Indiana and New Hampshire Alert

[John Yates]

Urgent Alert For Indiana And
New Hampshire Dog Owners

by JOHN YATES
American Sporting Dog Alliance
www.americansportingdogalliance.org
[e-mail]

The right to raise dogs is literally on the table now in Indiana and New Hampshire.

Legislation sanctioned by the radical Humane Society of the United States has been introduced quietly in New Hampshire, and through political dirty tricks in Indiana.

This report will be a brief overview of the legislation, as immediate and decisive action by dog owners is required to prevent the destruction of purebred dogs in those states. We will provide more detailed coverage over the next few days.

Indiana

The Indiana House Courts and Criminal Code Committee has been reviewing a series of routine revisions to animal cruelty laws.

However, the committee has agree to hear an amendment to this legislation that would:

1. Require anyone who owns more than 10 sexually intact female dogs over four months of age to register as a commercial breeder. Most serious dog fanciers who compete in shows, field trials and other events would fall under this category.
2. Prohibit anyone from owning more than 20 sexually intact female dogs over the age of four months for any reason.
3. Require all kennel facilities to meet complex engineering codes.
4. Allow local municipalities to pass even more stringent laws.
5. And require annual licensure and fees.

Those are provisions of the so-called Amendment One to House Bill 1468. However, this amendment has not been published on the committee’s website or with information about the original legislation, and has not been made available to dog owners.

The situation is critical because the committee met today (February 11, 2009) to discuss this legislation and amendment. Dog owners were not given advance notice about the amendment.

The results of today’s meeting were not made available to dog owners.

Pending further clarification, the American Sporting Dog Alliance is urging all Indiana dog owners to immediately phone and email members of the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee and express strong opposition to Amendment One.

Here is toll-free phone contact information: Rep.Matt Pierce, Chair, [phone]; Rep. Nancy Dembowski, Vice-Chair, [phone]; Rep. Jacqueline Clements, [phone]; Rep. Ryan Dvorak, [phone]; Rep. Ralph Foley, [phone]; Rep. Eric Koch, [phone], Rep. Linda Lawson, [phone]; Rep. Gregory Porter, [phone]; Rep. Vernon Smith, [phone]; Rep. Greg Steuerwald, [phone]; Rep. Vern Tincher, [phone]; and Rep. Randolph Truitt, [phone].
This link will provide links to each legislator on the committee, listed alphabetically: www.in.gov/cgi-bin/legislative/contact/contact.pl.
New Hampshire
The New Hampshire legislation is among the most restrictive anti-hobbyist bills we have ever seen. It was presented in the House Environment and Agriculture committee today for a hearing. Dog owners were not informed of the hearing, and the results have not been made available. The legislation is scheduled to move out of committee following an executive session on February 19.
House Bill 337 would:
· Allow New Hampshire residents to sell only one dog or cat a year.
· Allow a maximum of no more than two additional sales by a special permit, for $25 apiece. No one could receive more than two special permits.
· Impose fines of $50 to $200 would be imposed. All permit fee revenues and fines would be placed in a special fund for spaying and neutering pets.
· Only large commercial kennels are exempt.
Here is a link to the actual text of the legislation: www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2009/HB0337.html.

The American Sporting Dog Alliance is urging all New Hampshire dog owners to immediately contact each member of this committee and express strong opposition. It is critical to do this quickly, before the February 19 executive session.

Here is a link to the names of each member of the committee: www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/committeedetails.aspx?code=H06. Clicking on a name will bring up a page with contact information for phone, surface mail, fax and email.

The American Sporting Dog Alliance represents owners, breeders and professionals who work with breeds of dogs that are used for hunting. We also welcome people who work with other breeds, as legislative issues affect all of us. We are a grassroots movement working to protect the rights of dog owners, and to assure that the traditional relationships between dogs and humans maintains its rightful place in American society and life.

The American Sporting Dog Alliance also needs your help so that we can continue to work to protect the rights of dog owners. Your membership, participation and support are truly essential to the success of our mission. We are funded solely by your donations in order to maintain strict independence.

Please visit us on the web at www.americansportingdogalliance.org . Our email is [e-mail] .

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