HSUS/PETA are trying to pass a bill that make it a crime to have your dog and cat live in the same house. Read on-it only gets more ridiculus.

Since Michigan is only a long stone’s throw over the Pond (Lake Michigan) from Chicago (and southwest Michigan can actually be seen from atop Chicago’s Sears Tower observation deck on a clear day) I thought it appropriate to inform everyone here in the Chicago area of the dangerous Michigan bill, House Bill 6395, which was introduced on September 3 2008 by Rep. Caul®, and referred to the Michigan Committee on Agriculture.

Here is the link to the full text of the bill: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2007-2008/billintroduced/House/htm/2008-HIB-6395.htm

http://tinyurl.com/5rc3kr

I’ve included the link here not only because I hope you read it for yourself, but also since the text of this bill will substantiate everything you read in this email – so if you doubt that anything that I or others say about it, just look it up your yourself in the text of this bill.

One reason I’ve decided to send this Michigan-related alert on (even though it doesn’t directly relate to our Chicago Mandatory Spay/Neuter situation) is that is illustrates so clearly that the AR anti-breeder push isn’t just about “puppy mills” (whatever those are, since that’s strictly an AR-defined term), but actually the AR’s anti-breeder push is an attempt to shut down all pet breeding everywhere, especially purebred hobbyists. (And, as you will see from this bill, substandard breeders aren’t the real target either, but rather quality home hobbyists and small rescuers.) No matter if breeding operations are exemplary or substandard, they (and we) are all the same in the eyes of the Animal Rights groups. When you read the following, even if you don’t live in Michigan, please consider how it will affect you…or your fellow club members…or your pets’ breeders…when legislation such as this moves into YOUR state, as it most certainly will if not squarely stopped in Michigan.

No surprise – the HSUS supports this bill, and they got this support statement up rather quickly on their website which makes me suspect they were involved:

http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/state_legislation/michigan/pet_dealers.html

http://tinyurl.com/6p6m5u

The Cat Fanciers’ Association (as “with it” as any purebred registry can possibly be on legislative issues involving pets) has this to say about Michigan HB 6395: “This is an extremely detrimental bill – as bad as any State proposal we have seen.”

Read the full CFA Michigan alert here: http://www.cfa.org/exhibitors/alert-MI-HB6395.html

Even the slow-to-get-with-it AKC (who recently couldn’t figure out why a State mandated spay/neuter bill was so bad – everyone remember that??) has issued a strongly worded legislative alert, which states:

“It is imperative that all concerned responsible dog breeders in Michigan contact the members of the House Agriculture Committee, which currently has cognizance of the bill, and their elected Representatives and express their vehement opposition to this bill.”

AKC’s Michigan alert can be found here: http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3586

For a third article on this Michigan legislation, you can read John Yates’ (American Sporting Dog Alliance) “Michigan Legislation Has Every Dog & Cat Hobbyist In Its Bullseye”: http://caveat.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2008/9/5/3870844.html

