THOUSANDS OF NORTH CAROLINA VOTERS OPPOSE DOG BREEDER BILL SB 460

The Opposition List continues to grow as dog breeders, hunters, and exhibitors rally against SB 460 Commercial Dog Breeding.

SB 460 is not a bill that needs to be passed in North Carolina. Substandard kennels have been closed down in years past because current laws DO work. In some cases where dogs are not removed from substandard situations, it is not because of lack of authority under the law, but lack of animal control funds to house and care for them once seized. If enforcement of current law is problematic due to funding issues, passing new and unfunded legislation is definitely NOT the answer.

Steve Wallis, President North Carolina Federation of Dog Clubs, noted, “County sheriffs and district attorneys should not have to make a determination of what the county can afford before deciding whether to enforce a law.”

Keith Loudermilt, President North Carolina Sporting Dog Association, commented, “SB460 is primarily being promoted by activists from outside of NC. Various versions of this bill have been introduced by HSUS-supported activists in 33 states regardless of existing regulations.” Loudermilt continued, “We do not expect the few exemptions in this bill to stand long term as the factions who are promoting it have made it clear this is just a starting point for their agenda.”

With absolutely no input from dog breeders, divided support from animal control personnel, and unsubstantiated data on the need for state-wide dog breeder regulation, the NC Association of County Commissioners steadfastly supports SB 460, unconcerned with the damaging consequences passage would bring to responsible dog breeders throughout our state. According to the NCACC website, “Overall county revenues in 2009-10 are expected to come in about half a billion dollars less than in 2008-09, according to a recent survey of county budgets conducted by the NCACC. To manage the shortfall, counties have taken a variety of steps, including cutting services, reducing staff, instituting mandatory furloughs for employees and appropriating fund balance.” Yet NCACC lobbyists blindly press on to pass a bill that will hand an unfunded mandate to cash strapped county governments.

Susan Wolf
Sportsmen's & Animal Owners' Voting Alliance
Issue lobbying and working to identify and elect supportive legislators
http://www.saova.org/