New legislation pending in the Florida state Senate could destroy sporting dog owners and breeders in the state.
Senate Bill 2002, sponsored by senator Lee Constantine (R- Altamonte Springs), does not adequately distinguish sporting dog breeders from commercial breeders that mass produce animals for retail sale.
Among the terrible provisions of the bill is an arbitrary cap of fifty dogs capable of reproduction that can be owned or possessed.
Additionally, anyone that has ten or more intact adult dogs is mandated to comply with a litany of new laws and regulations. For sporting dog breeders, these onerous new regulations could easily put them out of business.
Among the provisions are: rigorous record keeping, kennel construction, sanitation, temperature regulations, exercise requirements and mandatory yearly vet visits.
SB 2002 has been scheduled for a hearing at 9 am on April 6, 2009 in the Senate Community Affairs Committee, Room 412- Knott Building.
Take Action! Florida sportsmen and sporting dog owners who are able need to attend the hearing to voice their opposition to this dangerous legislation.
Those who are unable to attend the hearing should contact their state senators today and urge them to oppose this measure.
To find your state representative’s phone number, please use the Legislative Action Center.
For more information regarding the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alert Network, call 614-888-4868, or email Greg R. Lawson, director of communications at glawson@ussportsmen.org or Sharon Hayden, assistant director of communications at shayden@ussportsmen.org.