Update 3/14

H 1034 Companion Bill to SF 121is expected to be heard on Thursday, 3/15 in the House Public Safety & Civil Justice Committee on at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is at: 500S State Office Building;
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, MN 55155. Call the Committee Administrator to confirm (651-296-4283).  Please attend the hearing if possible. Contact the committee members and let them know you oppose this bill. Summary and discussion points are the same as SF 121.

State of Minnesota
House Public Safety & Civil Justice
State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155
651/296-2314

Committee Members:

Joe Mullery (Ch)(DFL-58A Hennepin)

651/296-4262
rep.joe.mullery@house.mn

Jeremy Kalin (V-Ch)(DFL-17B Chisago)

Karla Bigham (DFL-57A Washington, Dakota)

651/296-4342
rep.karla.bigham@house.mn

Tony Cornish (R-24B Blue Earth, Waseca, Faribault)

Chris DeLaForest (R-49A Anoka)

Tom Emmer (R-19B Wright)
651/296-4336
rep.tom.emmer@house.mn

Debra Hilstrom (DFL-46B Hennepin)

651/296-3709
rep.debra.hilstrom@house.mn

Sheldon Johnson (DFL-67B Ramsey)

Scott Kranz (DFL-51A Anoka)
651/296-4226
rep.scott.kranz@house.mn

Michael Paymar (DFL-64B Ramsey)

Steve Simon (DFL-44A Hennepin)
651/296-9889
rep.steve.simon@house.mn

Torrey Westrom (R-11A Grant, Stevens)

651/296-4929
rep.torrey.westrom@house.mn
 

Original Notice 2/25

SF 121

WRITE OR EMAIL YOUR OPPOSITION TO SF 121!

The Dog and Cat Breeders Act introduced in the Minnesota legislature will require licensing and inspection of even small breeders. You fall under the act if you “possess” 6 or more intact adult (20 weeks or older) female dogs and cats in any combination. Under the bill you possess an animal if you own, have an ownership interest in, care for, have custody of or have control over the animal. SF 121 will place a multitude of strict, detailed care, transportation, breeding and reporting requirements on breeders including a minimum of annual inspections (no notice required). SF 121 allows for the seizure of animals for violations that threatens the health and well being of the animals but subsequent euthanasia need not be due to the health or well being of the animal.

Points:

• 6 intact female cats represents a small breeder. 5 females cats are the bare minimum needed for a breeder to have genetic diversity.
• Possess as defined in SF 121 is excessively broad. You would “possess” an animal that you co-owned even if the animal lived in another state, animals temporarily located in your home for stud service, or holding an animal for evaluation for show potential past the age of 20 weeks.
• Inspection without notice is an unjustified intrusion into the privacy of a person’s home and bedroom which are not “open during normal business hours.” Indeed many hobby breeders will be working elsewhere during normal business hours. Investigations can be initiated by a single complaint and a single correction order may be assessed a fine up to $10,000.
• The standards of care are excessively detailed, onerous and impractical for hobby breeders and which can be dangerous for the animals. Animals under 8 weeks old cannot be transported anywhere for any reason under this legislation. No outdoor housing for cats. Kittens cannot be housed with adults. SF 121 legislates husbandry practices which are best left to the breeder and/or their veterinarian such as when to breed a queen.
• Enforcement is going to be administratively burdensome and expensive for the state. It is also unnecessary due to the laws already on the books in Minnesota.
• Good breeders will be eliminated because of the unrealistic requirements of the anti-breeding agenda included in SF 121.

Kelly Crouch