Florida County To Crack Down On Breeders

[toy*dog]

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Pasco County, FL - Backyard breeders and puppy mill types of operations are going to have a harder time conducting business in Pasco County.

According to TBO.com, county commissions are working to over-haul animal control ordinances.

The proposed changes will be voted on tomorrow.

Commissioners hope to ban the sale of puppies at flea markets, festivals and in parking lots - popular venues for backyard breeders.

The ordinance will also put a clear definition on what constitutes a "breeder".

If the ordinance passes, anyone who breeds two litters or 20 puppies per year will be called a "breeder".

Breeders will be forced to obtain permits and pass yearly inspections. If a breeder fails to pass an inspection, they may have to surrender ownership of their animals.

Breeders will also have to maintain one year of detailed records on animals which they sell.

The commissioners are not singling out just breeders. The new ordinance also contains language which will make the outdoor tethering of a dog illegal.

Ordinances such as those proposed by Pasco County give greater power to law enforcement.

If laws are not in place when an inhumane breeder operation is uncovered - there is little action that authorities can take.

If the new ordinance passes this week, the new rules will take effect after the first of the year.

The proposed changes are an excellent step in the right direction - hopefully other counties will take notice and follow suit.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Florida county to crack down on breeders - National Dogs | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/dogs-in-national/florida-county-to-crack-down-on-breeders?CID=examiner_alerts_article#ixzz1fjsdwxWs

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HOORAY, BRING IT ON TO AUSTRALIA !!!!!

[Sandra777]

Another nail in the coffin of legitimate ethical breeders.

[WreckitWhippet]

Another nail in the coffin of legitimate ethical breeders.

the BYBer's will continue to do what they have always done.

[sandgrubber]

A few details from a breeder's perspective. Think twice before you say "Bring it on for Australia"!

source: www.kennelspotlight.com/the_sky_is_falling_in_pasco_county.pdf

The Sky is falling in Pasco County, Florida

by Brian Amble

For years breeders have said that I am like Chicken Little claiming the sky is going to fall when I would talk about

the animal rights activists and their goal to shut down breeders. If I have your attention, you might want to read on.

This is for those dog or even cat breeders that are thinking about making your kennel/cattery legal. Maybe you are

thinking that if you go to the local governing body and get a business license and permits to make your breeding

operation legal you will be safe. After all, you take really good care of your animals and no one can fault the

cleanliness of your facility. Right? Let me tell you about what is happening in Pasco County, Florida.

Approximately 100 dog breeders that have long established kennels are being shut down. One breeder in particular

that I have spoken to has had her license and permits in place for 16 years. She has never had any complaints or any

type of citations. She runs a model kennel with glowing comments about the great care she provides to her dogs.

Much to her dismay, two weeks ago she was issued a citation that states it has been determined that the county now

plans to enforce their 9 dog pet limit law and it will apply to all breeders as well. She felt this must be a mistake

since her permit was for numbers up to 49 dogs. Her permit is current!!!! County officials assured her that they fully

intend for her to reduce her numbers and to do it within 90 days. She was given a possible option of applying for a

variance for her property which would cost her approximately $1,000 but there was no guarantee that she will be

approved. She was then told that this would affect all kennels in the county and that includes about 100 dog

breeders. You can do your own math to see what kind of money that might net to the county. Their reasoning was

that it was costing the county $2.3 million each year to address the overpopulation of dogs and cats, and it seemed

contradictory to give incentives to breeders via breeding permits. So here they are with 90 days to place roughly 40

dogs each. If the breeders don't get them all placed in that time they have already been told there will be a large daily

fine to pay. After a certain number of days, the county will more than likely remove the dogs and take them to the

already over crowded shelters. But never fear, these dogs will probably be the lucky ones and find homes right away

because they came from reputable breeders. The county will of course have to charge the breeder for the care of

these dogs while in their care, but I'm sure they will give any excess cash over to the kennel. Right? My personal

question is, how can a county issue business licenses and permits for that many years AND THEN determine that

your zoning does not qualify for the permits that they have issued to you and charged you to get for the past 16

years? Let's not forget that these are established breeders that invested heavily in dog runs, pens, grooming supplies,

medications, cages, carriers etc. These are also breeders that are claiming their businesses on their income taxes. In

this one particular case, it is the bulk of her income. The county wishes to take away her business and livelihood. By

the way, in searching the county ordinances, we have been unable to find the so called 9 dog limit. However that is

not slowing down the county from enforcing it. All of these breeders are faced with 3 possible options.

1- Attempt to get the variance. And what are the odds that they will approve ANY, much less all of the 100 kennels?

2-Reduce their numbers to only 9 dogs within the 90 days.

3-Hire an attorney and start a class action law suit.

Moral of the story . . . . making your kennel/cattery legal pretty much places a bulls eye on your forehead. Makes it

just that much easier for the animal control to know where you live. Was that a brick or a shingle that just hit you in

the head? Maybe just a little part of the sky is breaking loose in a neighborhood near you. Once this action is

completed here in Pasco County, it will most assuredly be appearing in your own neighborhood. That is how case

law is set and then it spreads like wildfire. ~~~~

Longtime breeder in Florida, Supporter of WethePeoplePets

Please cross-post this news far & wide. If you wish to protect your animals, please support the efforts of We the

People Pets. We now have a 501 c (3) & (4) and you will be able to take your tax deduction. We have a No-Kill

PSA starring Laddie, (the dog actor that played Lassie ) that came to the Capitol helping to defeat AB 1634 on a

crucial vote day. Laddie & the Weatherwax Group have agreed to spearhead the No-Kill movement & initiatives in

CA. We believe that solving the shelter mismanagement is critical at this point in time. We intend to lead the way

for animal welfare reform. WE NEED YOUR DONATIONS for the post production costs for the PSA (Public

Service Announcement) for our No-Kill statewide initiative. This is a top shelf production utilizing award winning

talent from the Director, Director of Photography, Grammy winning sound-mix, etc. I have already paid out many

thousands of dollars toward this production OF MY OWN monies, and now I am pleading for your financial support

to finish these three PSAs and get these up on every TV station in CA. PSAs will run free of charge on television

stations. Let's EDUCATE the public. What better spokesman could we have than Laddie? We expect to do a series

addressing the issues at hand. Hollywood talent is on board to support the No-Kill initiative. The door has opened.

Now it is up to YOU! The first three PSAs are awaiting your help. All contributors will be noted on the official No-

Kill site: www.nokillbill.com These PSAs will be available to ALL PARTIES in all states, countries for broadcast

purposes. THANK YOU

[Sue]

So anyone who breeds less than 20 puppies per year is a byb and will be penalised or hunted down. But if you breed more than 20 puppies per year or own more than 9 dogs you are also under fire. Effectively what is happening is the county wishes to stop all breeding within its borders.

[Keira&Phoenix]

So anyone who breeds less than 20 puppies per year is a byb and will be penalised or hunted down. But if you breed more than 20 puppies per year or own more than 9 dogs you are also under fire. Effectively what is happening is the county wishes to stop all breeding within its borders.

No it doesn't sound like people breeding under 2 litters or 20 pups per year will get penalized at all. Only "breeders" ie: people who breed 2 litters or 20 pups a year.