MORE ACTION NEEDED - PLEASE CALL NOW! SPEAK UP FOR MN DOGS AND CATS Good News - H.F. 84 passed the House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday, March 5! CALLS NEEDED NOW in the Senate! The Dog and Cat Breeder Regulation bill – S.F. 36 - is going to be heard in the Senate Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development Committee on Monday, March 10, at 3:00 p.m. Please CALL all of the members on the committee before Monday at 3:00 p.m. and ask them to vote in favor of S.F. 36. We need to protect Minnesota dogs and cats who are forced to live in substandard and deplorable conditions. You can also leave your message with the Senator’s legislative assistant because it is hard to reach legislators directly. If you are a constituent of one of the committee members listed below, be sure he/she knows that. For additional talking points, we have provided those below the committee members’ names and numbers. Please keep your message short and respectful. Thank you for caring and taking action! Senate Jobs, Agriculture& Rural Development Committee Members Senator Dan Sparks – Chair (District 27) – 651-296-9248 - [email protected] Senator Matt Schmit – Vice Chair (District 21) – 651-296-4264 - [email protected] Senator Terry Bonoff (District 44) – 651-296-4314 - [email protected] Senator Gary Dahms - Ranking Minority Member (District 16) – 651-296-8138 - [email protected] Senator Kent Eken (District 4) – 651-296-3205 - [email protected] Senator Foung Hawj (District 67) – 651-296-5285 - [email protected] Senator Lyle Koenen (District 17) – 651-296-5094 - [email protected] Senator Carla Nelson (District 26) – 651-296-4848 - [email protected] Senator Carrie Ruud (District 10) – 651-296-4913 - [email protected] Senator Bill Weber (District 22) – 651-296-5650 [email protected] The Problem There is no State law to license, inspect or regulate commercial dog and cat breeders in Minnesota. The problem is inhumane breeding practices. Minnesota is among the top producers of puppies in the United States with some of the largest breeding kennels in the nation - housing 300, 600 or over 1,000 dogs and puppies. Kittens are also mass-produced in Minnesota. Many dogs and cats live out their lives in small, overcrowded wire cages and are bred repeatedly. Their cages are often stacked, allowing feces and urine to fall onto the animals below. Animals may be malnourished from inadequate food and water, receive little or no veterinary care, are stressed from constant confinement and neglect, have fleas, worms, etc. Many have deformed paws, are severely matted, or are burned from sitting and standing in urine and feces. And, they are rarely, if at all, provided human socialization. While many breeders in Minnesota act responsibly, there are those who keep dogs and cats in deplorable conditions and are willing to make a profit at the expense of the animal’s health and wellbeing. The puppies and kittens are sold to the public and many are sick, diseased, and have genetic problems. The Solution S.F. 36 addresses the problem by giving the State of Minnesota the authority to: • License - Require commercial dog and cat breeders in Minnesota to be licensed; • Inspect and Enforce - Give legal authority to the MN Board of Animal Health to inspect commercial dog and cat breeding facilities and enforce existing State laws to ensure animal care standards are met; and • Penalties - Impose civil, administrative and criminal penalties for those who violate the law. For more information, go to speakupmn.org Speak Up for Minnesota Dogs and Cats Coalition members include A Rotta Love Plus, Animal Folks MN, Animal Humane Society, Minnesota Animal Control Association, Minnesota Humane Society, Minnesota Voters for Animal Protection, Minnkota Persian Rescue, Pause 4 Paws, Pet Haven Inc. of Minnesota, Retrieve A Golden of Minnesota, Second Chance Animal Rescue, and Tri-County Humane Society. These legislative efforts are also supported by numerous other organizations and individuals, including the Animal Law Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association, veterinarians, law enforcement, prosecutors, humane agents, animal control, rescue groups, animal shelters, breeders, businesses, and countless citizens throughout Minnesota.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 14:00:01 +0000
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