Position Paper: Michigan House Bill 6395 | |
We oppose House Bill 6395. It is difficult to analyze this bill because it appears to be a solution in search of a problem. Accordingly, we have decided to list the unfortunate consequences should this bill pass.
- Each year, every hobby breeder in Michigan would be forced to spend hundreds of dollars in application fees and costs for annual criminal background checks. It is generally acknowledged that hobby breeders produce the best quality purebred pet and working dogs. As these thousands of breeders stop breeding, Michigan would experience a serious decline in its most valuable domestic animal.
- There is no evidence to suggest that dog breeders are more likely to be members of the criminal class than members of other groups, yet they would be required to submit to the most intrusive and expensive background investigations.
- Even having submitted to this lengthy, expensive and intrusive process, breeders would be completely dependent on the arbitrary decisions of their local animal control officer. There is no appeal.
- Those hobby breeders who raise their dogs in a home environment would be forced to build commercial-style kennel facilities. This would force many breeders of small companion breeds to quit breeding or move out of their homes into locations with zoning for kennel buildings.
As someone with significant experience in the world of dog breeding and dog legislation, I am completely unable to determine what problem exists in our state that requires such an imposition on the community of dog breeders. Our shelter figures as reported by law to the Department of Agriculture show a steady decline in the number of unwanted dogs in the state, so there is no justification for a law that would significantly affect people’s ability to breed their dogs.
On the other hand, there is every reason to support and encourage the responsible breeding of purebred dogs. Dog breeding and ownership brings millions of dollars to the state of Michigan through taxes paid on products for dogs. In addition, few states offer a wider variety of activities for dogs and their owners than Michigan. Every weekend, Michigan citizens and thousands of tourists enjoy coon hunting, hunting upland birds, terrier races, weight pulls, mushing, lure coursing, dock diving, conformation dog shows and a myriad of other pleasant activities with their dogs. What possible reason could exist for hounding out of existence those Michigan breeders who produce the dogs themselves?
In addition to the unacceptable burden placed on Michigan hobby breeders, this bill will add to the burden of animal control officers across the state, many of whom are struggling with reduced budgets to perform their primary tasks.
Established in 1898 and headquartered in Kalamazoo, the United Kennel Club is the largest all-breed performance-dog registry in the world, registering dogs from all 50 states and 25 foreign countries. More than 60 percent of its 13,000 annually licensed events are tests of hunting ability, training and instinct. UKC prides itself on its family-oriented, friendly, educational events. The UKC has supported the "Total Dog" philosophy through its events and programs for over a century. In Michigan, where the dog is the most economically important domestic animal, UKC’s shows and performance events bring in millions of tourist dollars each year and promote responsible dog ownership.
Prepared by:
Cindy Cooke
Legislative Specialist
United Kennel Club
2097 S. 4th St.
Kalamazoo MI 49009
Phone: 269-375-0427
Fax: 269-375-0427
E-Mail: doglaw@charter.net
September 7, 2008
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Find out “who’s winning what” in all UKC Conformation Shows, Agility Trials, Dog Sport Events, Obedience Trials, Terrier Races and Weight Pulls; and where the UKC events are held.
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The Black & Tan is one of many tracking breeds that was developed in the south of the United States. The breed can trace its immediate ancestry to the American Foxhound and the Virginia Foxhound of colonial days, with probably the introduction of some Bloodhound stock. This latter would explain not only the coloration of the Black & Tan, but its tendency toward being larger-boned than other breeds, its long ears, and its famous cold nose. The American Black & Tan was the first coonhound breed to be admitted into registry with UKC. When they were first registered in 1900, and for several years after that, they were registered as American Black & Tan Fox & Coonhounds. |
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Read more about UKC's many dog breeds here. |
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