Friday, June 08, 2007

AB1643 - California Health Pets Act

SayUncle and Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease have both picked up on the fact that AB1634 passed the California General Assembly last week. Both blogs are focusing on the fact that if you are a breeder of pure-breds, you are exempt from this bill. Truth is, in order to be exempt you have to be licensed breeder, subjecting yourself to the whims of local and state legislation and regulation. Ok, so you're saying 'So what?'. What if you're a hobby breeder, raising show dogs or as we do, raise performance hounds in order to preserve function? In Sacramento, an intact dog or cat will cost you $150 for a license. Most of these hobby breeders aren't making any money, just doing it to try to preserve and hone function. The vast majority come off the hip for vaccinations, feed, exams, to the tune of thousands. We're supposed to shell out more money for an already losing proposition?

So, just to be fair, this isn't class warfare. It's not pure-bred v. mutt. What it comes down to is we all need to stick together to fight more government intrusion in our lives!

3 comments:

The Raven said...

We've been discussing this locally too:


"Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression"

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Limiting who can and cannot breed animals is an infringment on our
rights to free expression. These new laws would make people unable to advertise their dogs (bye bye freedom of the press) and go
underground. We're not Russia....yet.



"Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure"

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."


If a person is thought to be breeding dogs, or having something not neutered, are they going to march into the person's home and fine them and seize the animal? It sure sounds like that is what they want to do. According to the 4th Amendment, that would be a direct violation. Do we really want our tax money going for warrants to search for animnals deemed illegal? I dunno, I'd rather they be taking down non-registered sex offenders and other people that are actually
causing harm to society.

What is happening to America? Just about every country in the world
hates us, and they are worried about dogs and cats. Makes me ill.

*Steps off soapbox*

Daniel Gauss said...

I believe the exemption you can purchase is also only a "one time" thing. Personally, I think this thing will go down for one simple reason: Money. Once the chambers of commerce and hotel and restaurant people get in line with the opposition (and how could they not?) it will lose support in a hurry. You can't replace the 27+ million dollars that the AKC/Eukanuba Classic brought to Long Beach, and probably an equally large amount in Lompoc with "breeder fees". They won't want to see that money go to Las Vegas or Phoenix or Portland.

The Raven said...

I also heard that the Santa Barbara show will be pulled from CA if this doesn't dtop...now THAT was a big money maker for the area!