Akc News

[Steve]

This - Remember while you read it that Australia is one of the few places which can import puppies to Hawaii

More puppy farmer demand - its a world gone mad.

http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=4570

American Kennel Club News Article

Hawaii SB2504 Would Outlaw Sale of Any Unsterilized Dog

Date of Article:

February 02, 2012

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A bill has been introduced in Hawaii that would prohibit selling or giving away an unsterilized cat or dog. The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee and Economic Development and Technology Committee (CPN/EDT) have scheduled a public hearing on

Senate Bill 2504 on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.

Importation of dogs to the Hawaiian Islands is limited and strictly regulated. If all cats and dogs sold or given away must be sterilized, it calls into question where citizens of Hawaii will obtain future generations of pets. Every Hawaii resident who wishes to have the choice to own a dog or cat in the future should contact the committee members and respectfully state opposition to SB2504.

Problematic provisions of this bill include, but are not limited to:

• The definition of “pet seller” includes any person who sells pets to the public.

• It would be unlawful for a “pet seller” to sell or give away an unsterilized cat or dog. This would include any person who sells, gives away, or exchanges an unsterilized dog under any circumstances.

• Responsible breeders could be limited to breeding dogs currently in their possession, leaving them with few options to introduce new bloodlines and create healthy expansion of their gene pools.

• The definition of “pet seller” excludes humane societies, animal control, rescue and care organizations, thereby exempting such organizations from the provisions of the bill.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) strongly supports and actively promotes a wide range of programs to educate the public about responsible purebred breeding practices and the responsibilities of dog ownership. The AKC opposes the concept of breeding permits, breeding bans or mandatory spay/neuter of purebred dogs. Instead, we support reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of purebred dogs and do not restrict the rights of breeders and owners who meet their responsibilities.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

All concerned residents of Hawaii should immediately contact members of the CPN/EDT Committees and respectfully ask them to vote no on SB2504. Contact information is listed below.

You can indicate your opposition online by

clicking here. Type SB2504 in the box under “Enter a measure to retrieve the corresponding hearing notice” and follow the instructions. You may also submit comments (referred to as “testimony”) via the online form. Testimony may be submitted up to 24 hours prior to the scheduled hearing. The hearing notice and information on submitting testimony can be viewed here.

Concerned citizens are also encouraged to attend the public hearing to state opposition to SB2504.