You're not alone.
This bill will do more to damage the future quality and quantity of Maine sporting, hunting, and hound dogs than any piece of legislation proposed in recent years. It is an incremental step in a much larger agenda of challenging the concept of owning pets and stopping what the animal right percieves as the "unethical practice" of purebred animals. This bill will effectively compress the supply and diminish the quality of sporting dogs for Maine citizens.
Many responsible Maine dog owners operate the most outstanding reputable, ethical, breeding kennels. Kennels like this include the best sporting dogs in the state...PERIOD. Retrievers such as Labradors and Goldens, Spaniels like Springers, Field and Cockers, Hounds like Walkers Black and Tans, Redbones, Blueticks, Beagles, Pointers like Shorthairs, Brittanies, Wirehairs and English, Setters like English, Red, Irish, and Gordons.
There are those who in the state legislature who say any breeder or kennel who opposes LD 964 must be hiding something, they are the ones who do not license their dogs. The fact of the matter is these kennels are open to the public, and those who are reputable and ethical, are in the majority - and proud to show off their breeding program.
This group of responsible dog owners believes:
LD 964 will tighten restrictions on all reputable breeders
LD 964 is expensive and places additional burdens on responsible breeders
LD 964 does nothing to protect animals
LD 964 will further motivate irresponsible breeders to avoid licensing
LD 964 builds on the incrementalism strategy of the animal rights industry..
The prevention and elimination of animal abuse, cruelty, and neglect are at the heart of the matter for responsible dog owners and breeders. LD 964 saw strong opposition when a tax surcharge on pet food was added to the existing language. That proposal was killed last Friday at the work session. Language which the responsible dog owners and breeders could support was added to the bill at the last moment.
The 3 tiered breeding kennel definition with increased fees still exists.
