Legislation

One of the primary purposes of the of the Coeur d’ Alene Dog Fanciers is to promote the joy in ownership, health and welfare of the whole dog. To accomplish this, we strive to stay aware of canine legislation that would affect the dog and its’ owner and/or breeder. At this time dog owners throughout the country, in almost every state, and in many counties and cities are facing legislative proposals that have the potential to dramatically shape their futures and restrict their rights as owners, breeders, sportsman etc. Did you know that the dogs pictured above are dogs targeted by breed specific laws?

The only way that CDADF was able to help defeat the City of Coeur d’ Alene’s proposal for breed specific legislation was to stay informed, work with other interested community organizations, hold public meetings, and to get involved. Even one person can make a huge difference in poorly written bills.

The links listed in this area are related to legislation in different areas; local, regional and national. If we feel that a proposed bill is not in the best interest of the whole dog or is not written in the best interest of the dog or its owner, breeder or handler we will state so. We will also try to have ways for you to contact officials regarding the bills with your own thoughts and concerns.

AKC Government Relations Department
The AKC Government Relations Department assists state federations and local clubs in fighting anti-dog initiatives across the country, including those that contain numerical limits on ownership, excessive regulation, mandates on breeding ages without regard to reproductive differences within breeds or the use of reproductive technology, and in many cases, provisions that would allow for warrantless searches of private property including breeders' homes.

The first step in fighting anti-dog initiatives is keeping yourself informed. You can access pending canine legislation, bill text, official legislative summaries, the latest legislative developments, the progress of specific bills, and AKC legislative alerts and messages for your state with the new AKC Government Relations 2009 Legislation Tracking Tool.

Lewis County (WA State) Breeders Alert: Be sure to contact the person listed below to see the outcome, and what you can do.

There will be a meeting WED 12/01/09 in Chehalis, WA. in the Community Center room in the Government Offices - Located Across from Yardbirds Shopping Center. This meeting is regarding Licensing breeders in Lewis County and putting a limit on the number of dogs one can own. Please... cross post....we need a show of force. FMI: Contact Cathy Speers: cathyspears@ msn.com (also on FB)

Important information posted below about terrorists who call themselves "animal rights activists". If you truely care about living creatures, this is not the type of action to take, or a group to belong to.

CA: Animal rights activists vandalize property of UCI scientist

Thursday July 16, 2009 7:00 am (PDT)

Animal rights activists vandalize property of UCI scientist
July 15th, 2009, 8:18 pm · 29 Comments · posted by Gary Robbins, science
writer-editor

Most of the animals that UCI uses in research are mice and rats. Image
courtesy of Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine

The animal rights group known as the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) has
claimed responsibility for vandalism that was done to the property of an
internationally renowned UC Irvine pathologist, campus officials say.

ALF states in an email to this blog that, “On July 10, 2009 3 vehicles
and the home of a UC Irvine vivisector were hit by the ALF. 1 of his
cars (the fanciest of the 4 in front) was doused with paint stripper. 2
others had red paint poured all over them.

“More red paint was splattered across his driveway, and “KILLER” was
spray painted in huge red letters across his garage door so that all his
neighbors
could see what a cruel, sick person they live near.”

Sgt. Shaun Devlin of the UCI Police Department confirmed that an act of
vandalism occurred and that the department is investigating. Susan
Bryant, vice chancellor of research, also confirmed that there was an
incident. She added that, “We’re mystified why this person was targeted.”
selsted-copy

Pathologist Michael Selsted. Image courtesy of USC.

The attack was made against the property of Michael Selsted, a UCI
professor who recently took a leave of absence to become the chair of
pathology at the University of Southern California. But Selsted — who
specializes in studying pathogens that can cause disease — has not
formally left the Irvine faculty and he maintains a residence in UCI’s
University Hills.

Jeffrey Goodwin, director of UCI’s University Laboratory Animal
Resources, said in an email sent to campus researchers:

“The … incident has been reported to UCIPD and is under investigation.
The Professor involved has taken a leave of absence from UCI beginning
7-1-09 to work at another university although he still lives in
University Hills at UCI. This professor conducts research on rats and
mice at UCI but may currently be collaborating on non-human primate
studies at another institution. The professor has stated he had not been
the subject of any threats or action in the past.

