| October / November 2012 | | From Our Nation's Capitol | | The AKC Government Relations team continues to monitor Congress for issues of interest to dog owners. Visit our 2012 Legislative Tracking page and click on “US Fed” on the map to get the latest updates on federal bills currently being monitored by the AKC. Highlights of issues we are currently addressing on the federal level include: | | | U.S. Congress — H.R. 835/S. 707 known as the "Puppy Uniform Protection & Safety Act" (PUPS), would require anyone who owns or co-owns female dogs that collectively produce 50 or more puppies that are sold in a 12-month period to be regulated under USDA dog dealer regulations. Anyone meeting that criteria would be required to obtain an annual USDA license, maintain standards of care designed for commercial breeding facilities, and undergo regular inspections at least biennially. AKC GR has expressed a number of concerns with other provisions in the measure, including the definition of "breeding female" as an intact female of four months or older. The bills have been assigned to their chamber's agriculture committees. Neither independent bill has been scheduled for a hearing. However, in the weeks leading up to the recent recess, proponents have been lobbying members of Congress to expand the number of cosponsors on the measure. This could be an indication of possible attempts to attach it to other legislation in a November lame duck session. Informational updates are available online, along with links to AKC's letters to Congress and other information. AKC GR and the AKC's federal representatives are monitoring activity relating to this measure and actively opposing attempts to move the bill forward as written. Read AKC's latest information update. Read AKC's most recent letter to Congress. | | 2012 Farm Bill — H.R. 6083/S. 3240. The Senate version (S. 3240) of the 2012 Agricultural Authorization bill, also known as the "Farm Bill," has passed the Senate. The House version (H.R. 6083) has been reported out of the House Agriculture Committee and is likely to be taken up in the House in a post-election lame duck session of Congress. This quinquennial (every five years), must-pass legislation has traditionally served as a vehicle for changes to the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) pertaining to dog breeder/dealer regulations.
The bill currently contains two positive changes to the AWA: It clarifies that the term "exhibitor" excludes owners of a common, domesticated household pet who derive less than a substantial portion of their income for exhibiting an animal that exclusively resides at the residence of the owner. It also expands current prohibitions on sponsoring, exhibiting at or attending an animal fighting venture to also outlaw the act of causing a minor to attend an animal fighting venture.
AKC GR and AKC's federal advocates are monitoring the Farm Bill carefully, especially for possible attempts to attach PUPS legislation or similar problematic amendments to the Farm Bill as it moves through Congress in the coming weeks. | | | Proposed Change to Federal Animal Welfare Act Regulations (AWA) — The public comment period on the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service (APHIS) proposed rule regarding "Retail Pet Stores and Licensing Exemptions" closed on August 15. More than 15,000 comments were submitted, and the agency's review process is ongoing. Following review of comments, USDA may: move forward with the rule as initially proposed, make any variety of amendments to the rule and re-issue a final rule for public consideration, or withdraw the proposed rule and consider another approach "to ensure that animals sold at retail are monitored for their health and humane treatment." AKC GR submitted extensive formal comments, which included a copy of AKC's online petition to protect small hobby breeders signed by more than 71,000 concerned individuals. Visit AKC's USDA/APHIS Regulation Resource Page for more information on next steps and the latest news on this front. | | | |
