DOGS opposes AB 485

Assembly Committee on Business and Professions

Legislative Office Building Room 383

Sacramento CA 95814

Fax 916-319-3306

Dog Owners of the Golden State "DOGS"

PO Box 355

Tracy CA 95378

www.ca-dogs.org

March 31, 2017

Re: CA AB 485 O'Donnell: Pet Store Operators: Dogs, Cats and Rabbits OPPOSED

REQUEST TO BE INCLUDED IN OFFICIAL OPPOSITION

Dear Chairman Salas and Committee Members,

DOGS, (Dog Owners of the Golden State), is an AKC State Federation for California, representing thousands of dog owners in our state. We are advocates for animal welfare, for promotion of responsible dog ownership and for protecting the rights of responsible dog owners. We support animal legislation that provides positive benefits to society.

DOGS OPPOSES AB 485 which would mandate that retail outlets in our state only source dogs, cats or rabbits from animal shelters or rescue groups. This measure would severely restrict consumer choice and spur the growth of an unregulated market. A sales ban would only hurt legitimate businesses and responsible, regulated breeders and do nothing to improve animal welfare.

CA AB 485 Newsletter – March 30, 2017

CA AB 485 UPDATE ========== AB 485 was amended this week to add initial substance to the bill. The bill as it now stands would make it illegal for a CA AB 485 UPDATE ========== AB 485 was amended this week to add initial substance to the bill. The bill as it now stands would make it illegal for a pet store to sell a dog, cat, or rabbit unless the animal was obtained from a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or certain 501(c)(3) organizations. Here's a link to the bill: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB485 We believe that the bill should be opposed. Here's the text from the AKC's Position Statement on Pet Choice: "The American Kennel Club emphatically supports freedom of choice in selecting a pet. AKC actively promotes efforts to ensure that people are educated, understand the demands of responsible ownership and have access to a pet that is right for them. AKC strongly opposes any measure that restricts choice by compelling people and/or retailers to obtain pets solely from shelter or rescue distributors." In other words, pet owners should be free to choose where they obtain their pets. Current law protects pet owners and animal health through long-standing regulation of breeders and California's "puppy lemon law." The assertion that restricting sales to shelter and rescue animals would promote welfare is false. Rescue and shelter pets are often brought in from other states and even other countries, with unknown origins, no welfare checks on conditions, and sometimes the animals are even sick with infectious diseases like parvo, distemper and rabies. Shelter and "rescued" pets can be expensive for their new owners because they are exempt from consumer protections such as health warantees under the Lockyer-Polanco act.

California's 'DOGS' is now an AKC State Federation!

Www.ca-dogs.org

We are pleased to announce that Dog Owners of the Golden State (“DOGS”) has been recognized by the American Kennel Club as a State Federation for California.

FAQs

What is DOGS?

DOGS is simply a group of people and clubs joining together to inform the public about responsible dog ownership, to help protect the rights of responsible dog owners and breeders, and to advocate for effective canine legislation.

For example, DOGS already has been actively providing background information and support to fanciers in the Riverside area to help make their approach to proposed updates to the animal ordinance more effective.  DOGS is also preparing for a long legislative season in Sacramento.

As mentioned above, the AKC has recognized DOGS as a State Federation for California.

DOGS is part of USSPCO, a shelterless SPCA and 501(c)(3) organization incorporated by a group of California dog and cat fanciers in 2010, which makes your contributions tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Fwd: [CFODC] 2017 Nominations

CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF DOG CLUBS, INC.
2017 Nominations
In
accordance with Article II, Section 5(a) of the Bylaws of California Federation
of Dog Clubs, Inc., the Nominating Committee has nominated the following
qualified individuals for the designated offices:
President Charles H. Bridges, Jr. ("Chuck")
Vice President Judythe Coffman
Secretary Geneva R. Coats
Treasurer Jamie Winton-Rudolph
Director Janice Anderson
Director Janis A. Dykema ("Jan")
Director Carol R. Hamilton
Director Teri Kahn
Director Carole Raschella