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If you plan to remain a a Private Breeder of quality dogs, you will be interested in the following.....

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PUPPY FARMER

To All Concerned:
 
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Dr. Al Stinson at the Detroit Kennel Club show this year. That is a benched show, lots of vendors and lots of politically active booths. Dr. Al was among them. Coincidence got us together, and one of the things we discussed was alliances with larger, stronger organizations.

This suggested alliance with agricultural interests is no reach. It is obvious. Raising animals is only agricultural, no matter the purpose. Many of us, like myself, are farm raised people, or come from small towns in agricultural communities. To us, not having animals is like solitary confinement in a prison of a city.

Yet, to us, having animals and being irresponsible with them is worse than not having animals. It is therefore, the ignorant, the mercenary, the lazy people who have the animals irresponsibly. Seems like they , or their deeds, outnumber us. At least, their misdirection causes more panic and irresponsible legislation than we do.
 

Perhaps the first step would be for the California Federation of Dog Clubs to join some larger, stronger agricultural organization. (Citrus Growers have managed to get a law passed eons ago that the theft of one orange is a felony in California). Then there could be a far more effective alliance to present facts and votes to legislators and supervisors and councils. It is the money and the votes that rule these dimwits, not the good of the people. It needs to be the other way around.
 

The first thing to do is on a local level. We need the courage to stand up to city councils and do away with dog limit laws. There are laws covering the three areas of; 1. danger,2. sanitation, and 3. noise. In the absence of these, there should be no violation.

Yet, these laws have made every serious dog fancier a violator because we; 1. Do not want to throw away older dogs, 2. need breeding stock to keep at itand, 3. need time to evaluate younger stock for future purposes. No fancier can actually survive with two or three dogs. Those that insist on ten or more, need to re-think their position or their place of residence, lest one of the three offenses come into play-except for you toy breeders, of course (what I wouldn't give for a toy variety of Saint Bernards)
 

Heed Dr. Stinson's word well, make those alliances, gain respect through strength and honorable actions. And prosper.
 

John Bowen
 

Recently our County Supervisor's [Los Angeles County] passed a Mandatory Spay and Neuter Law within the unincorporated areas of the county.  Unfortunately, WE live on Unincorporated [rural] land within Los Angeles County and are thus affected directly by this new law. (Effective 6-3-06)

In the UKC article, Dr. Stinson proposes that; "we dog breeders" should argue that kennels are an agricultural use of the land, therefore enabling us to benefit from this proposed set-aside.

Our property is designated as land for agricultural use. The only provisional use is that HOGS may not be raised.  (BTW Riverside Co. CA is now trying to mandate these Spay and Neuter ordinances too! ) Perhaps some of us in Los Angeles County can use this "AG use" designation to our benefit, and we ALL might benefit from being known as a PUPPY FARMER instead of a DOG BREEDER?

Pam Mills
 

“I’m Not A Dog Breeder. I’m A Puppy Farmer.”
Cindy Cooke, Legislative Specialist
 

Can you imagine hearing those words from a top breeder of hunting or show dogs? Me neither until a recent brainstorming session with the tireless Dr. Al Stinson, President of the Michigan Purebred Dogs and the Michigan Hunting Dog Federation. Dr. Stinson was discussing two bills coming up in the Michigan State Legislature. One would set aside land for agricultural use, and the other would establish a committee to encourage agricultural tourism in Michigan.

Agriculture is big business in Michigan: $37 billion worth of big business. Their various lobbying organizations carry a big stick when they walk the halls of the state capitol. But what exactly is agriculture? Webster’s defines “agriculture” as “the science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock and in varying degrees the preparation and marketing of the resulting products.” Are dogs livestock? Back to Webster’s which defines “livestock” as “animals kept or raised for use or pleasure; especially: farm animals kept for use and profit.”

Those of us who work in the field of the law as it relates to dogs will tell you that most statutes distinguish between dogs and livestock, primarily those laws that determine what animals may live in residential neighborhoods. Most of us have encouraged the distinction between dogs and livestock for a number of reasons: first, we want to be able to own and breed dogs in residential neighborhoods; second, because we tend to believe that dogs (and cats) are superior to the animals that we eat or use for work. Of course, this area is easily blurred when, for example, we use the dogs for work. Still, if a cricket farm is agriculture (and it is!), then dog breeding certainly is as well.

In any event, two agriculture-related bills are coming before the Michigan legislature in the near future that could have a profound effect on dog breeders and owners. The first is a bill that will set aside land for agricultural use. Many dog breeders have discovered that dog limit ordinances are limiting the locations where we may live and breed our dogs. In Kalamazoo County where UKC is located, for example, there is only one township that does not limit you to three dogs. Dr. Stinson proposes that we dog breeders should argue that kennels are an agricultural use of the land, therefore enabling us to benefit from this proposed set-aside.

The second bill that caught Dr. Stinson’s attention is a proposal to create an agricultural tourism advisory commission in Michigan. If you’re wondering what the heck is “agricultural tourism,” here’s the definition in the bill:
“Agricultural tourism" means the practice of visiting an agribusiness, horticultural, or agricultural operation, including, but not limited to, a farm or winery, for the purpose of recreation, education, or active involvement in the operation, other than as a contractor or employee of the operation.”
If this definition were expanded to include “animal exhibitions designed to display and evaluate breeding stock” then our dog shows and performance events would suddenly be on the radar.

Dog breeding and dog ownership is big business, but we have refused to admit that, or to use it to our advantage. Most dog breeders have spent so many years trying to avoid the taint of commercialism that we have become a very well kept secret. In my article in the March 2005 issue of BLOODLINES, Gary Knapp proved that the sport of hunting with dogs has a significant economic impact on the state of West Virginia. An average dog show, according to a study done by the AKC, brings over a million dollars into a community, but even that is small change compared to the money we spend on our dogs. Think about it: pet food, vaccines; veterinary care; crates, dog boxes and exercise pens; grooming equipment; fencing; pans for food and water; toys and exercise equipment; entry fees; licenses; travel expenses.

If we can start thinking of ourselves as part of agribusiness, suddenly many doors open up to us. For example, membership in your state farm bureau offers many benefits. The Michigan Farm Bureau, for example, offers its members insurance, discounts on truck purchases, travel benefits, prescription drug benefits, credit cards and theme park discounts, among other things. Most important, however, is that the agribusiness lobby carries a lot of weight in our state capitols. Lawmakers don’t think about ways to restrict agribusiness, they look for ideas to promote it.

I don’t know about you but I’m starting to see myself in overalls and a straw hat!


Recent Wins Recent Losses
· The Virginia Federation of Dog Owners and the Virginia Hunting Dog Owners Association joined to counter 11 pieces of anti-dog legislation. Nine bills were defeated outright and the remaining two were essentially gutted.
 

· Proposed Racine, Wisconsin breeder’s license and litter limit bill is defeated.
 

· Two BSL proposals killed in Illinois.
 

· New Jersey Audubon Society acknowledges that white tail deer population is too large and agrees to allow hunting in its sanctuaries. · Breeder licensing bills introduced in Tennessee and Vermont.
 

· California anti-ear cropping bill referred to committee.
 

· Overly broad dangerous dog legislation introduced in Illinois.

Thank You to John Bowen, Pam Mills, Cindy Cooke, and UKC magazine "BloodLines" for the information.