Everglades Terrier Club
A Florida based Club of Terrier enthusiasts.
All Dogs are good. Any Terrier is Better.
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URGENT ALERT--PROTECT YOUR RIGHTSThere is a new threat in Washington that could impact your rights as a dog breeder. It is critical that we act now if we are to continue to enjoy purebred dogs. This action by the federal government comes after the Doris Day Animal League filed a petition asking for broader regulation of hobby and show breeders. In response to the DDAL petition, the government is considering expanding who must comply with federal care standards. The way they are considering determining who should comply is by choosing a threshold number of "breeding females." The government has invited interested parties to comment on what they think that threshold number should be. Do you want Uncle Sam inspecting your home? If this new regulation occurs, federal inspectors would be responsible for making sure that you and your family meet the same care standards applicable to commercial breeding facilities (which is virtually impossible to do in a home). How do we stop the government from taking away our rights? The best way to stop the federal government from making these changes is for all dog lovers to write individual letters objecting to the proposal. The USDA must receive your letters by September 23, 1998. Here are some examples of what to write: * We disagree that USDA has an obligation, or even the legal right, to regulate breeders who sell exclusively at retail. However, if USDA decides to do so, it is clear that Congress intended only to regulate commercial breeders who sell dogs and cats as pets -- "persons who derive a substantial portion of their income from the sale of dogs and cats for pets." * The Animal Welfare Act is not an act intended to limit breeding or to advance spaying and neutering. * Congress did not intend to cover non-commercial hobby or show breeders under the Animal Welfare Act. USDA must, therefore, find a way to continue to exempt hobby and show breeders for whom the sale of dogs and cats is secondary to their fancier breeding activity. * The number of "breeding females," i.e. intact females, is not an appropriate criterion for regulation. It is the economic nature of the entity and the purpose for which the breeding takes place that is relevant. * However, if USDA does adopt a rule based on the number of breeding females, a breeding female should be defined as a female which is actually bred during the year, rather than merely an intact female. Write your letter to (Send original & 3 copies): Docket No. 97-018-2 Regulatory Analysis and Development PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03 4700 River Road, Unit 118 Riverdale, MD 20737-1238 Or E-Mail your comments: http://comments.aphis.usda.gov |
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All Dogs are good. Any Terrier is Better.Last modified: October 22, 2000 |