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Illinois Breeders Bill Limits Dog Ownership, Unreasonably Restricts Breeders
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[Wednesday, January 21, 2009]
Representative John Fritchey is sponsoring HB 198, a bill that would regulate dog breeders by limiting the number of dogs they can own and requiring licensing for anyone who maintains three or more females (even if they are not bred) "for the purpose of the sale of their offspring." The bill would also mandate unannounced inspections, fingerprinting, and require breeders to pay an unspecified license fee. It is important that ALL fanciers, responsible dog owners, and breeders work together to oppose this burdensome and ineffective legislation.
The bill consists of 45 pages of requirements and regulations that are not based on proven animal husbandry practices, nor will they improve the health and welfare of dogs in Illinois. The American Kennel Club opposes the concept of breeding permits, breeding bans, and 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. Below is a summary of the major provisions of this legislation.
Breeders would be prohibited from owning more than 20 intact dogs over a year old, regardless of whether the animals are being bred.
Breeders, defined as anyone who owns more than 3 breeding females and sells their offspring, would be required to:
Submit to an annual, unannounced home inspection – for an unspecified fee.
Undergo fingerprinting and criminal background checks – for an unspecified fee.
Build facilities to meet rigid engineering standards which exceed those required by the USDA. This will require most breeders to purchase expensive new equipment and build new facilities.
Breed only dogs between 18 months and 8 years of age.
Correct any deficiencies within 7 days or dispose of all intact animals at an animal control facility, a licensed Illinois shelter or have them euthanized by a veterinarian.
File detailed annual reports with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Provide specified disclosures to puppy purchasers.
Comply with any additional regulations drafted by the department.
The requirements in HB 198 are completely unreasonable for persons breeding dogs. Most of these requirements have no bearing on the ability of a person to produce healthy, well-cared-for pets. The way HB 198 is written, a breeder would have to comply with these requirements even if fewer than three females were bred in a year. It would even affect a breeder/owner who did not have a single litter!
The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is not equipped to hire and train inspectors who are familiar with animal husbandry. Under current law, animal control authorities have the power to investigate suspected animal cruelty and we strongly support enforcement of those laws. This would be a better use of taxpayer funds and would more effectively address animal welfare concerns.
The American Kennel Club opposes proposals like HB 198 that do not improve the welfare of animals and force breeders to pay excessive fees and submit to intrusive background checks and inspections that are not required of other businesses or hobbyists. We promote responsible dog ownership, enforcement of cruelty laws and reasonable nuisance regulations.
The American Kennel Club Government Relations department will keep you updated as this legislation progresses.
What You Can Do:
Contact your representative in the Illinois General Assembly and ask him or her to oppose HB 198. To find out who represents you in the Illinois State Legislature select the address tab found at this link.
Illinois breeder bill
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Liz ODell
- Open Mouth
- Posts: 594
- Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:22 pm
- Location: First Nations
- Location: My peoples land...forever.
Re: Illinois breeder bill
When was HSUS elected to represent Illinois District 11?
Representative John Fritchey (D, 11) recently introduced House Bill 198, Licensing - Dog Breeder (aka Chloe’s Bill), an overzealous, animal rightist anti-breeder piece of legislation. Every breeder in the state who owns 3 or more intact female dogs would be classified as a commercial entity, subjected to licensing, impossible kennel regulations, invasive inspections inside their homes, and excessive record keeping and reporting. Completing the assault on dog breeders is the proposed bill’s requirement for fingerprinting and criminal background checks.
A constituent emailed the following to Rep. Fritchey: “Under your proposed legislation I would be subject to a criminal background check and fingerprinting, an untrained investigator would have access to my home and could at any time inspect my "facilities" and demand that I build a kennel that meets their idea of what is appropriate as well as exceeding USDA standards.” She continues, “I certainly think that you need to go back and look at what you are proposing recognizing that there are honest, decent people who you will hurt if this is passed.”
Unbelievably, her email was answered by Jordan Matyas, the HSUS Illinois State Director!
When did HSUS take charge of answering correspondence for legislators? Was HSUS elected to represent Illinois constituents in the 11th District? Has Matyas been hired as a staff member or consultant?
In his reply Matyas does not even give direct answers, rather repeats the standard HSUS rhetoric about the need to regulate bad breeders then placates the writer with a pretended interest in hearing her concerns.
The audacity of Rep. Fritchey deferring correspondence to HSUS is nothing short of breath-taking. The gauntlet has been thrown down and dog breeding in the state of Illinois is being criminalized. All breeders, hobbyists and sportsmen need to begin a concerted effort to oppose this legislation.
HB 198 has been referred to the Rules Committee. Talking points and contact information to oppose HB 198 are now posted on the SAOVA website http://www.saova.org/Illinois.html We will provide further updates as information becomes available.
SAOVA commends Rep. Michael P. McAuliffe (R, 20) and Rep. JoAnn D. Osmond (R, 61) for removing themselves as cosponsors.
Please share this message widely.