In my view and that of many others likewise involved in pet legislation issues, this bill is clearly the work of animal rights extremists and is an attempt to effectively quash all hobby breeding in Michigan by re-classifying hobby breeders (as well as small rescuers) as “pet sellers” with very onerous implications as you can see from the following: This bill would add a new classification type to Michigan law 1969 PA 287, which previously did not regulate those we would normally term “hobby breeders” and “small rescuers”. Previously, this law only regulated pet shops, animal control shelters, and commercial animal dealers. It now includes the new term “pet seller” which is, well, us , if we live in Michigan, and meet the specifications in the following paragraph: Anyone who sells more than two adult animals (cats, dogs, ferrets are all included) OR more than one litter of offspring in a 12-month period would now be automatically be reclassified as a “pet seller”. Therefore, if you had ONE litter which you sold from, AND you sold ONE retired adult show dog you are now a “pet seller”. The number of surviving puppies or kittens from that one litter that you sell isn’t important. Maybe you’ll be lucky and sell eight or even ten puppies or kittens from that litter, maybe you’ll be unlucky and just have a “singleton” litter. It’s apparently all the same under this law, and counts towards your “one litter per year”. Not just the animals you actually sell are included, but even animals you simply just “offer for sale” (but haven’t sold yet) are included in your allotted allowed number of two adults OR one litter. This bill, if passed, would have extremely negative implications for anyone who does rescue, formally or informally. Have just one litter of puppies in a year, and also rescue and place a homeless cat or dog in a year? yep, you’re a “pet seller”. Ditto if you decided (out of the kindness of your heart – how dare you!) to take in your deceased neighbor’s dogs and/or cats (three or more) and place them into good homes (They don’t even have to be your own dogs or cats.) So, even if you’re not a breeder or formal rescuer this law could hit you if enacted. And you’re really in trouble if you take in a stray Momma Cat or Momma Dog and her litter (or that stray female cat or dog you just took in unexpectedly blesses you with a litter). I don’t have to emphasize the fact that “real life situations” like this are completely unplanned, and to punish a Good Samaritan by the high “pet seller license” fee ($200), combined with the criminal background check/fingerprinting etc (and there’s the big question if they could get the license at all), will cause a huge increase in euthanasias for Michigan’s cats and dogs. But don’t think for a moment that the AR extremists are concerned about that! Actually higher euthanasia rates work in ARs’ favor since it will allow them to push for even tougher (anti-owner, anti-breeder) laws in the future. This encourages people to “give away for free” (instead of selling for a fee) puppies or kittens they have unexpectedly, through rescue or an unexpected litter by one of their own animals. We all know the disastrous consequences of encouraging “give away” animals. This just shouldn’t be done. It appears that should you take back a puppy you previously sold and re-home it (since of course you’re a “responsible breeder”, and your contract states that you will take back any puppy or kitten you sell at any time if the buyer can no longer keep it), AND then sell a litter in the same year, you’re a “pet seller”. But again, can you predict such a thing (taking back a cat or dog you sold several years ago) with enough advance notice to obtain a “pet seller” license – and can you even get that license? Well, what must you do to obtain this license? You must apply for a “pet seller license” from the county animal control shelter located in the county where you live. There’s an up-front $200 application fee, for starters. And you must submit fingerprints to the Michigan State Police, and have them also run a criminal background check on you. There’s more: the Michigan State Police must forward your fingerprints to the FBI (Yes, that’s right!) and have the FBI determine any “national criminal history” pertaining to you (Yes, that’s right, again). The report will be sent back to your county shelter (talk about an invasion of privacy…). You will be informed about what’s found on your “history” (but not the details from your history…only your county animal shelter can have those, not you!) Oh, yes, the Michigan State Police are allowed to charge a “reasonable fee” (whatever that is! – not specified) to cover the cost of this criminal background check. (See, we’re ALL criminals in the eyes of the ARs!) And if they find something in your criminal background check that they don’t like, they can deny you the license…but don’t have to inform you as to the details of what was in the criminal background check that caused them to do this (thus, you have no grounds for appeal.) However, the determination of whether to grant you a license is totally up to your county shelter. You don’t have to have a criminal history of any kind to be denied a “pet seller” license; they can deny you “just because”. Since the final determination as to approval of a “pet seller” license is done on a county-by-county system, this approval process can easily become capricious and arbitrary, determined only by the county you live in and their animal control agency’s good will (or lack thereof) towards breeders and rescuers. Since there are to be no set standards to approve or deny these applications on a state-wide basis, should your local county shelter be run by Animal Rights sympathizers, you might see yourself denied that license, no matter how exemplary your hobbyist breeding history or rescue history is. That’s particularly true if these folks just don’t like your breed (are you involved with a Sporting or Hound breed? what about AmStaffs, APBTs, or Rotts??? you just might be “SOL”...) Sale of any pet must be accompanied by a health certificate signed by a licensed state veterinarian. Violate any of the above (take in that Momma Cat and her kittens to place in homes when they’re old enough—and the county finds out – how dare you again! what on earth were you thinking!—) and you are subject to a fine of $500, and you must obtain a “pet seller” license for the $200 fee within 14 days. Needless to say, cat people (especially those who work with rescues and feral cats) are completely outraged over this proposal, since this will lead to a huge spike in cat euthanasias. If you become licensed but you are still zoned in a strictly residential area – will your local municipality grant you the now-necessary variance? A big unanswered question. Now that you’re licensed, you’ll have to make sure you meet the commercial facilities’ Michigan codified standards of care with regards to housing, transport etc of the animals. From the bill: “Sec. 5d. A pet seller shall comply with the rules R 285.151.21 to R 285.151.41 “REGULATION NO. 151. PET SHOPS, DOG POUNDS, AND ANIMAL SHELTERS” of the Michigan Administrative Code that establish standards for housing, care, handling, and transportation of dogs and cats. ” Let’s look these up and see if you can meet them: (SOAHR Administrative Code) http://www.state.mi.us/orr/emi/admincode.asp?AdminCode=Single&Admin_Num=28500151001 http://tinyurl.com/69nzeo

