What is PAWS?
- Legislation to shut down inhumane puppy mills and regulate commercial breeders.
- Legislaiton that may shut down thousands of hobby breeders and make operating a breed rescue impossible.
- Part of a plot by PETA to eventually outlaw all pets.
If you talk to people who breed, show, sell or rescue dogs, the Pet Animal Welfare Statute 2005, PAWS, may be any of the three things above.
It's S. 1139 and HR 2669.
Introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Rick Santorum, PAWS seeks to amend U.S.D.A. rules to define an animal dealer as a person who whelps and sells more than six litters a year, sells more than 25 animals a year, or sells animals they did not breed themselves.
Those defined as dealers would be subject to inspections and would be required to pay licensing fees and have facilities approved by the U.S.D.A. There are also regulations pertaining to import of pet animals.
The stated intention of the bill is to regulate puppy mills -- and many in the dog fancy would agree with this goal. However, many fear that some of the definitions are too broad and breed rescue organizations in particular would be put out of business.
Others fear that PETA's support comes because the animal rights organization sees the bill as a wedge to eventually increase regulation to put all animal breeders out of business.
The bill is supported by the American Kennel Club, AKC, and opposed by a number of other canine organizations -- and the Cat Fancier's Association, CFA. The cat group is alarmed by the possibility that cat breeders could be regulated for the first time.
I've been hearing about this bill for weeks now. I've been on the fence over whether to support or oppose it. I think I've come to a decision.
Good legislation is absolutely clear legislation. The informed reader can see exactly how the statute will be applied and what the consequences will be. Unfortunately, this bill isn't clear at all. If five knowledgeable people read it, they will come away with five different interpretations of its impact. Nobody is certain whether rescue organizations can be exempted. Nobody is sure whether selling a co-owned dog, along with several self-bred litters will turn a hobbyist into a breeder. Nobody knows whether the inspections will actually happen, and how stringently they will be applied.
But worse than that, this bill casts a federal net to deal with a local problem. Sure, there are dog breeders everywhere. But, as a general rule, if you can deal with a problem on the local level, you will do a better job if it than if you bring in the feds. Most communities have laws that deal with inhumane treatment of pet animals. If we focus public attention on reporting puppy mills locally, what need to we have for the U.S.D.A to get involved?
Why is conservative Rick Santorum trying to increase government regulation of pets?
