Legislative Alerts Know the issues Protect your rights as a responsible owner

You should not examine legislation in the light of the benefits it will convey if properly administered, but in the light of the wrongs it would do and the harm it would cause if improperly administered. Lyndon Johnson, 36th President of the U.S. "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!" - Benjamin Franklin

LINKS Animal and Ecological Terrorism in America Linked with Permission of American Legislative Exchange Council NAIA Trust NAIA Pet-Law.com (SAOVA) Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance (CFA) Cat Fanciers Association Successful Lobbying Elements of Successful Lobbying Communicating with Members of Congress Guidelines to Effective Lobbying How To Kill A Bill State Pet Law Groups Find a Pet Law Group in your state State Federations & Organizations The Animal Council American Dog Owners Association California Federation of Dog Owners Connecticut Dog Federation Dog Federation of Wisconsin Florida Animal Owners Alliance Alliance of Responsible Pet Owners of NE Florida Illinois Dog Clubs and Breeders Association Iowa Alliance for Responsible Dog Ownership Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Owners Maryland Dog Federation Michigan Association for Purebred Dogs Minnesota Responsible Animal Owners Alliance Mississippi Canine Coalition Missouri Federation of Animal Owners New Jersey Federation of Dog Clubs Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs Ohio Valley Dog Owners Responsible Dog Owners of Illinois Responsible Pet Owners Alliance (Texas) Sacramento Council of Dog Clubs

UPDATE 12/11/07 The PAWS threat introduced by Senator Durbin (IL) as a rider on the Farm Bill HR 2417 has been pulled. Information on this issue can be found at Stop SA 3723 HENDERSON COUNTY NC: December 2007. The mandatory spay neuter ordinance has been defeated. UPDATE 10/16/07: Duplin County proposal pulled from consideration. County Commissioners voted to table the proposal and are in the process of forming an animal advisory committee to draft an ordinance for future consideration. Update 9/20/07: Guilford County differential licensing tabled for now. DAVIDSON COUNTY, NC Update 02-13-2007 Proposed Mandatory Spay Neuter or $100 intact fee addition to the current ordinance - DEFEATED 5-2-07. Thank you to all who worked to defeat this ill-conceived proposal. A better plan is enforcement of the current ordinance to reduce the numbers of at large animals and public education about the responsibilities of dog and cat ownership. Spay/neuter programs should be enacted and encouraged on a *voluntary basis*, not through mandated and coercive legislation. DEFEATED in committee. SB 1477 INHERENTLY DANGEROUS ANIMALS introduced by Sen. Jones. SB 684 SPAY/NEUTER FUNDING introduced by Sen. Kinnaird - passed. Senate Finance Committee substitute adopted. Adds 20 cents to the cost of rabies tags purchased thru the State (not 50 cents as originally proposed); money collected to be used for the State spay/neuter fund. All reference to *registered dog breeder* has been removed from the bill. 4/19/07 SB 1172 Restraining of Dogs [restrictions on tethering] has been WITHDRAWN. Senator Janet Cowell (Wake County) has withdrawn her tethering bill. MANY thanks to all dog fanciers, hunters, stockdog owners, and to the NC Sporting Dog Association for their emails, phone calls and strong opposition to this ill-conceived bill. Joining together to fight makes a difference! NATIONAL ALERTS CALIFORNIA ALERT: AB 1634 was withdrawn from committee by sponsor, Sen. Levine for 2007; he can amend and re-introduce in January 2008 or introduce a new bill. AB 1634 mandates state-wide spay/neuter of all dogs (and cats) over four months of age with some exceptions. All dog and cat owners, organizations and clubs are urged to oppose this radical bill. Go to Save Our Dogs and PetPac for updates Visit the AKC California Action Center for additional updates, sample opposition letters and flyers. PENNSYLVANIA ALERT: The Independent Regulatory Review Commission effectively sent the proposed regulation changes from the Dept. of Agriculture, Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement back to the drawing board. The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement has 2 years to start again and draft a revision. House bills HB 365 bears monitoring, although it may be stalled due to failure of the proposed dog law revisions. PA House bill 365 which requires 30 day suspension of kennel license for any infraction; HB 365 inserts breeding and socialization among the list of animal care items. There are no current references or requirements for breeding practices or socialization standards in PA law. If HB 365 passes, the Dept. of Agriculture, Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement will have to write these standards. Contact the PA House Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs . PAWS 2005-Pet Animal Welfare Statute has been archived; Pages and files are here for review NATIONAL ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (NAIS) Controversial issue all North Carolina Citizens should learn about October, 2007 Brasher: Animal ID program loses steam October, 2006 The Hawkeye News. Iowa. Livestock ID program intended to track disease September, 2006 Cattle Network: Five Minutes With Mary Zanoni, Director Of Farm For Life August, 2006 Confidentiality is still the primary concern July, 2006 USDA scales back mad-cow testing June, 2006 U.S. slow to implement cattle-tracking system May, 2006 New Booklet Outlines Effects of National ID System on Horse Industry May 22, 2006 Congressman Opposes NAIS. March 15, 2006 Horse Owners, Livestock Producers Take On NAIS. American horse owners and livestock producers, especially those in "buy local" movements or those who keep livestock for their own food usage, are taking the US government to task with the NAIS. American horse owners and livestock producers, especially those in "buy local" movements or those who keep livestock for their own food usage, are taking the US government to task with the NAIS. USA, March 15, 2006 (XTVWorld.Com) -- The National Animal Identification System, touted by the USDA as a means of tracking animals for disease prevention, seems more like just one more way that "Big Brother" can track and control the little guy. It is an unconstitutional infringement on the rights of the individual. It consists of microchipping animals, registering premises on which they reside - or might visit - and tracking this in a database. The NAIS, once in full force, will affect virtually everybody, not just livestock owners, as pets will also be required to be microchipped, and both they and their premises registered. No movement on or off a premises will be allowed without tracking that movement. If a friend with a pet were to visit from out of town for a few hours, your premises would have to be registered, even if you yourself own no animals. NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services FAQ on National Animal Identification System (NAIS) NAIS participation is voluntary in North Carolina, as long as participation is voluntary on the federal level. USDA/APHIS NAIS home Current information and releases from USDA Why You Should Oppose the USDA's Mandatory Property and Animal Surveillance Program by Mary Zanoni, Ph.D. (Cornell), J.D. (Yale), Executive Director of Farm for LifeTM NoNAIS.org Protect Traditional Rights to Farm News Observer. April 2, 2006. ID plan aims to track animals County Courier, VT. April 13, 2006. Big Brother on the animal farm? Animal ID system raises Orwellian concerns for some The Navasota Examiner. April 20, 2006. NAIS: (or how now, electric cow?) By Marc A. Levin Cattle Network. April 20, 2006. Liberty Ark Coalition Forms To Fight Animal ID CBS News. April 26, 2006. NH Leads Revolt Against Federal ID Rules