Cross posting - VA bills to watch in 2008 -- BSL Watch

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Date Posted: 04:17:42 11/27/07 Tue
Author: Karen
Subject: Cross posting - VA bills to watch in 2008

Dear Virginia Friends,

The November 6th, 2007 election of 100 General Assembly Delegates and 40 Senators was both hotly contested and extremely expensive. The principal election news involved the Democrats net gain of four Senate seats in Fairfax County and Tidewater and control of that chamber for the first time since 1997.

The Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) endorsed twenty-nine Virginia legislators, sixteen Senate and nine House Democrats, plus four House GOP members. Twenty-seven of them were elected, or 93%. Sen. Ken Cuccinelli (R-SD37) was narrowly reelected despite HSUS's paid attack advertising and animal rightist door to door canvassing against him.

Retirements and successful challenges resulted in nine new Senators and ten Delegates. While none of these freshmen legislators is thought to be animal rightist or anti-hunting inclined, we have very significant cause for concern. The restructuring of the Senate has resulted in senior Democrats with disturbing agendas assuming key committee chairmanships. Numerous previously defeated bad animal bills are expected to be reintroduced in January and are much more likely to receive positive Senate consideration.

This dangerous situation is further compounded by the ill-founded "Virginia is for Puppy Mills" campaign of the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) and repercussions arising from the Vick dog fighting ring arrests. No, you aren't a miller or involved in dog fighting, but you are almost certainly going to be swept up in the emotionally charged atmosphere of the 2008 session's rush to pass new restrictive animal laws under new leadership. Three House GOP committee chairmen also retired, creating additional uncertainty in that chamber.

The following old and new bills are expected be on the 2008 General Assembly's docket:

Statewide dog tag cap raised to $35-50 for intact animals. A much lower fee will be required for sterilized dogs, even when such a differential loses revenue. Discounted kennel licenses for 10 or more dogs will require the owner to waive his privacy rights. Unannounced, warrantless "inspections" by animal control officers and volunteer "humane investigators" will be permitted; no probable cause of neglect or cruelty will be required. Note: there is no established standard for private facility inspections.

Small hobby breeders will be classified as "pet dealers," licensed and subject to commercial rules, including unannounced inspections.

Mandatory spay-neuter for most (all?) pets.

Mandatory microchipping for most (all?) canines.

Statewide tethering restrictions.

"Potentially dangerous" dogs.

Ban on dog owner tail docking and dew claw removal of new bornes.

Revised definition of "running at large" focused on hunting dogs.

Humane education SOL requirement in K-12 curriculum.

More volunteer humane investigators.

Animal protective orders and required cruelty cross reporting.

Tax credits for animal adoption and pet spay-neuter.

The above list isn't complete, as it only represents those bills currently being considered. Intrusive, no warrant inspections by ill-trained or untrained personnel is a new HSUS animal rightist initiative. Virginia's 2007 "Gotcha" rabies based licensing and identification system ensures that all of these measures can be strictly enforced, along with local pet limit ordinances.

Past failures of organized Old Dominion dog owners to fully understand these threats and to cooperate during General Assembly sessions, if repeated, virtually guarantee this agenda's adoption. VHDOA again stands ready to work with the officers and members of the clubs listed at http://vhdoa.uplandbirddog.com/vfdcb.html and others to protect our sport and animals.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Hunting Hounds Study.

DGIF's controversial Future of Hunting Hounds Study kicked off earlier this month with invited houndsmen focus group meetings in Farmville and Roanoke. http://www.dgif.state.va.us/hunting/hounds/ Seven additional focus group meetings, chaired by VT professor Steve McMullin, will be held during December. Shortly after the end of these information exchange sessions, a stakeholder group, representing various hunting and nonhunting interests, will be named to consider rule and statute changes.

Freely forward and cross post.

Sincerely,

Bob Kane, President
Virginia Hunting Dog Owners' Association
http://vhdoa.uplandbirddog.com/

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