Massachusetts - bad news for all dog owners

[glencorgi]

Heads up for MA forum members.
Debbie

American Kennel Club - Massachusetts HB 5092 Bad News For All Dog Owners

Everyone needs to weigh in on this - contact phone and emails at the end of the article.
THERE WILL BE NO HEARING!

MASSACHUSETTS HB 5092
BAD NEWS FOR ALL DOG OWNERS

[Thursday, September 11, 2008]
In a stunning procedural move, Massachusetts House Bill 1948, which was a reasonable
and non-discriminatory dangerous dog bill supported by both the AKC and the
Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs, has been replaced by House Bill 5092, a
conglomeration of many anti-dog, anti-responsible breeder, and anti-responsible owner
proposals. The American Kennel Club is not only deeply concerned with the many
unacceptable provisions of the bill, but is also disturbed by the procedural maneuver used
to deny the concerned dog-owning citizens of Massachusetts an opportunity to state their
objections to the egregious bill in a committee hearing format.

Representative Brad Hill sponsored HB 1948, the pragmatic dangerous dog bill, this
legislative session. That bill was assigned to the Joint Municipalities Committee, which
subsequently sent to it to "study". That action usually indicates that the bill will not be
considered for the remainder of the session. However, on July 28th, part of the bill was
recommitted to the Joint Municipalities Committee, which then produced HB 5092. Among
the many problematic provisions to HB 5092, the most egregious include:

- Imposing mandatory spay/neuter of all dogs over 12 months of age; or in the
alternative, owners will have to qualify for and annually purchase an intact animal permit
at a cost of up to $500 per dog.

- Limiting the number of reproductive events per female dog to one litter per year, with
few exceptions.

- Requiring the reporting of all sales of puppies to local jurisdictions.

- Eliminating the practice of humane tethering, without allowances for hunting or sled
dogs.

- Allowing towns and cities to impose breed-specific ordinances.

- Instituting state-mandated vaccination schedules, instead of allowing vaccination
schedules to be provided by, and in consultation with, a veterinarian.

- Establishing unreasonable nuisance laws that can result in the forced sterilization,
banishment, or euthanization of dogs.

For a copy of HB 5092, click here

Legislative staff in Massachusetts has confirmed with the Massachusetts Federation that
the House Steering, Policy, and Scheduling Committee currently has cognizance of the bill.
This committee does not consider the policy of pending legislation. Instead, it acts as a
manager of legislation, determining which bills will be sent to the full House for its
consideration, and the timing thereof. Effectively, this means that at any time the House
Steering, Policy, and Scheduling Committee will send HB 5092 to the full House for its
consideration and vote, effectively denying Massachusetts citizens the opportunity to
participate in the legislative process by stating their objections to the bill in a policy
committee hearing!

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
It is imperative that Massachusetts residents contact the members of the Steering, Policy,
and Scheduling Committee, and implore them to not send HB 5092 to the floor for a vote.
Instead, encourage them to send the bill back to the Joint Municipalities Committee for
consideration and public comment on the policies contained in HB 5092.

Members of Massachusetts House Steering, Policy, and Scheduling Committee

Representative Paul J. Donato RM. 185 State House Boston, MA 02133 PHONE: 617-722-
2960 FAX: 617-722-2713 Rep.PaulDonato@ hou.state. ma.us

Representative Joyce A. Spiliotis RM. 236 State House Boston, MA 02133 PHONE: 617-
722-2430 Rep.JoyceSpiliotis@ hou.state. ma.us

Representative Paul C. Casey RM. 238 State House Boston, MA 02133 PHONE: 617-722-
2380 Rep.PaulCasey@ hou.state. ma.us

Representative James B. Eldridge RM. 33 State House Boston, MA 02133 PHONE: 617-722-
2060 Rep.JamesEldridge@ hou.state. ma.us

Representative Alice Hanlon Peisch RM. 167 State House Boston, MA 02133 PHONE: 617-
722-2230 Rep.AlicePeisch@ hou.state. ma.us

Representative Denis E. Guyer RM. 443 State House Boston, MA 02133 PHONE: 617-722-
2460 Rep.DenisGuyer@ hou.state. ma.us

Representative Tom Sannicandro RM. 473F State House Boston, MA 02133 PHONE: 617-
722-2210 FAX: 508-626-0692 Rep.TomSannicandro@ hou.state. ma.us

Representative James T. Welch RM. 43 State House Boston, MA 02133 PHONE: 617-722-
2030 Rep.JamesWelch@ hou.state. ma.us

Representative Lori A. Ehrlich RM. 540 State House Boston, MA 02133 PHONE: 617-722-
2090 Rep.LoriEhrlich@ hou.state. ma.us

Representative Bradford Hill RM. 542 State House Boston, MA 02133 PHONE: 617-722-
2489 Rep.BradHill@ hou.state. ma.us

Representative Elizabeth A. Poirier RM. 542 State House Boston, MA 02133 PHONE: 617-
722-2976 FAX: 617-626-0108 Rep.ElizabethPoirie r@hou.state. ma.us

Massachusetts residents are also encouraged to contact their own state representative and
express their vehement opposition to egregious provisions of HB 5092, and urge them to
do the same. Massachusetts residents can find out who their state representative is by
inputting their zip code in the icon in the right column of this page. [see
Statewide

[pat_m]

We in New Hampshire don't call it "The People's Republic of Massachusetts" for nothing....

[MyPemCharlie]

Thanks for the heads up Debbie. I posted the link to this AKC News article and info on the Cairn Terrier forum. Since we dog owners are not a unified, well-funded, organized political action committee like the AR groups, our right to own pets is slipping away quickly and quietly one state...city....county at a time. Tick. Tick. Tick.

Please call your representatives if you live in Massachusetts.

[colbycorgi]

oh my gosh...we dont live in ma anymore but still...i have family that does with dogs...my brothers is still intact too....uh oh....further reason to stay in NH!!

[Jane Austen]

Hi June,

You can be assured that I do not support this bill. I will be working towards its defeat should it come to the floor of the House for a vote.

Rep. Hill

This is an Email I got in reply from Rep. Brad Hill. He is one of the Reps, on my list.
I emailed several Reps, even if they were not from my district. June

[Jane Austen]

This is part of a communication I received from Rep. James Eldridge.

Thank you for contacting my office regarding House Bill 5092 “An Act Relative to Animals.” The most recent public response to this particular bill has been unfavorable and justifiably so. I realize the importance of a dangerous dog bill while also maintaining the rights of responsible dog owners within the Commonwealth. Therefore, I oppose H.5092 and feel that it is important to keep this bill from becoming law.

[glencorgi]

That's good news June.

Debbie