Showing posts with label legislation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label legislation. Show all posts

Monday, January 21, 2008

The Other Side of the Mandatory Spay/Neuter Debate

**To post a comment, click on the word comments below or on the title above to read comments.


I heard from a reader this morning who wrote in support of the pending legislation. She didn't know how to leave a comment but wanted to express her opinion. I am posting it here today because it is one that is shared by many. I will also post my response as well.

My general idea...I volunteered for rescue for 3 years. We had to pass the pups on spayed or neutered, or if puppies, with contracts that they will be. Why? Most of the dogs we brought in were puppy mill dogs. These dogs were horribly abused - left in cages in their own feces, the only human touch they had was during breeding or feeding. They had rotten teeth. Scared to death of humans. These breeders in some instances, instead of turning the dogs over to rescue when they dont suit their fancy, will kill them. Unmercifully. so in a way, I commend the legislation to put a stop to all the breeding that is going on...dogs that are unwanted, or that sit in shelters for many years. Dogs in puppy mills. Dogs that are dumped at the side of the road because the mom got pregnant by the neighbor dog, all because nobody took the time to get her spayed.
On the other hand....I believe that folks that want to show their dogs, or are on a very small scale breeding facility...that can be licensed or prove that their dogs are well cared for....thats a different story. Unfortunately, its the bad guys that make life miserable for those who are well meaning individuals. It goes that way for everything in the world today. Folks ruin something good for those who wont abuse it.
I know there are many well meaning breeders in the world. And I also know there are thousands of unwanted dogs sitting in shelters who will never have the love of a real home...they will be there till they die.
Somehow....we have to do something to end all that.
Just my 2 cents.
Robin

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Virginia Forces ALL Pets to Be Spayed Or Neutered

Pending legislation in Virginia could force all pets to be sold with a mandatory Spay/Neuter contract. Delegate Robert Hull has introduced last minute legislation that would require all dogs and cats sold in the state of Virginia to be Spayed or Neutered. Not including this clause in your contract could cost both the buyer and the seller a fine of $150 unless you qualify for one of the three exemptions for "good" breeders. Pet owners will no longer have a choice in whether to spay or neuter their pets.

Without going off onto a rant, this totally removes any "choice" either the breeder or purchaser has in spaying or neutering your pet. You WILL do it within 30 days of purchase or within 30 days of it becoming 6 months of age or you will be breaking the law and subject to fines.

So what does this mean to the average person? It means that unless you are actively showing or competing with your dog, you no longer have any choice in having a litter of puppies. The law graciously allows that a "hobby" breeder may have one litter of puppies as long as they find homes for them all and don't make any money from it. It means that the price of buying a puppy or a kitten is going to go up. It means that the only place you will be able to buy a puppy is from a "dealer". Isn't that the very thing they are trying to stop?

What it won't do: It certainly doesn't penalize the people who let their dogs run loose and then dump the resulting puppies on the side of the road or give them away without any care about what kind of home they are going to live in. It does nothing to address unwanted litters. It does nothing to address the thousands of mixed breed dogs and cats that populate the county shelters and are passed off by well meaning but less than knowledgeable shelter employees as purebred dogs.

They have tried to prevent the euthanasia of unwanted dogs and cats by legislating spay and neuter and it has failed. You can read about some of them here:

National Animal Interest Alliance

Mandatory Spay and Neuter Resources


Shelter Population

How are they going to enforce it? Are we going to have to have an attorney to buy our kids a puppy? Are they going to pull police off the streets and have them out inspecting contracts on every kid with a new kitten? As a breeder, when I sell a pet puppy, I do so on a spay/neuter contract but this law requires not only that I add it to my contract but I can be fined if the buyer doesn't comply within 30 days.

This is just another example of our politicians wasting our time and money by making useless, unreasonable laws that no one will ever be able to enforce. We already have good laws in place in to protect animals as was proven in the Michael Vick case and the Puppy Mill case.

We already have no one to enforce them
.

If you wish to contact someone and express your opinion, here are the addresses. Be polite and be specific. Voice your opposition or support in the first sentence of your letter or email and then go on to explain why:

ACTION:
Contact the Ag subcommittee below and ask them to OPPOSE HB 1570. Be polite.
Bobby Orrock (address him "Dear Chairman Orrock") General Assembly Building
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, Virginia 23218
Phone: (804) 698-1054
Fax: (804) 786-6310
Legislative Assistant: Renee Hudson
Email: DelBOrrock@house.state.va.us

Ed Scott
General Assembly Building
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, Virginia 23218
Phone: (804) 698-1030
Fax: (804) 786-6310
Legislative Assistant: Lisa Drummond
Email: DelEScott@house.state.va.us

Danny Marshall
General Assembly Building
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, Virginia 23218
Phone: (804) 698-1014
Fax: (804) 786-6310
Legislative Assistant: Mary K. Franklin
Email: DelDMarshall@house.state.va.us


Matt Lohr
General Assembly Building
P.O. Box 406 Richmond, Virginia 23218
Phone: (804) 698-1026
Fax: (804) 786-6310
Legislative Assistant: Audrey Berkshire
Email: DelMLohr@house.state.va.us



Charles Poindexter
General Assembly Building
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, Virginia 23218
Phone: (804) 698-1009
Fax: (804) 786-6310
Legislative Assistant: Brenda Bowman
Email: DelCPoindexter@house.state.va.us


James Shuler
General Assembly Building
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, Virginia 23218
Phone: (804) 698-1012
Fax: (804) 786-6310
Email: DelJShuler@house.state.va.us


Lynwood Lewis
General Assembly Building
P.O. Box 406 Richmond, Virginia 23218
Phone: (804) 698-1000
Fax: (804) 786-6310
Legislative Assistant: Laurie Naismith
Email: DelLLewis@house.state.va.us



Bobby Mathieson
General Assembly Building
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, Virginia 23218
Phone: (804) 698-1021
Fax: (804) 786-6310
Legislative Assistant: Jason Robinson and Brent McKenzie
Email: DelBMathieson@house.state.va.us