07-27-2005, 03:38 AM
Hadn\'t seen any posts on this group concerning the proposed PAWS legislation. Whether or not your breed is considered \"commercial\", if you sell breeding or show stock, and this bill passes, you could very well fall under the requirement of having to obtain a USDA license to stay in \"business\". If you value your right to participate in this wonderful pastime of breeding and showing rabbits, please give your input.
The PAWS bill is NOT dead. Please join in the effort to discourage its passage in the Senate and the House. You can make your feelings known by calling the Senate Ag Committee and telling them you oppose PAWS 1139/HB2669: (202)224-2035 (Takes about 1 minute of your time.)
Access the Ag Senate Committee via their website:
http://agriculture.senate.gov/sen.htm (You can e-mail any or all of the Committee members or the Chair - as I did.)
Contact the PAWS bill\'s author - Senator Santorem at 202-224-6324 or e-mail him through his website at: http://santorum.senate.gov
Following is my letter to Senator Santorem...
I am extremely distressed by your intent to implement the PAWS bill S1139/HB2669.
While no one would argue in favor of so called \"puppy mills\", etc., your bill would negatively impact small, hobby breeders and exhibitors of dogs, cats, rabbits, etc., including 4-H and FFA youth members.
Many individuals, through a LOVE of animals and an interest in genetics and exhibition, breed for QUALITY not QUANTITY. Yet your bill would impose licensure requirements and regulation by the USDA of these hobby breeders who can ill afford the extreme requirements USDA regs would impose.
Quality, purebred puppies and kittens can easily bring in over $500 from the sale of one to two animals. Hardly a \"puppy mill\" situation. It is not uncommon for quality show rabbits, for instance, to bring $50-$100 each. In this case, the sale of 5-10 purebred rabbits would put a rabbit hobbyist under your PAWS regulation requirements.
I have been both a volunteer and paraprofessional with the 4-H Youth Development Program for nearly 20 years in the states of CA, AZ, UT, and OR. For youth that wish to participate in animal science projects, but cannot keep large livestock due to finances or circumstances, the small animal projects (rabbits, poultry, cavies, etc.) have been an ideal outlet for participation. These young people, through the generosity of local businesses and individuals, often receive remuneration through their annual livestock auction which would meet or exceed the $500 limit set by your PAWS bill.
Is your intent through PAWS to ELIMINATE all keeping and breeding of pet-type animals as the ARA would love to see? PAWS, in fact, would do NOTHING to stop INDISCRIMINATE breeding. Irresponsible pet owners who allow their pets to have unwanted litter after litter would NOT be impacted. These people typically GIVE AWAY the results of their pets\' indiscretions. A large percentage of these animals wind up in shelters or roaming the streets. Countless of these are euthanized each year. Your PAWS bill does NOTHING to address this problem.
Responsible pet hobbyists provide a few quality animals that are much wanted and desired by others. These animals are well cared for and kept in excellent health. Remainng a participant in the hobby would end quickly if this were not the case.
I urge you to rethink your PAWS bill.
Charlcie Gill
Zodiac Rabbitry
Astoria, OR
http://www.zodiacsatins.com
The PAWS bill is NOT dead. Please join in the effort to discourage its passage in the Senate and the House. You can make your feelings known by calling the Senate Ag Committee and telling them you oppose PAWS 1139/HB2669: (202)224-2035 (Takes about 1 minute of your time.)
Access the Ag Senate Committee via their website:
http://agriculture.senate.gov/sen.htm (You can e-mail any or all of the Committee members or the Chair - as I did.)
Contact the PAWS bill\'s author - Senator Santorem at 202-224-6324 or e-mail him through his website at: http://santorum.senate.gov
Following is my letter to Senator Santorem...
I am extremely distressed by your intent to implement the PAWS bill S1139/HB2669.
While no one would argue in favor of so called \"puppy mills\", etc., your bill would negatively impact small, hobby breeders and exhibitors of dogs, cats, rabbits, etc., including 4-H and FFA youth members.
Many individuals, through a LOVE of animals and an interest in genetics and exhibition, breed for QUALITY not QUANTITY. Yet your bill would impose licensure requirements and regulation by the USDA of these hobby breeders who can ill afford the extreme requirements USDA regs would impose.
Quality, purebred puppies and kittens can easily bring in over $500 from the sale of one to two animals. Hardly a \"puppy mill\" situation. It is not uncommon for quality show rabbits, for instance, to bring $50-$100 each. In this case, the sale of 5-10 purebred rabbits would put a rabbit hobbyist under your PAWS regulation requirements.
I have been both a volunteer and paraprofessional with the 4-H Youth Development Program for nearly 20 years in the states of CA, AZ, UT, and OR. For youth that wish to participate in animal science projects, but cannot keep large livestock due to finances or circumstances, the small animal projects (rabbits, poultry, cavies, etc.) have been an ideal outlet for participation. These young people, through the generosity of local businesses and individuals, often receive remuneration through their annual livestock auction which would meet or exceed the $500 limit set by your PAWS bill.
Is your intent through PAWS to ELIMINATE all keeping and breeding of pet-type animals as the ARA would love to see? PAWS, in fact, would do NOTHING to stop INDISCRIMINATE breeding. Irresponsible pet owners who allow their pets to have unwanted litter after litter would NOT be impacted. These people typically GIVE AWAY the results of their pets\' indiscretions. A large percentage of these animals wind up in shelters or roaming the streets. Countless of these are euthanized each year. Your PAWS bill does NOTHING to address this problem.
Responsible pet hobbyists provide a few quality animals that are much wanted and desired by others. These animals are well cared for and kept in excellent health. Remainng a participant in the hobby would end quickly if this were not the case.
I urge you to rethink your PAWS bill.
Charlcie Gill
Zodiac Rabbitry
Astoria, OR
http://www.zodiacsatins.com