April 29, 2007
Assembly Appropriations Committee
ATTN: Chuck Nicol, Committee Consultant
State Capitol, Room 2114
Sacramento, California 95814
FAX: (916) 319-2181
Subject: CA AB 1634 as amended by the Business and Professions Committee
on 4/24/07 – OPPOSE
Dear Committee Consultant Nicol,
I am the Chairperson of the Legislative Committee for the Pembroke
Welsh
Corgi Club of America, Inc. (PWCCA), a third generation native
Californian and a resident of the state for over 40 years. I am writing
you today to urge the California Assembly Appropriations Committee
to
vote against CA AB 1634, otherwise known as the California Health
Pets
Act as amended by the Business and Professions Committee on April
24, 2007.
In past decades, breeders sold dogs without regard to spay/neuter
requirements. Nowadays, responsible breeders, many of whom are members
of American Kennel Club affiliate breed clubs such as the PWCCA, have
as
part of their Code of Ethics the requirement that pet quality animals
be
placed with a spay/neuter requirement. If necessary, every dog bred
may
be returned to the breeder at any point during its lifetime. These
dogs
do not enter shelters.
The purebred rescue programs operated by the volunteers of AKC breed
clubs represent an unrecognized force that assumes responsibility
for
thousands of dogs in California that are surrendered by the public.
Breed clubs also work proactively with local shelters and take
responsibility for their breed if one somehow turns up in a shelter.
The
hobbyist purebred dog breeder is not a burden to the taxpayer but
in
truth benefits the residents of California by taking responsibility
and
mitigating some of the cost incurred by shelters in the state.
Proponents of AB1634 claim that restriction of individual rights
is
sometimes necessary for the public good. They point to the motorcycle
helmet law that restricts the right to ride without head protection
because it saves the taxpayer money when injuries occur. However,
all
motorcycle riders must follow the law, not just a select group of
riders. AB1634 discriminates against one group of animal owners and
forces them to carry the burden for all. This is patently unfair policy
that arbitrarily punishes one set with no proof that the penalized
are
guilty of causing the problem.
Responsible breeders do not drain California’s fiscal resources,
instead
they substantially contribute to the State’s economic health
by retail
purchases, utilizing private service businesses, paying an array of
taxes, and taking responsibility for purebred dogs needing rescue.
The
State of California should not be in the business of disturbing good
sense and commerce by enacting restrictions and undefined surcharges,
but AB 1634 does precisely that. Please vote to oppose AB 1634.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Carrie A. Chase RN, BSN
Chair, Legislative Committee
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America, Inc.
www.pembrokecorgi.org
615 Steeple Chase Lane
Martinsburg, WV 25404
304/274-5939
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