Tax Proposal Fails
Additional Restrictions on Breeders Succeeds 5/29/09
Thank you to all who wrote and called the legislators in opposition to LD 964, whose title had been amended and proposed to read: An Act Pertaining to the Breeding and Selling of Dogs and Cats and Equitable Funding of Animal Welfare.' The proposal was defeated.We learned that in between Wednesday and Friday morning a substantial number of email and written letters were received in opposition to this bill and it's new proposed amendment, sight unseen. At the last minute many responsible, independent dog owners throughout the state who opposed LD 964 contacted the legislators for all the right reasons. The Federation of Maine Dog Clubs, The Maine Association of Animal Shelters, the Maine Municipal Association are among those who supported LD 964.
Among those in strong opposition to LD 964 were Maine Hunting and Sporting Dog Owners, the Maine Merchants Association, Maine Grocers Association, Maine Farm Bureau Association, Hannaford Brothers, Sportsman and Animal Voters Alliance, National Animal Interest Allaince, American Sporting Dog Association, and the Pet Food Industry.
Quotes from available written testimony submitted in the 24 hours prior to the meeting: "The concept of a 1% tax on pet food has not appeared in printed legislation. The bill to which the proposed tax would be added, LD 964, dealt with license fees for breeding kennels."
"The tier system of defining breeding kennels and the additional 1% tax on pet food (on top of the 5% we already pay) is unfair to responsible dog owners and breederswhile ineffective in improving licensing compliance or true animal WELFARE - just as the poorly thought out surcharge on puppies sold was (which had to go back and berepealed) and now the vendors licenses, which though a good idea, the department is admittedly unable or unwilling to enforce."
"We did not testify on the orginal bill, since [LD 964] had no direct impact on our sales of pet food... We believe that increasing the tax on pet foodwill make it increasingly difficult for many of our customers to feed, and therefore keep, their pets."
"We could support funding a well managed and successful animal welfare program, with reasonable laws that foster trust between the department, legislators, and dog owners... LD 964 does little to promote responsible animal ownership, ethical breeding programs, or acceptable practices of animal husbandry.'"It would be grossly unfair that pet owners, especially those who already devote a great deal of their own personal time and money in efforts to educate the public about responsible pet ownership should bare the burden of the Animal Welfare Program. I would like to point out that since the citizens of Maine are already struggling financially, they would simply be forced to purchase cheaper pet food and their pets would receive poorer nutrition. That makes no sense at all. I would also like to ask the committee to vote no on LD 964. Much of it would require even more money to enforce and does not address the real problems of animal welfare in Maine. It specifically attacks those who are providing the citizens of Maine with well-bred and sound animals as well as those who, through their proven devotion to their animals, provide the education pet owners need. And at no cost to the taxpayer."
"Instead of forcing the 40% of responsible owners who license their dogs and kennels properly to pay even more, why not make a real effort to enforce compliance from those who don’t bother to go by the rules. That alone would add another $700,000 to the AWP..."We were disappointed that less than 6 people were in attendance to represent responsible breeders at the work session. This was the most important work session of the year for what has always been essentially an anti-breeders bill. This perception was further evidenced by 'one Senators' remark that "many dog owners expressed their opposition to the bill but those dog owners are people who don't license their dogs anyway." More than one dog-owning committee member opposed this bill and most were offended by the comment.
At the 'midnight hour' just before the committee voted on the bill it became clear that a very important request made by the Federation of Maine Dog Clubs for major/substantive language was not going to be honored. 'One Senator' said that routine/technical language had always been part of a particular process, and felt it should remain that way. His opinion was quickly dismissed by the majority of the committee when one member was alerted to the obvious omission of the language.
LD 964 was voted - Ought to Pass as Amended and will go to the House next week. The breeding kennel definition language remains, a result of the LD 2010 task force group. The one consolation is the inclusion of the 'major/substantive language. Perhaps the legislature will entertain the concept of purpose driven kennel definitions however it was not mentioned in today's meeting.
Sincerely,
Ann H. Short
AKC Legislative Liaison to the Central Maine Brittany Club
Member Maine Bird Dog Club
Maine Hunting / Sporting Dog Owners
Kennebec Journal Report:
Augusta,ME,USA -- A legislative committee scrapped a proposal Friday to impose a 1 percent tax on pet food, saying the idea needs more public input. The Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee was looking for a way to raise money for the state's animal welfare program.
Initially, the committee approved for a new tax and reduce dog licensing fees to offset the cost of the tax. The committee reconsidered that vote Friday and decided to impose a series of minor changes. Rep. Nancy Smith, D-Monmouth, said she could not support the 1 percent tax. "This is not even a Band-Aid on a broken leg," she said. "We need to think bigger than we are here."
The committee voted to look at the issue in the summer and possibly report back legislation next year. Some members felt the public did not have a chance to comment about the tax.
Also, Rep. Wendy Pieh, D-Bremen, said she'd like to look at ways to give state animal control officials more power to decide the proper course of treatment for abused and neglected animals. She said the state spends thousands of dollars keeping injured animals alive that have been seized from abusive homes. "I'd like to take a look at how we can strengthen language that gives you more opportunity to make the decision as if it were your own pet," Pieh said to Norma Worley, who leads the state's animal welfare program.
Susan Cover -- 620-7015 scover@centralmaine.com
