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Sportsmen's vigilance key to protect your sports
October 12, 2007 (National)
Proposals aimed at so-called puppy mills are being offered in several states putting hunting with dogs in jeopardy.
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance reports that the proposals, which have been introduced in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin, are intended
to target abusive, commercial dog breeders, but will also catch up law abiding sportsmen who breed and hunt with dogs. Such proposals
have the support of animal rights groups that systematically attempt to whittle away at hunters’ rights with subtle attacks on specific
hunting interests, including hunting with dogs.
“Sportsmen do not object to regulations that will bring abusive breeders to justice, but we are concerned that these proposals will drive
law-abiding sporting kennels out of business in the process,” said Rick Story, USSA senior vice president. “In many cases, the proposals
dictate requirements for thousands of sportsmen that are utterly unrealistic, will cost thousands of dollars and, unless followed to the
letter, will turn them into criminals.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has proposed regulations that will make it nearly impossible to breed and raise packs of
hounds and hunting dogs. Throughout 2007, sportsmen have been battling the excessive regulations, which mandate immediate repairs to
rusty fences and cracked concrete; extensive daily record keeping; and daily exercise requirements that do not include hunting or field
trialing. In October, senior officials from Gov. Ed Rendell’s office committed that the regulations intended for commercial breeders will
not be the same as those for sporting dog kennels. Unfortunately, the government still believes that some additional regulations are
needed. The USSA and Pennsylvania sportsmen are not convinced.
“They’re going to have to prove why sportsmen should be burdened with higher costs and more complicated regulations before we will
agree,” said Story. “Breeders of hunting dogs do not deserve to be treated as habitual violators of the law.”
In Ohio, companion puppy mill bills are making their way through the General Assembly. The bills will establish the classification of a
“regulated dog breeding kennel” based upon an arbitrary number of dogs, which the USSA believes to be extremely low. The measures
include exemptions for hunting and show dogs, but fail to protect field trials. They will also force sportsmen to prove which dogs are
bred to turn a profit as opposed to those bred for one’s own hunting or companionship.
Additionally, a Wisconsin state senator is preparing to introduce a bill to regulate commercial dog breeders. As has been seen in other
states, the stated intent is to get after abusive commercial breeding operations, but law-abiding sporting dog kennels could find
themselves subject to regulations designed for commercial operations.
In all cases sportsmen must be engaged to ensure that distinctions are made between hunting dog breeders, whose goals are to create
high-quality hunting dogs while maintaining breed standards, and abusive commercial operations that look to turn out as many puppies as
possible.
Sportsmen nationwide should contact state legislators and ask them to keep legitimate sporting dog kennels and hobby breeders in mind
when trying to rein in abusive commercial dog breeders. Ask them to make sure that law-abiding sportsmen are not regulated out of
existence by one-size-fits-all policies on dog breeders. Use the Legislative Action Center at www.ussportsmen.org to contact your
lawmaker today.
For more information about how you can protect your rights as a sportsman, contact The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, 801 Kingsmill
Parkway, Columbus, OH 43229. Phone (614) 888-4868. E-Mail us at info@USSPORTSMEN.org
October 12, 2007 (National)
Proposals aimed at so-called puppy mills are being offered in several states putting hunting with dogs in jeopardy.
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance reports that the proposals, which have been introduced in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin, are intended
to target abusive, commercial dog breeders, but will also catch up law abiding sportsmen who breed and hunt with dogs. Such proposals
have the support of animal rights groups that systematically attempt to whittle away at hunters’ rights with subtle attacks on specific
hunting interests, including hunting with dogs.
“Sportsmen do not object to regulations that will bring abusive breeders to justice, but we are concerned that these proposals will drive
law-abiding sporting kennels out of business in the process,” said Rick Story, USSA senior vice president. “In many cases, the proposals
dictate requirements for thousands of sportsmen that are utterly unrealistic, will cost thousands of dollars and, unless followed to the
letter, will turn them into criminals.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has proposed regulations that will make it nearly impossible to breed and raise packs of
hounds and hunting dogs. Throughout 2007, sportsmen have been battling the excessive regulations, which mandate immediate repairs to
rusty fences and cracked concrete; extensive daily record keeping; and daily exercise requirements that do not include hunting or field
trialing. In October, senior officials from Gov. Ed Rendell’s office committed that the regulations intended for commercial breeders will
not be the same as those for sporting dog kennels. Unfortunately, the government still believes that some additional regulations are
needed. The USSA and Pennsylvania sportsmen are not convinced.
“They’re going to have to prove why sportsmen should be burdened with higher costs and more complicated regulations before we will
agree,” said Story. “Breeders of hunting dogs do not deserve to be treated as habitual violators of the law.”
In Ohio, companion puppy mill bills are making their way through the General Assembly. The bills will establish the classification of a
“regulated dog breeding kennel” based upon an arbitrary number of dogs, which the USSA believes to be extremely low. The measures
include exemptions for hunting and show dogs, but fail to protect field trials. They will also force sportsmen to prove which dogs are
bred to turn a profit as opposed to those bred for one’s own hunting or companionship.
Additionally, a Wisconsin state senator is preparing to introduce a bill to regulate commercial dog breeders. As has been seen in other
states, the stated intent is to get after abusive commercial breeding operations, but law-abiding sporting dog kennels could find
themselves subject to regulations designed for commercial operations.
In all cases sportsmen must be engaged to ensure that distinctions are made between hunting dog breeders, whose goals are to create
high-quality hunting dogs while maintaining breed standards, and abusive commercial operations that look to turn out as many puppies as
possible.
Sportsmen nationwide should contact state legislators and ask them to keep legitimate sporting dog kennels and hobby breeders in mind
when trying to rein in abusive commercial dog breeders. Ask them to make sure that law-abiding sportsmen are not regulated out of
existence by one-size-fits-all policies on dog breeders. Use the Legislative Action Center at www.ussportsmen.org to contact your
lawmaker today.
For more information about how you can protect your rights as a sportsman, contact The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, 801 Kingsmill
Parkway, Columbus, OH 43229. Phone (614) 888-4868. E-Mail us at info@USSPORTSMEN.org
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