UPDATE, 6 January 2012: We have
learned that ALL bills in the last session are "dead" and will not
carry over to the new session! Keep your fingers crossed that this one will NOT
be reintroduced.
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 Unable to find support for the
first draft of his proposed bill to gut our ground-breaking new law, Rep.
Donald Pridemore, one of the original co-sponsors of Act 90,
has revised and resubmitted his bill! He is once
again seeking coponsors!
One of
the main strengths of Act 90 is that it requires anyone selling 25 or more dogs
in a year, from more than 3 litters, to be licensed and regulated.
LRB 1798/2 seeks to raise the number from 25 to ONE
HUNDRED dogs per year! On top of that, the bill proposes to
eliminate the jobs of the three DATCP inspectors recently hired to enforce Act
90.
 Read LRB 1798/2 here (pdf)
The
deadline for co-sponsorship is 20 October. PLEASE
email or phone your representatives TODAY and ask them NOT to co-sponsor,
support, or encourage LRB 1798/2 in any way! If you contacted
them before, please do so again!
Remind
your representatives that the current law was written after more than a decade
of study and unanimously passed last year. If you are a breeder or shelter/
rescue who is proud to be already licensed under Act 90, please let your
legislator know! See the Talking Points below for
more ideas to help you compose your message.
Remember, you can be firm
and passionate while still being respectful and courteous! Name-calling, or
rude or abusive language will hurt, rather than help, our cause. Also, you MUST
include your name and address. Your legislator won't pay much attention to what
you have to say if this information isn't included.
Who
Are My Legislators?
Here are a few
"talking points" to help you compose your own message:
FACT: The
legislation that became Act 90 was the result of 10 years of study. In
addition to the four authors, the legislation was co-sposored by 18 Senators
and 51 Representatives (including Rep. Pridemore)!
FACT: Act 90 was
signed into law in 2009 after being passed UNANIMOUSLY in both houses of the WI
legislature! The law went into effect on 1 June 2011.
FACT: The 100 number
was discussed and REJECTED early in the devolvement of Act 90 because it would
not include the largest numbers of the WORST mills! Most incidences of
animal mistreatment and sub-standards of care are at the 25-50 range and the
majority of court cases regarding dog breeders fall into the 25-50 range.
FACT: Act 90 has
only been in effect since 1 June 2011. What is the logic in attempting
to alter so radically, this early in its implementation, a piece of legislation
that was passed with unanimous support? Doesn't this seem like a waste of
precious legislative time?
FACT: Act 90
provides funding through licensing fees for addtional DATCP personnel to
conduct inspections and enforce the law. It makes sure that all dog
sellers who should be paying taxes on their sales, are. LRB 1798/2's higher
limit for licensing and provision to put three hard-working Wisconsin citizens
out of jobs, onto unemployment, and off the state income tax rolls, would just
be BAD economics.
FACT: By all
reports, Act 90 inspections so far have been going smoothly.
FACT: Humane
Societies have reported that inspections have been fair, balanced and even
HELPFUL
Sample Message Format:
The Honorable (legislator's
name)
His/her address
City, State, Zip
Dear Sen/Rep Name:
I am writing
to ask that you please DO NOT co-sponsor or support Rep. Pridemore's LRB 1798/2
in any way!
[In one or two short paragraphs,
state why you oppose raising the number of dogs sold to require a license from
25 to 100. It is important that you tell them this in your own
words!]
Thank your representative for his
support.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Address
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