Susan Wolf
Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance - http://saova.org
Issue lobbying and working to identify and elect supportive legislators
Representative John Fritchey (D, 11) recently introduced House Bill 198, Licensing - Dog Breeder (aka Chloe’s Bill), an overzealous, animal rightist anti-breeder piece of legislation. Every breeder in the state who owns 3 or more intact female dogs would be classified as a commercial entity, subjected to licensing, impossible kennel regulations, invasive inspections inside their homes, and excessive record keeping and reporting. Completing the assault on dog breeders is the proposed bill’s requirement for fingerprinting and criminal background checks.
A constituent emailed the following to Rep. Fritchey: “Under your proposed legislation I would be subject to a criminal background check and fingerprinting, an untrained investigator would have access to my home and could at any time inspect my "facilities" and demand that I build a kennel that meets their idea of what is appropriate as well as exceeding USDA standards.” She continues, “I certainly think that you need to go back and look at what you are proposing recognizing that there are honest, decent people who you will hurt if this is passed.”
Unbelievably, her email was answered by Jordan Matyas, the HSUS Illinois State Director!
When did HSUS take charge of answering correspondence for legislators? Was HSUS elected to represent Illinois constituents in the 11th District? Has Matyas been hired as a staff member or consultant?
In his reply Matyas does not even give direct answers, rather repeats the standard HSUS rhetoric about the need to regulate bad breeders then placates the writer with a pretended interest in hearing her concerns.
The audacity of Rep. Fritchey deferring correspondence to HSUS is nothing short of breath-taking. The gauntlet has been thrown down and dog breeding in the state of Illinois is being criminalized. All breeders, hobbyists and sportsmen need to begin a concerted effort to oppose this legislation.
HB 198 has been referred to the Rules Committee. Talking points and contact information to oppose HB 198 are now posted on the SAOVA website http://www.saova.org/Illinois.html We will provide further updates as information becomes available.
SAOVA commends Rep. Michael P. McAuliffe (R, 20) and Rep. JoAnn D. Osmond (R, 61) for removing themselves as cosponsors.
Please share this message widely.
Susan Wolf
Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance - http://saova.org
Issue lobbying and working to identify and elect supportive legislators
-
Liz ODell
- Open Mouth
- Posts: 594
- Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:22 pm
- Location: First Nations
- Location: My peoples land...forever.
Re: Illinois breeder bill
UPDATE: Illinois Bills Held For Further Amendments
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[Tuesday, March 17, 2009]
SB 139 which sought to ban cropping and docking in Illinois, has been amended to remove all substantive language from the bill. It now simply exists as a placeholder or "shell", should the sponsor choose to revisit the issue later in session. AKC will continue to monitor this legislation and will update our website if new language is added to the bill.
Although Senate Bill 53 (the breeder regulation bill in the Senate) passed the Senate Licensed Activities Committee, the author has agreed to adopt an amendment on the Senate floor that will remove all language from the bill, rendering it a "shell" bill just like SB 139.
House 198 (the House version of the breeder regulation bill) passed out of the House Business and Occupational Licenses Committee with an agreement from the sponsor that it will not proceed in its current form, and that any amendment will be sent back to committee for consideration.
AKC will continue to monitor these important bills and will provide updates if the bills are amended or further hearings are scheduled.
The AKC Government Relations Department was pleased to work with our legislative liaisons to provide legislative alerts and updates, provide background materials and sample letters, and to contact the committee members considering these bills. AKC thanks the Illinois fanciers and responsible dog owners and breeders who spent many days contacting and working with their state representatives and senators regarding these important proposals. Your willingness to work together and to communicate respectfully about your serious concerns with these measures is a major reason they are not moving forward at this time.
Print This Article
[Tuesday, March 17, 2009]
SB 139 which sought to ban cropping and docking in Illinois, has been amended to remove all substantive language from the bill. It now simply exists as a placeholder or "shell", should the sponsor choose to revisit the issue later in session. AKC will continue to monitor this legislation and will update our website if new language is added to the bill.
Although Senate Bill 53 (the breeder regulation bill in the Senate) passed the Senate Licensed Activities Committee, the author has agreed to adopt an amendment on the Senate floor that will remove all language from the bill, rendering it a "shell" bill just like SB 139.
House 198 (the House version of the breeder regulation bill) passed out of the House Business and Occupational Licenses Committee with an agreement from the sponsor that it will not proceed in its current form, and that any amendment will be sent back to committee for consideration.
AKC will continue to monitor these important bills and will provide updates if the bills are amended or further hearings are scheduled.
The AKC Government Relations Department was pleased to work with our legislative liaisons to provide legislative alerts and updates, provide background materials and sample letters, and to contact the committee members considering these bills. AKC thanks the Illinois fanciers and responsible dog owners and breeders who spent many days contacting and working with their state representatives and senators regarding these important proposals. Your willingness to work together and to communicate respectfully about your serious concerns with these measures is a major reason they are not moving forward at this time.