plenty of very responsible, loving pet owners in the south. I worked with and met many of them. I just meant that in the particular area I was in, that was not the norm, it was more common to leave the animals outside in all weather, never get any of them fixed b/c of old wives tales, and not bother about vaccinations or heartworm prevention even though it was one of the worst areas in the state. Here in NY there are people who are just as irresponsible, I see that all the time when I do rescue work in the area. There are irresponsible people all over.

[Ilovelovies]

]


I didn't mean to offend, I know there are plenty of very responsible, loving pet owners in the south. I worked with and met many of them. I just meant that in the particular area I was in, that was not the norm, it was more common to leave the animals outside in all weather, never get any of them fixed b/c of old wives tales, and not bother about vaccinations or heartworm prevention even though it was one of the worst areas in the state. Here in NY there are people who are just as irresponsible, I see that all the time when I do rescue work in the area. There are irresponsible people all over.

Chiappone, I guess i did get my feathers a little too ruffled:lol . I know there are people like that here, iv'e known quite a few myself. I certainly do not condone the way they treat there animals. When i raised two raccoons that were orphaned, i had four men who were coonhunters that wanted to buy them from me for 50 dollars apiece, so they could use them to train their dogs>: . I sucessfully raised them and released them back into the mountains, on our private property, where no hunting was allowed. I just wanted it known all country folk were not like that.

Sharon

[michael]

Ducky, It mainly is an education and public awareness issue, but, if the privilege of pet ownership is abused too often then laws that we don't necessarily agree with can become a reality. Another problem is, I've noticed a lot of novice breeders who sometimes after deciding there's easier ways to make money decide to "dispose of" their operation, doing the same damage as persons who outright abuse animals. We are definitely at the mercy of the black market, and ourselves. Sometimes the only way to subjugate abuse is to toss in a law or local ordinance for starters. Right now the task of educating poeple on pet care seems a bit overwhelming. Heck, any more we don't want to pass levy's to educate our children let alone add a pet education class to their curriculum......Michael/Goofy