” (4) The interior building surfaces of an indoor housing facility shall be constructed of a nonabsorbent material that may be readily sanitized.” Have any carpeting in your house where your dogs or cats (or ferrets) are occasionally kept? It doesn’t sound like you’d meet the standards.

“(3) Puppies and kittens shall not be housed in the same primary enclosure with adult dogs and cats other than their dams.” Have a second adult dog (or cat) in your house along with a litter of pups that isn’t theirs, even if you can adequately keep them separated? You might be in violation if this section is interpreted literally.

“(4) No 2 species of animals shall be housed in the same primary enclosure.”

Happen to own both a dog AND a cat (or ferret), and have them both live in your house, and heaven forbid, interact occasionally? Man, you’re just outta luck again, this is just not acceptable under this code. Guess they consider that inhumane.

“The facility shall be provided with fresh air, either by means of windows, doors, vents, or air conditioning and shall be ventilated so as to minimize drafts, odors, and moisture condensation. “

I don’t know about you, but I do NOT have a professionally installed ventilation system in my home, and I guess many of you don’t either; sounds to me like that’s required.

And the list goes on from there…Since most hobby breeders and rescuers conduct their pet breeding and rescue activities from their own home, and most home situations cannot meet the above code regulations, it sounds like “home breeding” or “home rescue” will no longer be permitted anymore in Michigan should this pass. Again, don’t think for a minute that this is some kind of technical error that will be quickly remedied. Instead, no doubt it is the full intent of the Animal Rights’ activists who back this type of law to have it carried out just as it is written.

How could anything be worse than this in its negative ramifications for a home breeder or rescuer? But is is…we’re not done yet… What if you (through no intent of your own – remember Momma Cat and her kittens?) should be in violation of any of these above regulations of the SOAHR Code? I’ll quote from the code (and remember that this will now include you, a “pet seller”, should Michigan HB 9395 pass): “R 285.151.37 Confiscation and destruction of animals. Rule 37. If an animal held by a dog pound, animal shelter, or pet shop is found by the director to be suffering as a result of failure to provide proper food and water or inhumane treatment by the management of the dog pound, animal shelter, or pet shop, the director may order the animal confiscated or destroyed in a humane manner, if he determines the circumstances warrant such action.” That’s right – your valuable pets and breeding stock might just be seized and destroyed!

I can’t emphasize enough how dangerous this bill is, to both hobby breeders and small rescuers, in the State of Michigan. The HSUS has great plans to introduce these types of laws in states all over the country, so a vigorous opposition simply MUST be mounted to these types dangerous legislation, not only in Michigan but anywhere else it occurs.

Please forward and cross post everywhere, and especially contact all of your pet-owning friends in Michigan.

Thanks again, everyone.

Margo Milde AKC Legislative Liaison – Rand Park Dog Training Club Inc AKC Legislative Liaison – Agility Ability Club of Illinois Founding Member – Alliance of Chicagoland Pet Owners Health Education Chair – Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of America