All over the country pet legislation is taking away rights one location at a time. There are several animal rights groups at the forefront of our battle. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). They lead thousands to believe they are saving animals and especially their campagne against puppy mills leaves most to believe they are trying to help. However, they do not run a shelter and the majority of dogs and/or cats they do rescue/seize are euthanized. Both of these group believe strongly that people do not have the right to own an animal and that animals should run free.
The thousands and thousands of dollars these organizations bring in gives them the funds needed to enact more and more laws in different states across the country. The explosion of new house and senate bills pertaining to ownership of dogs and cats, spay/neuter requirements, how many pets one person can own, amongst a ton of other bills are voted on everyday in legislation across the country and as each bill passes it puts pet ownership at greater risk.
Reputable show breeders will quit before they will acquire a permit and the more states that impose permit laws the harder it is going to get to even find a reputable breeder. The commercial breeders that breed 250 or more dogs in these huge warehouses will be the only puppies available in coming years. I know I do not want to purchase a puppy that has not been handled and has grown up only in a crate and never set foot on grass.
One might ask why breeders are so against having a permit. Well when a breeder obtains a permit they sign a piece of paper giving law enforcement agencies and any agency overseeing facilities to be searched at any time. In my situation my dogs live in my home and I cannot obtain a permit unless I have a kennel with outside runs and a separate septic tank. I do not want to raise my dogs in a kennel setting. Once a state gets a law passed often the agency overseeing the facilities is run by animal rights groups like HSUS. Their main goal is to search and seize then euthanize to eliminate. Reputable breeders who only breed a few litters a year for show feel that their dogs are part of their family. Reputable breeders would rather give up their breeding than to risk an agency searching and possibly seizing their dogs. When dogs are seized they are automatically spayed or neutered and then a fee up to $2500 is placed on each dog and the breeder must pay the fee in order to save their pet from being euthanized. If a breeder has 10 dogs to save you can quickly see where quitting is the safest route for a reputable breeder to make sure their pets stay safe and with them versus taking a chance by getting a permit. Backyard and commercial breeders are not emotionally attached to their breeding stock so if they loose their dogs they just go to the next auction and buy new stock and begin again. This is why it is so important for pet owners to become aware of legislation issues in your area. The legislation will try to convince you they are not after reputable breeders...only the puppy mills, but the way the bills are written the bills only affect those that care about the law...that is the key...those that care about the LAW. Puppy millers hide out and they know what they are doing is wrong. Puppy mills do not care about the LAW!
Please learn about legislative issues in your town, city, county, and state and get involved even as a pet owner. The bill here in Oklahoma will require a health certificate just to take a dog across state lines to another state or coming into our state. Most people will have no idea they are breaking the law traveling through our state with a dog uncertified. If they are stopped for any reason the authorities could seize their pet. This is devasting and not what America is supposed to be based on.
We are the land of the FREE and we should be able to travel freely with our pets. Please learn about your states issues today before your rights as a pet owner have been made for you without you even being aware of it.
