A new Legislative Alert has been posted to the AKC’s web site (http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3830):  
NC ALERT: Senate Bill 460 Passes First Committee [Thursday, April 30, 2009]
Senate Bill 460, a bill which regulates breeders and infringes on the rights of responsible dog owners, passed the North Carolina Senate Commerce Committee today. The bill now goes to the Senate Finance Committee. The Finance hearing could be scheduled for as early as next Tuesday. It is essential that responsible dog owners and breeders contact the Senate Finance Committee TODAY and ask them to oppose Senate Bill 460.
The American Kennel Club is appalled by the conditions in which some dogs are kept and abhors animal cruelty. Senate Bill 460, however, punishes responsible breeders and owners and does nothing to help the dogs kept in deplorable conditions. North Carolina already has laws that address animal cruelty and mistreatment.
The AKC opposes several other provisions of Senate Bill 460, including:
* A vague definition of commercial breeder. As amended, SB 460 defines “commercial breeder” as anyone who owns or maintains at least 15 intact females of any age for the primary purpose of the sale of the offspring. This definition could include anyone who has bred even a single litter of puppies, including fanciers and show breeders.
* Warrantless inspections of private property. The bill allows law enforcement and local animal control to search the homes and private property of anyone who falls under the definition of “commercial breeder”.
* Directive for the NC Department of Agriculture to develop standards of care with no public input. SB 460 calls for the Department of Agriculture to develop care and condition policies for dogs belonging to commercial breeders. This does not allow for any input from dog breeders and others who are experts in animal care.
Additionally, the fiscal note attached to this bill states that this unnecessary measure would cost the state over $400,000 a year. At a time when the state is furloughing employees and facing a projected $3 billion budget gap, improved enforcement of existing laws would be a better investment for North Carolina.
How You Can Help:
Contact the members of the Senate Finance Committee TODAY. Tell the members of the committee that you oppose this bill, and urge them to oppose Senate Bill 460. The contact information is as follows:
Senator David Hoyle (Co-Chairman) NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 300-A Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 733-5734 E-mail: David.Hoyle@ncleg.net
Senator Daniel Clodfelter (Co-Chairman) NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 408 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 715-8331 E-mail: Daniel.Clodfelter@ncleg.net
Senator Clark Jenkins (Co-Chairman) NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 308 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 715-3040 E-mail: Clark.Jenkins@ncleg.net
Senator Larry Shaw (Vice-Chairman) NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 311 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 733-9349 E-mail: Larry.Shaw@ncleg.net
Senator Fletcher Hartsell, Jr. (Vice-Chairman) NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 518 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 733-7223 E-mail: Fletcher.Hartsell@ncleg.net
Senator Charles Albertson NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 523 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 733-5705 E-mail: Charlie.Albertson@ncleg.net
Senator Austin Allran NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 516 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 733-5876 E-mail: Austin.Allran@ncleg.net
Senator Tom Apodaca NC Senate 16 W. Jones Street, Room 1127 Raleigh, NC 27601-2808 Phone: (919) 733-5745 E-mail: Tom.Apodaca@ncleg.net
Senator Bob Atwater NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 312 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 715-3036 E-mail: Bob.Atwater@ncleg.net
Senator Philip Berger NC Senate 16 W. Jones Street, Room 1026 Raleigh, NC 27601-2808 Phone: (919) 733-5708 E-mail: Phil.Berger@ncleg.net
Senator Charlie Dannelly NC Senate 16 W. Jones Street, Room 2010 Raleigh, NC 27601-2808 Phone: (919) 733-5955 E-mail: Charlie.Dannelly@ncleg.net
Senator Eleanor Kinnaird NC Senate 16 W. Jones Street, Room 2115 Raleigh, NC 27601-2808 Phone: (919) 733-5804 E-mail: Ellie.Kinnaird@ncleg.net
Senator Floyd McKissick, Jr. NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 621 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 733-4599 E-mail: Floyd.McKissick@ncleg.net
Senator Joe Sam Queen NC Senate 16 W. Jones Street, Room 1117 Raleigh, NC 27601-2808 Phone: (919) 733-3460 E-mail: Joe.Queen@ncleg.net
Senator David Rouzer NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 520 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919)733-5748 E-mail: David.Rouzer@ncleg.net
Senator R.C. Soles, Jr. NC Senate 16 W. Jones Street, Room 2022 Raleigh, NC 27601-2808 Phone: (919) 733-5963 E-mail: RC.Soles@ncleg.net
Senator Harris Blake NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 517 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 733-4809 E-mail: Harris.Blake@ncleg.net
Senator Julia Boseman NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 309 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 715-2525 E-mail: Julia.Boseman@ncleg.net
Senator Andrew Brock NC Senate 16 W. Jones Street, Room 1119 Raleigh, NC 27601-2808 Phone: (919) 715-0690 E-mail: Andrew.Brock@ncleg.net
Senator Harry Brown NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 521 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 715-3034 E-mail: Harry.Brown@ncleg.net
Senator Don East NC Senate 16 W. Jones Street, Room 1120 Raleigh, NC 27601-2808 Phone: (919) 733-5743 E-mail: Don.East@ncleg.net
Senator Tony Foriest NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 411 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 301-1446 E-mail: Tony.Foriest@ncleg.net
Senator Linda Garrou NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 627 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 733-5620 E-mail: Linda.Garrou@ncleg.net
Senator Eddie Goodall NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 332 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 733-7659 E-mail: Eddie.Goodall@ncleg.net
Senator Steve Goss NC Senate 16 W. Jones Street, Room 1028 Raleigh, NC 27601-2808 Phone: (919) 733-5742 E-mail: Steve.Goss@ncleg.net
Senator Neal Hunt NC Senate 16 W. Jones Street, Room 1102 Raleigh, NC 27601-2808 Phone: (919) 733-5850 E-mail: Neal.Hunt@ncleg.net
Senator Martin Nesbitt, Jr. NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 300-B Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 715-3001 E-mail: Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net
Senator Jean Preston NC Senate 16 W. Jones Street, Room 1121 Raleigh, NC 27601-2808 Phone: (919) 733-5706 E-mail: Jean.Preston@ncleg.net
Senator William Purcell NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 625 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 733-5953 E-mail: William.Purcell@ncleg.net
Senator Tony Rand NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 300-C Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 733-9892 E-mail: Tony.Rand@ncleg.net
Senator Bob Rucho NC Senate 16 W. Jones Street, Room 1118 Raleigh, NC 27601-2808 Phone: (919) 733-5655 E-mail: Bob.Rucho@ncleg.net
Senator Josh Stein NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 410 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919)715-6400 E-mail: Josh.Stein@ncleg.net
Senator Richard Stevens NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 406 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 733-5653 E-mail: Richard.Stevens@ncleg.net
Senator A.B. Swindell NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 629 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 715-3030 E-mail: AB.Swindell@ncleg.net
Senator Jerry Tillman NC Senate 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 628 Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Phone: (919) 733-5870 E-mail: Jerry.Tillman@ncleg.net
Senator David Weinstein NC Senate 16 W. Jones Street, Room 2108 Raleigh, NC 27601-2808 Phone: (919) 733-5651 E-mail: David.Weinstein@ncleg.net