Mustard & Pepper Fall 2022

Legislative Report

guage was opposed by the AKC, the California Veteri- nary Medical Association, the Animal Health Institute and the California Animal Welfare Association. The law ’ s language was then amended to “ Dog and Cat Wel- fare ” and required shelters to post a list of guidelines of what dogs and cats deserve rather than what dogs and cats have a right to receive, including such things as proper shelter, protection from cruelty, and veterinary care. After the bill ’ s language was amended the AKC took a neutral stance on the bill itself, but numerous shelters and rescues throughout the state remained opposed as they were concerned about enforcement for failure to provide/post the list of recommendations, and the pre- sumption/implication that all owners who give up their animals for adoption are bad owners who failed to pro- vide basic care. During the debate on the bill some Sena- tors raised the shelters ’ concerns which, following the bill ’ s defeat, has since led the bill ’ s radical supporters to attack these shelters for failing to care about animals. The second legislative success was AB 1901 “ Disclosure Requirements for Dog Trainers. ” This bill would have required all trainers to be regulated as boarding facilities and included 13 pages of new requirements. It was sig- nificantly amended to require simply the disclosure of a trainer ’ s name and address as well as any civil judg- ments or animal cruelty convictions. These successes come from grassroots organization and time for the extensive lobbying and education of the law- makers concerned, but it can be done. It is possible to defeat the equally determined activists; with both vigi- lance and a willingness to get involved at the local level more such successes will be possible in the future. 

by Katherine Jacobson, Legislative Liaison

The AKC has scored some recent successes in thwarting efforts to impinge on the rights of dog owners and breed- ers. In the summer issue, I wrote about the dangers posed by Senate Bill 2994 in Massachusetts. The bill was origi- nally intended to address injuries and deaths at dog day- care facilities but became an anti - breeder/owner bill that included requirements for all types of commercial board- ing or training kennels. Moreover, it included several provisions that would have negatively impacted individ- ual dog owners, as it included restrictions on the right to own and keep dogs as well as making changes to state law that would have resulted in duplicative license re- quirements. Finally, the bill would have removed the current law ’ s protections for the owners of personal ken- nels. Thanks to the AKC and dog owners and breeders from across the state who mounted a grassroots effort to in- form legislators about the dangers posed by the bill to the “ personal kennel ” protections enjoyed by hobby breeders in Massachusetts, the bill died in the Massachu- setts House of Representatives. However, it is clear that the supporters of S. 2994 will continue their campaign to eliminate the “ personal kennel ” protections currently enjoyed by dog breeders and owners in upcoming legis- lative sessions so the AKC will continue to monitor the issue should it arise again. Meanwhile, in California, the State Legislature ad- journed with some significant victories for dog owners. First among them was the defeat of AB 1881 —Dog and Cat Welfare—formerly titled the “ Dog and Cat Bill of Rights. The bill as originally written used the language of animal rights to enforce strict rules regarding the care of animals at shelters and rescues in the state. This lan-

Dandie Dinmont Terrier… The Dog That Makes You Smile!

Paul Keevil, Dandie Dinmont Terrier breeder Dormansland, Surrey, England

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Fall 2022