Florida Sportsmen Battle “Puppy Mill” Legislation
4/8/09
New legislation pending in the Florida state Senate could severely cripple 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 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, and exercise requirements. SB 2002 received a hearing on April 6, 2009 in the Senate Community Affairs Committee. Take Action! Florida sportsmen and sporting dog owners 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.
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