A new AKC Legislative Alert has been posted to the AKC web site:

NC ALERT: Strict Breeder Bill To Be Heard On Tuesday, June 30!
[Friday, June 26, 2009]
Senate Bill 460, a bill which regulates breeders and infringes on the rights of responsible dog owners, will be heard in the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday, June 30.
All responsible dog breeders and owners in North Carolina are encouraged to attend the hearing on Tuesday in opposition to the bill. We need to show strong opposition to SB 460. While attendees will not be able to speak in opposition, NUMBERS MATTER! If you are unable to attend, please call or e-mail the members of the committee and ask them to oppose SB 460.
The American Kennel Club is appalled by the conditions in which some dogs are kept and abhors animal cruelty. However, as the AKC wrote in a letter to the Finance Committee , Senate Bill 460 is a costly, ineffective bill that punishes responsible breeders and owners and does nothing to help the dogs kept in deplorable conditions.
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. * Inspections of private property at any time. 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” at any time of day or night. * 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.
This bill is unnecessary, as North Carolina already has laws that address animal cruelty and mistreatment. Senate Bill 460 will do nothing to address irresponsible breeding and will cost the state over $400,000 a year to enforce. At a time when the state is facing a projected $3 billion budget gap, improved enforcement of existing laws would be a better use of North Carolina taxpayers’ money.
How You Can Help:
* Attend the Senate Finance Committee hearing on Tuesday, June 30. The details are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 Time: 1:00 p.m. Location: North Carolina Legislative Office Building Room 544 16 W. Jones Street Raleigh, North Carolina
* 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. A phone call would be most effective. E-mail is acceptable, but we ask that you also call.
Click here for basic phone scripts for breeders and fanciers.
The contact information for the committee is as follows:
Senator David Hoyle (Co-Chairman) Phone: (919) 733-5734 E-mail: David.Hoyle@ncleg.net
Senator Daniel Clodfelter (Co-Chairman) Phone: (919) 715-8331 E-mail: Daniel.Clodfelter@ncleg.net
Senator Clark Jenkins (Co-Chairman) Phone: (919) 715-3040 E-mail: Clark.Jenkins@ncleg.net
Senator Larry Shaw (Vice-Chairman) Phone: (919) 733-9349 E-mail: Larry.Shaw@ncleg.net
Senator Fletcher Hartsell, Jr. (Vice-Chairman) Phone: (919) 733-7223 E-mail: Fletcher.Hartsell@ncleg.net
Senator Charles Albertson Phone: (919) 733-5705 E-mail: Charlie.Albertson@ncleg.net
Senator Austin Allran Phone: (919) 733-5876 E-mail: Austin.Allran@ncleg.net
Senator Tom Apodaca Phone: (919) 733-5745 E-mail: Tom.Apodaca@ncleg.net
Senator Bob Atwater Phone: (919) 715-3036 E-mail: Bob.Atwater@ncleg.net
Senator Philip Berger Phone: (919) 733-5708 E-mail: Phil.Berger@ncleg.net
Senator Charlie Dannelly Phone: (919) 733-5955 E-mail: Charlie.Dannelly@ncleg.net
Senator Eleanor Kinnaird Phone: (919) 733-5804 E-mail: Ellie.Kinnaird@ncleg.net
Senator Floyd McKissick, Jr. Phone: (919) 733-4599 E-mail: Floyd.McKissick@ncleg.net
Senator Joe Sam Queen Phone: (919) 733-3460 E-mail: Joe.Queen@ncleg.net
Senator David Rouzer Phone: (919)733-5748 E-mail: David.Rouzer@ncleg.net
Senator R.C. Soles, Jr. Phone: (919) 733-5963 E-mail: RC.Soles@ncleg.net
Senator Harris Blake Phone: (919) 733-4809 E-mail: Harris.Blake@ncleg.net
Senator Julia Boseman Phone: (919) 715-2525 E-mail: Julia.Boseman@ncleg.net
Senator Andrew Brock Phone: (919) 715-0690 E-mail: Andrew.Brock@ncleg.net
Senator Harry Brown Phone: (919) 715-3034 E-mail: Harry.Brown@ncleg.net
Senator Don East Phone: (919) 733-5743 E-mail: Don.East@ncleg.net
Senator Tony Foriest Phone: (919) 301-1446 E-mail: Tony.Foriest@ncleg.net
Senator Linda Garrou Phone: (919) 733-5620 E-mail: Linda.Garrou@ncleg.net
Senator Eddie Goodall Phone: (919) 733-7659 E-mail: Eddie.Goodall@ncleg.net
Senator Steve Goss Phone: (919) 733-5742 E-mail: Steve.Goss@ncleg.net
Senator Neal Hunt Phone: (919) 733-5850 E-mail: Neal.Hunt@ncleg.net
Senator Martin Nesbitt, Jr. Phone: (919) 715-3001 E-mail: Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net
Senator Jean Preston Phone: (919) 733-5706 E-mail: Jean.Preston@ncleg.net
Senator William Purcell Phone: (919) 733-5953 E-mail: William.Purcell@ncleg.net
Senator Tony Rand Phone: (919) 733-9892 E-mail: Tony.Rand@ncleg.net
Senator Bob Rucho Phone: (919) 733-5655 E-mail: Bob.Rucho@ncleg.net
Senator Josh Stein Phone: (919)715-6400 E-mail: Josh.Stein@ncleg.net
Senator Richard Stevens Phone: (919) 733-5653 E-mail: Richard.Stevens@ncleg.net
Senator A.B. Swindell Phone: (919) 715-3030 E-mail: AB.Swindell@ncleg.net
Senator Jerry Tillman Phone: (919) 733-5870 E-mail: Jerry.Tillman@ncleg.net
Senator David Weinstein Phone: (919) 733-5651 E-mail: David.Weinstein@ncleg.net
Senator Dan Blue Phone: (919) 833-1931 E-mail: Dan.Blue@ncleg.net
For more information, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at (919) 816-3720; or e-mail doglaw@akc.org.