Tennessee Action Alert

HB 386 Commercial Breeder Act introduced by Rep. Janis Sontany (D, Nashville) is scheduled to be heard in the Judiciary Committee on 4/29.

BILL SYNOPSIS

HB 386 classifies as a commercial breeder any person who possesses or maintains twenty (20) or more adult female dogs in whole or in part for the purpose of the sale of their offspring as companion animals. Requires background checks before license can be granted. Although not written in the bill, it has been confirmed that engineering standards will be used for facilities.

* TALKING POINTS *

* HB 386 assumes that an owner of 20 or more dogs or cats isn’t capable of managing and maintaining their animals in good health without state intervention. Numerical limits should not be used as the basis of legislation as numbers do not equate to the level of care a dog or cat receives.

* HB 386 calls for high license fees that could be easily increased.

* Background checks are required in order to obtain a license, treating dog/cat breeders as if they are potential criminals.

* It is already law that sales tax must be collected on puppy sales; creating and funding a huge regulatory scheme on breeders in order to collect tax is unnecessary and extreme.

* Enforcement of existing tax law and animal welfare laws are sufficient and new laws are not needed.

* Tennessee is facing a billion dollar budget shortfall. It is irresponsible to add approximately six million dollars to the budget to fund an inspection program that might cover a few hundred dog breeders.

ACTION NEEDED NOW! PLEASE CALL, FAX, AND EMAIL HOUSE JUSTICE COMMITTEE AND OPPOSE HB 386:

Rep. Kent Coleman (D, 49) – Chair
Phone (615) 741-6829 / Fax (615) 253-0332
rep.kent.coleman@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Jon Lundberg (R, Bristol) – Vice Chair
Phone (615) 741-7623 / Fax (615) 253-0272
rep.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Eddie Bass (D, 65)
Phone (615) 741-1864 / Fax (615) 741-1005
rep.eddie.bass@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Karen D. Camper (D, 87)
Phone (901) 315-8899
Phone: (615) 741-1898
rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Vance Dennis (R, 71)
Phone: (615) 741-2190 / Fax: (615) 253-0377
rep.vance.dennis@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Henry Fincher (D,42) Vice Chair
Phone (615) 741-1875
rep.henry.fincher@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Brian Kelsey (R,83), Chair
Phone (901) 522-9000
Phone (615) 741-4415 / Fax (615) 253-0349

rep.brian.kelsey@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Mike Stewart (D, 52)
Phone: (615) 741-2184
rep.mike.stewart@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Chad Faulkner (R, 36)
Phone: (615) 741-3335
rep.chad.faulkner@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Judd Matheny (R, 47)
Phone (615) 741-7448 / Fax (615) 253-0226
rep.judd.matheny@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Eric Watson (R, 22)
Phone (615) 741-7799 / Fax (615) 253-0252
rep.eric.watson@capitol.tn.gov

Additional talking points and contact information are available on the SAOVA website http://www.saova.org/Tennessee2.html

ACTION ALERT TENNESSEE BILL HEARINGS 4/7/09

A SAOVA message to sportsmen, pet owners and farmers concerned about protecting their traditions, avocations and livelihoods from anti-hunting, anti-breeding, animal guardianship advocates. Forwarding and cross posting, with attribution, encouraged.
ACTION ALERT TENNESSEE BILL HEARINGS 4/7/09

Senate Bill 258, sponsored by Sen. Doug Jackson (D-25) and House Bill 386, sponsored by Rep. Janis Baird Sontany (D-53) will classify a Commercial Breeder as any person who possesses or maintains twenty (20) or more adult female dogs in whole or in part for the purpose of the sale of their offspring as companion animals. If even one litter of puppies is bred commercial breeder licensing would be required. Numerical limits should not be used as the basis of legislation as numbers do not equate to the level of care a dog or cat receives. Breeders must open homes for inspection that has no criteria. They can be fined, have licenses revoked and suspended for rules not yet written. The bill would allow the state to outsource some animal control work to HSUS or other outside animal organizations.

SB 258 is scheduled to be heard April 7 at 1 PM in the Senate Commerce Labor & Agriculture Committee.

HB 386 is scheduled to be heard April 7 at 12 Noon in the House Subcommittee on Civil Practice & Procedure.

Talking points, phone numbers, and contact information are posted on the SAOVA website: http://www.saova.org/Tennessee.html

Call, fax and email committee members until the hearings begin. Email committee members with ONE CLICK thru the SAOVA website! It is urgent to OPPOSE this radical animal rights legislation now!

Please share this message widely.

Susan Wolf
Sportsmen’s and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance – http://saova.org
Issue lobbying and working to identify and elect supportive legislators

The message above was posted to North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky residents by the Sportsmen’s and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance (SAOVA).

SAOVA is a nonpartisan volunteer group working to protect Americans from the legislative and political threats of radical animal rightists. It is the only national organization fighting this struggle for both sportsmen and animal owners, natural allies, in these arenas. Visit our website at http://saova.org for this program’s goals, methodology and list signup details.