http://www.statesurge.com/bills/449898-hb-451-florida

"requires DOACS to adopt rules for approval of breed registration organizations;"

this came across my email today, giving a few options for contacting the right people


Good Afternoon All,
Here is a copy of the bill that was introduced to the FLORIDA STATE HOUSE yesterday. THIS WILL effect us all. If you have had your head in the sand before please take it up and look around at what is happening in our STATE. Help, Help, Help Please cross post this to everyone you know and take action. Write, email, call all your representative's in Tallahassee. Take action now on your own and help others to take action. Life in the dog/cat world will never be the same for any of us if this passes. Also if you know any farmers, ranchers etc. let them know. We MUST pull together on this NOW don't think that "the other guy" can take care of this, we need each and everyone of you to ACT NOW!!!!!!!!

Click on this link to read the bill that was filed yesterday by Rep Scott Randolph of District 36 in central west Orange County.

http://tinyurl.com/74du4u


Click on this link to find your Representative, type in your zipcode + four digits and it will bring your Representative contact information up

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/myrepresentative.aspx

Palmbrese Havanese
Palmkees Keeshond
palmkees@att.net
321-635-8556
Brevard Kennel Club
AKC Legislative Liaison for BKC
Keeshond Club Of America
Tropical Havanese Club
Independent Havanese Club

PERMISSION TO CROSSPOST: GET THE WORD OUT QUICK AND MAKE YOUR PHONE CALLS, SEND YOUR EMAILS & LETTERS.

Missie Gillilan
www.magnoliachihuahuas.com
www.naiaonline.org

Florida Mandatory Spay/Neuter Bill Introduced
Print This Article
[Thursday, January 22, 2009]
Legislation that seeks to prohibit persons from owning or maintaining an intact dog or cat older than four months old has been filed in the Florida House. If adopted, Florida House Bill 451 would have a profound negative impact not only on responsible dog breeders in Florida, but also on all current and prospective dog owners. It is vital that all breeders and concerned dog owners in Florida contact their elected state legislators and voice their strong opposition to this unreasonable and unenforceable measure.

The American Kennel Club opposes the concept of breeding permits, breeding bans, or the mandatory spay/neuter of purebred dogs. Instead, we support reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of purebred dogs and do not restrict the rights of breeders and owners who take their responsibilities seriously. Additionally, we strongly support and actively promote a wide range of programs to educate the public about responsible breeding practices and the responsibilities of dog ownership.

As currently written, HB 451 would:

Require owners of every dog or cat in Florida to have each animal sterilized within 30 days of the animal reaching four months of age, or within 30 days of the owner receiving the animal.
Provide ambiguous exemptions, including dogs with veterinary certification showing that sterilization would endanger the animal’s health, until such issues no longer exist; Greyhounds currently used for racing, until retirement; show animals registered with an established breed registration organization to be approved by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; dogs or cats that have earned, or are in the process of earning, a competitive sports title; animals trained, or in training, for use in law enforcement, military, or rescue; and animals for which an owner holds a valid breeding permit issued in accordance with an ordinance of a county or municipality.
AKC believes that any attempt at restricting the rights and liberties of responsible breeders—especially via mandatory spay/neuter laws—must be defeated.

The Florida Legislature will convene its session in early March. As a recently filed bill, HB 451 has not yet been referred to a committee within the Florida House of Representatives. However, it is important that all responsible dog breeding and owning Floridians write their elected officials in Tallahassee now, respectfully expressing their strong opposition to HB 451, and asking them to oppose the bill. This will help ensure that the bill will not be considered when the legislature comes into session.

For a copy of the AKC’s Disagree Diplomatically brochure, please click here.

To find out who represents you in the Florida House of Representatives, please click here. For a sample letter to your Representative, please click here.

To find out who represents you in the Florida Senate, please click here. For a sample letter to your Senator, please click here.

The AKC Government Relations Department will continue to monitor the consideration of HB 451 and will notify the purebred dog community when the bill is assigned to a committee. Contact information for committee members will be provided and purebred dog owners should express their opposition to HB 451 to committee members at that time.

For more information, please contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at (919) 816-3720, or e-mail doglaw@akc.org.

Gina...Thanks for the info! Can you tell me where I can get the sample letter to your legislator...it is referred to in the body of your post with a reference to "click here"...TIA. Sue

Hey Sue, not Gina, but, here is the letter with the
url's:
http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3711

Gina,
all the please click here links dont work, can you resend them so we can get right on this?
thanks,
Janet

www.akc.org then go to Legislative alerts. You can also copy and paste the links in your browser.

The Honorable (name)
Florida House of Representatives
513 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300

RE: Oppose HB 451

Dear Representative __________:

I am writing you today because I am concerned with House Bill 451, a measure that would require mandatory spaying/neutering of dogs and cats four months of age or older with little exception. I am a responsible dog owner (and or breeder) and I oppose this legislation.

(Personalize here – tell about yourself as a dog owner, breeder and fancier. How many years have you been involved with dogs? What breeds have you owned or shown? Do you compete in any other activities with your dog – Obedience, Rally, Agility…Have any of your dogs achieved a Championship? Won a prestigious award?

Please describe the money you spend when traveling to shows. Do you spend money in hotels, for gas, eat out at restaurants? Details the money you spent in the last few years. Let them know where the shows were that you attended and what businesses you impacted.

Breeders - Details the steps you take when preparing to breed/whelp a litter – applicable health testing, evaluation of breeding stock, training, etc…How much money do you invest in these things? How do you work with puppy purchasers to ensure they will be responsible owners? Do you encourage CGC or obedience training? Do you remain in contact with the new owners?)

Mandatory spay/neuter is an ineffective solution to animal control problems because it fails to address the heart of the issue—irresponsible ownership. These laws are extremely difficult to enforce and can be evaded by irresponsible animal owners who will not license their pets. It will hurt responsible breeders like me who raise healthy, well cared-for dogs and work to ensure that these puppies are placed with responsible owners. Passage of HB 451 will make it almost impossible for Floridians to obtain pets locally from responsible Florida breeders.

Responsible owners who are already complying with local animal control laws will be unfairly punished by HB 451, while irresponsible owners will continue to make problems for the community and local shelters. Concentrating animal control and educational efforts on irresponsible owners whose behavior demonstrates that they are a problem for the community would be a much better use of taxpayer funds.

I respectfully ask that you support responsible owners and breeders by opposing HB 451.

Sincerely,


John Smith
1234 Main Street
Los Angeles, CA

Cut and paste link...

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/myrepresentative.aspx

Thanks for the boiler plate letter. I will also send a copy.