CFA Info

CFA Legislative ALERT

NEW YORK A11509

New York State breeders;  

A bill was just introduced a few days ago that would change the "Pet Dealer" definition in New York State law.  Cat and dog breeders are impacted.  A11509 has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Agriculture with a hearing scheduled for Tuesday, JUNE 17th and is being pushed to go through this session.  The summary refers only to the "sale of dogs" but this bill would make cat breeders who sell more than 9 cats/kittens in a year a "pet dealer"!  

Assembymember Magee is Chair of the Agriculture Committee AND a Co Sponsor of A11509.  

The Committee Agenda   

TUESDAY JUNE     17, 2008  --AGRICULTURE (MAGEE)
OFF THE FLOOR

A11509         RULES COM EDDINGTON, MCENENY, MAGEE, CROUCH
                   AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law and
                    the general business law, in relation to the  care of
                    animals by pet dealers and the sale of dogs

ACTION is needed immediately.  

READ the bill  

A11509 changes the Pet Dealer Laws - It REMOVES the part in the definition we've had for many years in New York State that clearly excludes dog and cat breeders who sell under 25 animals bred on their own residential premises as being considered dealers. 

"{; provided that a breeder who sells or offers to sell directly to  the  consumer fewer than twenty-five animals per year that are born and raised on the breeder`s residential premises shall not be considered a pet dealer as a result of selling or offering to sell such animals. } "  
This is to be removed.     

PROPOSED IN A11509 -  a dealer would be someone who keeps more than 4 intact female dogs, OR who sells more than 9 ANIMALS (this would include cat breeders - a person selling 2 litters of 5 kittens each or 3 litters of 4 average would be a pet dealer).   The existing Pet Dealer law is in Agriculture and Markets Sections -  

Starting with S400 - "Animal means a dog or a CAT".  

Pet dealers must comply with rigorous commercial standards not suitable for homes - animals must be housed in "primary enclosures or cages", surfaces impervious to moisture.  Veterinarian examination, diagnosis of any congenital conditions or any contagious disease prior to sale, record keeping, name/address for all buyers and other requirements.  

The proposed bill states that refusal to allow inspection of records or facilities during "normal business hours" is a violation. The license fee for dealers would be $100 or $300 based on gross sales amounts. Civil penalties for violations are from $200 to $2,500.   

THE IMPACT -  the loss of home breeding of pedigreed cats and dogs would adversely affect the citizens of New York State. 
**No serious cat breeding programs could survive, since breeding with genetic diversity requires more than 2 or 3 female cats and they will have more than 9 kittens/year. 
**Commercial dealer standards are unrealistic for home breeders - only commercial breeders would be welcome in the State. 
**Dedicated breed enthusiasts and hobby breeders will NOT want unannounced inspections of their homes and bedrooms.  They will not want their cats living in cages with hard surfaces.  Breeders' cats are pets who live with the family on couches and rugs.
**New York citizens will lose their very best source of well bred, home-raised kittens with predictable traits.  The cat fanciers, cat clubs and Championship Cat shows that educate the public and introduce people to the charm of all cats will disappear. 
** This law is not needed.  Large scale or substandard commercial breeding of cats is rare anywhere.  A residential setting is optimum for a moderate breeding cattery yet this will be impossible with A11509.  

WHAT CAN YOU DO -  

CONTACT Agriculture Committee members IMMEDIATELY. The bill is on the Tuesday June 17 agenda.
Find your own Assembly Member
The 21 Agriculture Committee members  
Email addresses and Albany phone numbers are on their websites. 

New York residents - Call your own Assemblymember if on this Committee. 
Everyone -  contact Chairman Magee (Co-sponsor) and the Assembly Speaker of the House, Sheldon Silver.  Contact Co-sponsors of A11509 on the Agriculture Committee:
      Clifford Crouch -   crouchc@assembly.state.ny.us 
        Phone - 518-455-5741
     John J. McEneny -  mcenenj@assembly.state.ny.us
        Phone - 518-455-4178  

Honorable William Magee
Chair, NYS Assembly Committee on Agriculture
Legislative Office Building 828
Albany, NY 12248
tel: 518-455-4807
fax: 518-455-5237
email: mageew@assembly.state.ny.us  

Honorable Sheldon Silver
Speaker, New York State Assembly
Legislative Office Building 932
Albany, NY 12248
tel: 518-455-3791
fax: 518-455-5459
email: speaker@assembly.state.ny.us  

Let's stop this bill.      

Sincerely yours,
s/Joan Miller
CFA Legislative Coordinator

To correspond with the CFA Legislative Committee, please send email to legislation@cfa.org