DogPak Rescue - Animal Protection Laws

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This newsletter was mailed 7-9-98 by the Humane Association of Georgia, Inc.

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Georgia needs help now! The Georgia Department of Agriculture intends to change the Animal Protection Rules and Regulations to allow 15 kittens or puppies to be sold without a license. This has the potential to allow “puppy mills” back in Georgia. This will cause more innocent surplus animals.

Our shelters are full now. Between 15 to 25 % of them are purebreds

Please share this information with your members, friends, media and your state and local legislators. Stop this destructive proposal now. It will save animal lives and taxpayers money.

Call to Action: Immediate attention needed

Re: Proposed Amendments to Georgia's Animal Protection Rules and Regulations 40-13-13

     The Georgia Department of Agriculture intends to change the rules of our animal protection law to allow anyone to breed and sell up to 15 puppies and/or kittens without a license. In some cases, this could become 45 animals sold without a license, because of an existing exemption for 30 adult dogs.

     The proposed changes would dramatically weaken the law. Those of us involved in rescue and humane organizations must be licensed to shelter one animal. Kennels must be licensed to board one animal. Pet shops must be licensed to sell one animal. Veterinarians/animal control must be licensed to impound or harbor one animal. Hobby breeders, “quality” breeders, non- resident breeders and anyone else contributing to animal overpopulation should be licensed to produce even one animal.

     If animal protection is to be changed at all, it should be strengthened, requiring anyone who breeds even one animal be licensed. Why not STOP the tragedy of killing innocent surplus animals. Everyone must be made to realize it is their tax dollars that pay for killing these animals and the related control of nuisance and disease. Can’t Georgia be the state that leads the way?

     Licensing is an important protection for consumers and for companion animals. Consumer may have no recourse against breeders as they do now, since licensing will only be required if someone admits to selling more than 15 animals. An unethical person would be able to profit at the expense of consumers and the animals. Also, removing the licensing requirement will weaken the control of diseases such as Parvo, Feline Infectious Peritonitis, Coccidia, Brucella Canine and Feline Leukemia.

     The Agriculture Department licenses other businesses, yet this is the only exemption proposed. This is a devastating compromise for the commissioner to make with the breeders. How could this possibly improve the breed? Quality breeders who care about their animals and who care about the concerns of the consumer will agree that this change is bad for Georgia. Puppy mills will thrive. This will be costly in more animal lives and taxpayer's money.

     Over the years, Georgia has reduced the number of puppy mills and related complaints from consumers. Georgia’s Animal Protection Law has been used as a model by other states. The proposed changes in the rules would change all of that. Written opposition is needed from everyone in Georgia and other states. Commissioner Irvin should be encouraged to not give in to a vocal minority of breeders, but to keep our law strong and an example to other states.

     Please write, fax or call to voice your opposition to breeders being unlicensed.

You may ask for a copy of the proposed changes or retrieve them off the Department of Agriculture’s Web page(www.agr.state.ga.usa.com).

Contact Tommy Irvin, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Agriculture

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     Proposed Felony Cruelty legislation is available on request from HAG, Inc.

Humane Association of Georgia, Inc.
P O Box 6560
Fax: (912)745-4099
Macon GA 31208
Phone: (912)745-4099

You can read the State of Georgia Animal Welfare and Protection & Spay and Neuter laws here.