Rottweileronline.net

Permission to cross post

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

To all California dog clubs:

For the past two months, AKC has been strongly opposing California Assembly Bill 1634, which proposes to mandate the spaying or neutering of all dogs except those with an intact animal permit. The bill is currently under consideration by the Assembly Appropriations Committee. We are confident in the economic impact arguments we are making to its members.

Proponents of this bill, including its sponsor, have said that purebred dog breeders are not interested in being part of the solution to California's purported pet population issues. In addition to our substantive arguments on the bill's merits, to be ultimately successful in defeating this legislation, we must demonstrate that California's purebred dog breeders and fanciers contribute to the well-being of their communities.

We write to you today because we are interested in learning the ways your club has benefited your local community. For example, have you awarded scholarships for junior handlers or veterinary school students? Have you made donations to local animal health or welfare causes? Has your club held a Responsible Dog Ownership Day event? My goal is to compile a list of all the great things California clubs have done that have benefited their communities, and use this as another way to show not only that the merits of AB 1634 are terribly misguided, but also that, unlike what the opposition is saying, purebred dog breeders and fanciers do indeed contribute to the betterment of their communities.

We encourage you to send your clubs' list of good works to pmg@akc.org
Because of time constraints, we ask that all responses be submitted by this Friday, May 4, 2007.

On behalf of the Canine Legislation Department staff, thank you for your continued efforts to defeat this onerous legislation.

Best regards,

Phil M. Guidry, J.D.
Legislative Analyst
Canine Legislation Department
pmg@akc.org

P.S. For further information, please access our California Spay/Neuter Action Center at http://www.akc.org/canine_legislation/C ... center.cfm, or contact the Canine Legislation Department at (919) 816-3720.