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California has defeated AB 1634 which would have changed the face of breeding dogs in the State. It was a hard battle, but the voices of sanity won. Now there are two more pending cases that must be defeated. In Chicago, there is a mandatory spay\/neuter <\/font><\/strong>law being proposed in the city. It must be defeated; if you live in Chicago, please check out this looming legislation and let your voices be heard against it. In Michigan, newly proposed legislation would again attempt to control and curtail breeding, but as in Chicago and California would hit the reputable breeders the hardest. Ohio has such legislation also being proposed but there has been enough pressure on the State Legislature, that the two bills, HB223 and SB173, have not yet been passed.<\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n Let’s look at the new developments in Michigan:<\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n From the AKC:<\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n Michigan Breeder Bill Introduced [Thursday, September 04, 2008] <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Yesterday, Representative Bill Caul of Mt. Pleasant introduced Michigan House <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Bill 6395, which proposes to strictly regulate virtually all responsible dog <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n breeders. It is imperative that all concerned responsible dog breeders in <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Michigan contact the members of the House Agriculture Committee, which currently <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n has cognizance of the bill, and their elected Representatives and express their <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n vehement opposition to this bill. <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n The American Kennel Club opposes the concept of breeding permits, breeding bans, <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n or mandatory spay\/neuter of purebred dogs. Instead, we support reasonable and <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of purebred dogs and do not <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n restrict the rights of breeders and owners who take their responsibilities <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n seriously. <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n If adopted, HB 6395 would: <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n * Define anyone who sells or offers for sale more than two dogs per <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n year, or more than one litter of dogs per year, as a “pet seller.” <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n * Mandate that those who qualify as pet sellers to acquire an <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n annual pet seller license from their county animal control shelter at <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n a cost of $200\/year. <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n * Require an applicant for a pet seller license to submit his or <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n her fingerprints with a license application for a criminal history <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n and FBI background check. <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n * Give discretion to county animal control shelters to deny <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n applications for pet seller licenses, regardless of outcome of <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n background investigation. <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n * Call for pet sellers to comply with administrative rules <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n regarding housing that will be financially detrimental to responsible <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n breeders who operate out of their homes. <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n WHAT YOU CAN DO: <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Michigan residents should contact the members of the House Agriculture Committee <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n listed below and their elected Representatives and express their strong <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n opposition to this onerous legislation. <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Michigan House Agriculture Committee: <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Representative Jeff Mayes, Chairman <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n S1285 House Office Building <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n P.O. Box 30014 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Lansing, MI 48909-7514 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Fax: 517-373-8881 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Phone: 517-373-0158 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n jeffmayes@house.mi.gov <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Representative Barb Byrum, Majority Vice-Chair <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n S1086 House Office Building <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n P.O. Box 30014 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Lansing, MI 48909-7514 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Fax: 517-373-9430 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Phone: 517-373-0587 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n barbbyrum@house.mi.gov <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Representative Kathy Angerer <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n S0989 House Office Building <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n P.O. Box 30014 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Lansing, MI 48909-7514 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Fax: 517-373-7757 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Phone: 517-373-1792 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n kathyangerer@house.mi.gov <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Representative Terry L. Brown <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n S1188 House Office Building <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n P.O. Box 30014 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Lansing, MI 48909-7514 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Fax: 517-373-9852 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Phone: 517-373-0476 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n terrybrown@house.mi.gov <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Representative Kathleen Law <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n S0787 House Office Building <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n P.O. Box 30014 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Lansing, MI 48909-7514 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Fax: 517-373-5922 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Phone: 517-373-0855 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n kathleenlaw@house.mi.gov <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Representative Gabe Leland <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n S0689 House Office Building <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n P.O. Box 30014 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Lansing, MI 48909-7514 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Fax: 517-373-5985 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Phone: 517-373-6990 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n gabeleland@house.mi.gov <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Representative Joel Sheltrown <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n S1387 House Office Building <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n P.O. Box 30014 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Lansing, MI 48909-7514 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Fax: 517-373-5495 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n Phone: 517-373-3817 <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n joelsheltrown@house.mi.gov <\/strong><\/font> <\/p>\n