DOG LEGISLATION
ALERTS!
| See Page 2 For More FAKC News! |
HB 543 and SB 1276
Are Canine Racism
Would Allow Local BSLs Again
NAIA Trust's CapWiz HB 543 Letter
NAIA Trust's CapWiz SB 1276 Letter
Florida House Bill 543,
filed by Rep. Perry E. Thurston, Jr. (D-Plantation), and
Senate Bill 1276, filed by Sen. Tony Hill (D-Jax), are identical. They
seek to allow local governments to ban specific
breeds of dogs. Currently, a state law prohibits local governments from
passing breed-specific laws (BSL).
Thurston's
(right) HB 543 has been referred to three House committees and presently is
being considered by the Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy Committee.
Hill's SB 1276 has not yet been assigned to committees.
BSLs do not give communities relief from the problem of dangerous dogs. Instead, BSLs restrict legitimate dog ownership rather than penalize irresponsible dog ownership. This bill would lump responsible dog owners along with those who are careless or negligent about training or confining their pets.
FAKC's Lapel Pins For Sale!
Deliver Our Message, Loud & Clear!
FAKC is offering these colorful, to-the-point, lapel pins at cost, $2.00 each, including shipping. They are 1½ inches long.
Buy one for yourself or in bulk for your club. We have hundreds of them. To order, contact FAKC vice president Leah James.
CLICK ON & READ
FAKC President's
September 25 Message
Download These Posters To Fight Anti-Pet Legislation
FAKC’s Lobbyists Gear Up
for 2010 Tallahassee Session
FAKC is extremely fortunate to have as its advocates before the Florida legislature and other government agencies the government relations firm of Mixon & Associates and its principals, M. Juhan Mixon, Pat C. Mixon, and their daughter, Corrine Mixon. Their office is located in Tallahassee.
The Mixons are gearing up for the upcoming 2010 legislative session in Tallahassee. They successfully guided us through the maze of this past session, and they deserve great credit for the fact that no anti-pet and anti-breeder bills passed in either of the two legislative bodies.
They report that all of the H$U$-sponsored and PETA-sponsored bills filled in 2009 will be back, and their sponsors will be more ready for us this next session than in the last. This past year, we had the benefit of waging a stealth attack against the animal rights agenda.
Read more about Juhan Mixon, Pat Mixon, and Corrine Mixon here.
Yellow Tail Winery
Contributes to H$U$
The Australian maker of Yellow Tail Wine has pledged $100,000 to the Humane Society of the United States (H$U$). This partnership is further proof that H$U$ is trying to spin its animal rights message in a way as to seem mainstream.
As H$U$ states on its website:
“… the HSUS has paired with [yellow tail] for the "tails for tails" program. Through the end of March, you'll see special [yellow tail] displays bearing The HSUS name and logo in stores across the country.
Through "tails for tails," [yellow tail] is donating $100,000 to support us and our programs to help animals, including our Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest.” The American distributor of the wine is W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd., 108 Corporate Park Drive, White Plains, NY 10604, Tel: 914-251-9463, Email: info@wjdeutsch.com . Tell 'em what you think of that!
Animal Rights, Animal Welfare: Which Is It?
NAIA Explains the Difference
The extremists have kidnapped "animal rights" and given it a ludicrous new definition intended to give legal rights to animals and make humans their enemies. Compare some important differences between animal welfare and "animal rights":
-- Animal welfare celebrates the bond between animals and humans; animal rights seeks to sever that bond.
-- Animal welfare grows and improves as we learn more and more about animals, their behavior, and their management. Animal rights remains stagnant with its dogma of "no more animal use ever."
The National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA) presents a thoughtful essay on the differences between animal welfare and "animal rights", as defined by the whackos. Read NAIA's essay here.
 "Our
goal is to make the public think of breeding dogs and cats like
drunk driving and smoking."-- Kim Sturla |
H$U$ Now Using Stock Purchases as Weapon
Group Buys Stock in Restaurant Chains to Modify Business Practices
The Humane Society of the United States (H$U$) continues to discover new ways of advancing its agenda. Recently, the H$U$ purchased stock in two major restaurant chains, Steak and Shake and Jack in the Box. H$U$ staff has made clear it intends to use its position in the companies to shift how they do business.
According to Matthew Prescott, corporate outreach director for the H$U$'s factory farming campaign, "As a shareholder, the HSUS hopes to work with the [companies] on making meaningful animal welfare reforms to benefit animals and shareholders alike.”
“This is shocking, apparently if one fails to do what HSUS says is right, they become a target for a hostile takeover,” said Bud Pidgeon, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance president and CEO. “This move is further evidence that HSUS is a special interest group bent on changing how Americans live.”
FAKC Member Clubs Meet Feb. 6 in Orlando
The Florida Association of Kennel Clubs meets at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, February 6, at the International Palms Resort, 6515 International Drive, Orlando. The hotel was formerly the Holiday Inn International Drive Resort.
The agenda will include briefings on upcoming legislation by FAKC vice president Leah James and by Jim Crosby of NAIA Trust of Florida, community outreach, and a prison project.
All member clubs are urged to send their representatives to this important meeting to discuss upcoming anti-dog legislation and club business.