“UCIPD has notified the institution where the involved Professor
currently works, as well as the FBI, and the Orange County Intelligence
Assessment Team. UCIPD detectives are conducting an additional follow-up
investigation and have placed heavy patrol checks on the professor’s
residence in University Hills. We are working with our University
Communications to prepare for any media inquiries.”

This blog reported last August that:

UCI uses about 75,000 research animals a year, roughly 95 percent of
which are mice and rats. The campus also uses larger animals, including
rabbits, pigs, guinea pigs and American alligators. No dogs are housed
on campus, although one UCI neuroscientist uses beagles at a facility in
New Mexico. UCI uses animals to study everything from memory to vision
to the cardiovascular system.

In 1988, activists broke into a UCI compound and stole 13 beagles that
were being used in a smog study. Things have been comparatively quiet on
campus since then. But that’s not the case elsewhere. (Summary of attacks).

UC officials say that, “An unoccupied UCLA van pool vehicle was set on
fire at a park-and-ride facility in Irvine (in June). Damage to the van
was extensive. (The) Animal Liberation Front (ALF) took credit for the
incident.”

ALF also took credit for causing $20,000 in damage to the home of a UCLA
professor in October 2007, as well as sending a “package containing
razor blades, animal fur, and oil” to a UCLA professor’s home three
months earlier, UC officials say. ALF further claimed responsibility for
a failed attempt to firebomb a UCLA professor. The bomb was mistakenly
placed at a neighbor’s home, and did not ignite.

In August 3, 2007, Warren Wilson, Chief Deputy City Attorney of Coeur d’Alene sent a memo (see memo here) to a number of individuals involved in animal management within the city of Coeur d’Alene. The subject of the memo was “Potential changes to City ordinances regarding dangerous dogs”. In the memo, he requested feedback regarding three categories of ordinance changes he was considering recommending to the city council. The first category listed was banning up to eleven breeds of dogs in the city of Coeur d’Alene. The second category described a tiered system of ordinances for dogs determined to be dangerous. The third category described a variety of miscellaneous ordinances that may be considered.
The membership of the Coeur d’Alene Dog Fanciers are STRONGLY opposed to any consideration of legislation that names individual breeds of dogs. Such “breed specific legislation” (BSL) has been tried in other communities. It has not only been unsuccessful in protecting the public, the legislation has been a hardship to responsible owners of targeted breeds and a significant negative economic impact to the communities, both in terms of enforcement costs and litigation.

Coeur d’Alene Dog Fanciers (CDADF) support the following:
Assure protection of the public from all “dangerous dogs” – Safety is paramount
“Ban the Deed, not the Breed” See existing laws enforced.
Work with city attorney, city council and concerned citizens to craft new regulations using model laws that have documented effectiveness in other communities.

To accomplish these goals, CDADF held a community forum on August 27th. Over 130 individuals participated in the forum. This website will be used as a “public meeting place” to continue communicating about this proposed legislation in Coeur d’Alene and a resource clearinghouse for information and tools that can be used in the fight against BSL.

http://leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/Reports/history.cfm?ID=656

A new Legislative Alert has been posted on the AKC's web site. To view
this alert, please click on the following link, or cut and paste it into
your web browser: http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3781.

Government Relations Department
American Kennel Club

Oregon HB 2470 Targets Breeders

http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb2400.dir/hb2470.intro.pdf

NAIA Oregon Lobby Day
Monday, March 30, 2009
9:30 a.m.
Conference Room 350

Oregon State Capitol Building

Please follow the header link for more information and up to date regional news.

The Dog Owner's Coalition of America is a group of individuals and
organizations dedicated to preserving a responsible individual's rights to
own, breed and maintain companion and domestic animals. Persons who wish to
legally and ethically participate in the process of defending and preserving
an individual's right to own, breed and maintain companion and domestic
animals, especially in the current environment, are invited to apply for
membership.

American Dog Owners Association
www.adoa.org

Please follow the header link for more information and up to date national news.

CA: Animal rights activists vandalize property of UCI scientist

Thursday July 16, 2009 7:00 am (PDT)

American Dog Owners Association www.adoa.org

American Dog Owners Association
www.adoa.org