Newest Dog Legislation Affecting German Shepherd Breeders

What YOU Can Do!

The American Kennel club has a petition (http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/join-with-the-akc-to-protect-responsible-small-breeders.html) with close to 40,000 signatures, requesting breeders and dog owners to share their concern with proposed regulations (RIN 0579-AD57). An open comment period to address concerns of the proposed rule changes can be found at the Government Regulations site, and the proposed.

It is extremely important that dog breeders and pet owners respond and post a comment on how the rule change might affect you.

Respond at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0003-0001

New APHIS Rule Changes

The Start of the New APHIS Rule Changes?

The APHIS proposed rule changes of May 16, 2012 were brought on by:

1) A continuing struggle between animal rights groups (HSUS) & hobby dog breeders. In 2003, after a prolonged court battle, the Supreme Court would not hear a case that emphasized that the intent of the AWA (Animal Welfare Act) was to regulate wholesalers, not retail stores, and that APHIS was within their bounds to define home breeders as ‘retail stores.” The Animal Rights groups then introduced a series of bills in Congress to have those home breeders regulated, including the PUPS bill.

2) A scathing USDA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) 2010 report on APHIS enforcement of the regulations of commercial dealers which increased inspections of commercial breeders, with emphasis on enforcement and monetary penalties rather than education & clarification of regulations.

The Result?

USDA/APHIS proposed rule changes that include retail breeders. Their rationale? Several hundred commercial breeders had found a ‘loophole” and were selling retail over the internet, rather than retaining their USDA license because of the increased enforcement and monetary penalties.