Marion County To Hold Hearing February 2 on Anti-Dog Ordinance
The Marion County Commission meets on Tuesday, February 2, to consider changes to its animal control ordinance, making it easier for animal control officers to impound "dangerous" dogs. The bill also would allow the impounding a dog as a "public nuisance" if it does as little as defecates on private property of others or causes a "noise disturbance".
The meeting is scheduled to be held at the McPherson Complex, 601 SE 25th Avenue, Ocala. All pet owners and breeders are urged to attend this meeting, although we understand that you will not be permitted to speak. So, all Marion County residents please contact your county commissioners. Find them here.
Also, the bill would set new minimum standards for "humane care", including "adequate food, water, and shelter". Read the bill here.
Polk County Passes
Amendment to Animal Control Ordinance
The Polk County Commission finally passed its long-pending amendments to its Animal Control Ordinance on January 6.
The final version of the ordinance is a combination of a little good news (meaning, it could have been worse) and bad news. It does not contain such anti-pet provisions as a limit on numbers of dogs; it has no breed-specific section; and the spay/neuter provision was softened. However, it does allow the Animal Control Authority to set its fees for license tags and various services, such as impounding, vaccinations, and microchips. The ordinance also includes a noise nuisance provision, but with stricter restrictions on the officer's authority to impound dogs for excessive noise. Read the final ordinance here.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the Polk County dog owners who attended the hearings and meetings with the sheriff's department, and who contacted the county commissioners, all on behalf of our pets.
SB 122 Adds Teeth
to Pet Lemon Law
$10,000 Fines Per Violation
Genetic Defects Added to Notice
NAIA Trust's CapWiz Sample Letter
Florida Senate Bill 122, filed by the estimable Sen. Larcenia Bullard
(D-Miami), would amend the state's Pet Lemon Law by holding breeders
responsible for their puppies' genetic defects that are beyond their
control. This will hurt responsible breeders. Combined with an
excessively high fine $10,000.00 per violation, this bill could financially
destroy breeders.
The existing Pet Lemon Law regulates the sale of dogs and cats in the state by "pet dealers", who currently are defined as one who "engages in the sale of more than two litters, or 20 or more dogs or cats, per year, whichever is greater. SB 122 would change that definition to just 20 or more dogs or cats per year.
The Pet Lemon Law currently requires that pet dealers give their retail buyers a written notice that they are entitled to receive a veterinary inspection certificate with each purchased pet, that the pet was healthy, and that the consumer has the right to retain, return, or exchange the pet and receive reimbursement for veterinary services, subject to the right of the dealer to have the animal examined by another veterinarian. SB 122 would add to that written notice a statement that:
"Dogs and cats are susceptible to more than 300 genetic disorders. Certain breeds may be predisposed to certain health problems. Therefore, it is recommended you get a scientific screening test for your dog or cat to help identify a number of genetic diseases."
Sen. Bullard is most notable for thinking that animal husbandry involved farmers marrying their livestock. At an Agriculture Committee hearing last session (mind you, she is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee), she commented, "People are taking these animals as their husbands? What’s husbandry?"
| From H$U$'s Wayne Pacelle's Playbook: |
|
“We have no problem with the extinction
of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective
breeding.” |
FAKC’s War Room is where to go to battle anti-pet legislation. All of your weapons are there for you to send your messages to your legislators:
•
The Actual Bills & Ordinances
• Talking
Points for Your Letters
• How to Word
Them Diplomatically
• Your
Legislators’ Names & Addresses & Emails
•
Write Letters to
Newspapers & Other Media
Univ. of Florida's Current Canine Vaccine Protocol
The University of Florida's Veterinary College's current canine (and feline) vaccination guidelines are on-line here. They are important to us as breeders and owners, and also as watchdogs of local and state legislation which often relies upon out-of-date vaccination protocols.
| Where does all of H$U$'s money go? |
 “It goes to lobbying, it goes to
political contributions, it goes to pay huge staff salaries and
benefits," said David Martosko, Director of Research,
Center for
Consumer Freedom. |
Welcome New FAKC Members!
Not a Member of FAKC Yet?
FAKC welcomes new members Samoyed Fanciers of Central Florida, Inc. and Mid-Florida Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club!
If your Florida dog club is a member of the American Kennel Club (AKC) or an AKC licensed affiliate, your club may join the Florida Association of Kennel Clubs. Download a Membership Application now!
|
H$U$ Does Little to Help Homeless Dogs and Cats |
Three Volusia Towns
Swallow MSN Kool-Aid
DeLand, Holly Hill, and Ponce Inlet have joined Volusia County in passing anti-breeder ordinances forcing dogs to be spayed and neutered.
Most recently, Ponce Inlet's commission passed ordinance 2009-06 on May 20. DeLand's city commission voted on May 18 to pass ordinance 2008-17. Holly Hill's commission passed its ordinance, #2849, in April. All are clones of Volusia County's MSN ordinance.
Apparently Volusia County's government is coercing the county's towns and cities into passing MSN laws. The county reportedly is offering its municipalities free use of the county's mobile spay/neuter clinic bus for a few months, if they pass MSN ordinances.