A7195 S5599 A Bill to Modify Definition of Pet Dealer

This is being introduced by Assembly Member Zebrowski and Senator Boyle.  Zebrowski is a Democrat: Boyle a Republican.  The primary purpose behind the bill is to place some controls on shelters.  Whether deliberate or not it also eliminates the 10 to 25 dog exemption currently in the law that protects responsible local breeders from being lumped in with pet stores, etc.

This one should be opposed.

Some points against it:

  • There’s no justification for the 10/25 dog change in the memo.  Breeders affected by it aren’t the ones spreading infectious diseases nor is there any evidence here or elsewhere that the responsible breeders that would be affected by the proposal are responsible for animal abuse or any other outrage. There is a lot of info however why the shelters should be better regulated than they currently are, but nothing either data based or anecdotal with respect to the breeders.
  • It would greatly increase the number of persons regulated by the Agriculture Department and the expenses to that department without any mention of that in the supporting memo nor any benefit to society.
  • It would work a hardship on many of our members without any justification.
  • Underhanded way of doing something the animal “rightsers” have wanted to do for a long time.