[Friday, August 07, 2009]



North Carolina Senate Bill 460 passed the House Commerce Committee yesterday on a 14-12 vote with several amendments. The measure is now scheduled to be heard Monday afternoon in the House Finance Committee. If the bill passes Finance, it will be voted on that evening by the full House.



It is imperative that all concerned responsible dog breeders and owners in North Carolina immediately call or email the members of the House Finance committee, and their elected Representatives, and let them know that you oppose SB 460.



The AKC is gravely concerned about the following issues:



SB 460 contains an unconstitutionally vague definition of "commercial breeder" and licensing requirements. It defines Commercial breeder as someone who owns 15 or more intact females "of breeding age" and 30 or more puppies. It is unclear whether these numbers refer to the number of dogs on the property at one time, or if this is cumulative. Misleading exemptions for kennels or establishments that board or train certain dogs do not exempt breeders.


SB 460 will do nothing to protect the health or welfare of dogs in North Carolina. North Carolina’s existing animal welfare statutes, as currently enforced, do a better job of protecting dogs than the provisions of SB 460 will should the bill be enacted. This makes SB 460 simply unnecessary.


AKC’s ongoing economic impact research shows that, in 2008, AKC-sanctioned 486 events in North Carolina, with 68,364 entries. These events generated approximately $45,125,993 for North Carolina’s state and local economies. (This does not take into consideration the economic impact of AKC’s Operations Center, which employs over 300 North Carolinians.) If passed as currently worded, SB 460 will send a clear message that purebred dog fanciers and enthusiasts and their events will no longer be welcomed in the Tarheel State.


The AKC believes that a better alternative to SB 460 is the continued enforcement of existing North Carolina law while all stakeholders work together on appropriate future legislation that will encourage better education of all responsible dog breeders and continued enforcement of existing law.



Many groups oppose this bill, including the American Kennel Club, the National Animal Interest Alliance, the North Carolina Federation of Dog Clubs, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association, the North Carolina Sporting Dog Association, the National Rifle Association, and all major North Carolina farming associations.



WHAT YOU CAN DO:



All concerned responsible dog breeders and owners in North Carolina are encouraged to immediately contact the members of both and the House Committee on Finance. Respectfully yet strongly let them know that you oppose the unnecessary Senate Bill 460, and urge them to do the same.



To find your North Carolina Representative, click here, then enter your zip code in the “Who Represents Me?” box on the right side of the page.



Members of the House Committee on Finance:



Representative Paul Luebke, Senior Chairman

Phone: 919-733-7663

E-mail: Paul.Luebke@ncleg.net



Representative Pryor Gibson, Chairman

Phone: 919-715-3007

E-mail: Pryor.Gibson@ncleg.net



Representative William L. Wainwright, Chairman

Phone: 919-733-5995

E-mail: William.Wainwright@ncleg.net



Representative Jennifer Weiss, Chairman

Phone: 919-715-3010

E-mail: Jennifer.Weiss@ncleg.net



Representative Dewey L. Hill, Vice Chairman

Phone: 919-733-5830

E-mail: Dewey.Hill@ncleg.net



Representative Hugh Holliman, Vice Chairman

Phone: 919-715-0873

E-mail: Hugh.Holliman@ncleg.net



Representative Julia C. Howard, Vice Chairman

Phone: 919-733-5904

E-mail: Julia.Howard@ncleg.net



Representative Daniel F. McComas, Vice Chairman

Phone: 919-733-5786

E-mail: Danny.McComas@ncleg.net



Representative Larry Womble, Vice Chairman

Phone: 919-733-5777

E-mail: Larry.Womble@ncleg.net



Representative Kelly M. Alexander, Jr.

Phone: 919-733-5778

E-mail: Kelly.Alexander@ncleg.net



Representative Curtis Blackwood

Phone: 919-733-2406

E-mail: Curtis.Blackwood@ncleg.net



Representative John M. Blust

Phone: 919-733-5781

E-mail: John.Blust@ncleg.net



Representative R. Van Braxton

Phone: 919-715-3017

E-mail: Van.Braxton@ncleg.net



Representative Becky Carney

Phone: 919-733-5827

E-mail: Becky.Carney@ncleg.net



Representative Tricia Ann Cotham

Phone: 919-715-0706

E-mail: Tricia.Cotham@ncleg.net



Representative Bill Faison

Phone: 919-715-3019

E-mail: Bill.Faison@ncleg.net



Representative Dale R. Folwell

Phone: 919-733-5787

E-mail: Dale.Folwell@ncleg.net



Representative Larry D. Hall

Phone: 919-733-5872

E-mail: Larry.Hall@ncleg.net



Representative Sandra Spaulding Hughes

Phone: 919-733-5754

E-mail: Sandra.Hughes@ncleg.net



Representative Earl Jones

Phone: 919-733-5825

E-mail: Earl.Jones@ncleg.net



Representative David R. Lewis

Phone: 919-715-3015

E-mail: David.Lewis@ncleg.net



Representative Darrell G. McCormick

Phone: 919-733-5654

E-mail: Darrell.McCormick@ncleg.net



Representative William C. “Bill” McGee

Phone: 919-733-5747

E-mail: William.McGee@ncleg.net



Representative Bill Owens

Phone: 919-733-0010

E-mail: Bill.Owens@ncleg.net



Representative Johnathan Rhyne, Jr.

Phone: 919-733-5782

E-mail: Johnathan.Rhyne@ncleg.net



Representative Deborah K. Ross

Phone: 919-733-5773

E-mail: Deborah.Ross@ncleg.net



Representative Mitchell S. Setzer

Phone: 919-733-4948

E-mail: Mitchell.Setzer@ncleg.net



Representative Paul Stam

Phone: 919-733-2962

E-mail: Paul.Stam@ncleg.net



Representative Edgar V. Starnes

Phone: 919-733-5931

E-mail: Edgar.Starnes@ncleg.net



Representative Thom Tillis

Phone: 919-733-5828

E-mail: Thom.Tillis@ncleg.net



RESOURCES:



For tips on how to effectively communicate with legislators, please click here.



For a copy of our Disagree Diplomatically brochure, please click here.



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