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[Tuesday, April 07, 2009] [ View/Print Leita's Letter of Opposition ]
New York State Assembly Bill 7218 seeks to make the docking of tails unlawful. The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Responsible Dog Owners Association of New York both vehemently oppose A 7812. This bill has been referred to the New York Assembly Agriculture Committee. It is imperative that ALL concerned dog breeders and owners contact the Assembly members listed below and respectfully yet strongly urge them to oppose A 7218.
As written, A 7218 would:
- Make all instances of tail docking unlawful, except those deemed necessary by a duly-licensed veterinarian to protect the life or health of the dog
- Make anyone exhibiting a dog with a docked tail subject to a misdemeanor charge, punishable by a fine of up to $500
- Allow any New York animal rights organization to sue a violator for declaratory judgment, via a private right of action, to obtain redress for a violation.
Points to Consider:
- The AKC recognizes that ear cropping and tail docking, as prescribed in certain breed standards, are acceptable practices integral to defining and preserving breed character, enhancing good health, and preventing injuries. Appropriate veterinary care should be provided.
- Tails are docked on breeds that are active in the field when those puppies are generally less than 5 days old, and when the tails bones and nervous=2 0system are not yet fully formed. Pain if any, is momentary, but this procedure will prevent painful, serious injury later in life. For docked breeds, an intact tail at full-length would result in injured and bloodied tails when the dogs perform the functions for which they were bred. Any inference that these procedures are unnecessary is a severe mischaracterization that connotes a lack of respect and knowledge of history and the function of purebred dogs.
- Tail docking remains a longstanding, safe, accepted practice for more than 50 breeds of dogs recognized by the American Kennel Club. The criminalization of docking embodied in A 7218 penalizes dog owners for taking procedures appropriate for the breeds impacted.
- Owners, in close consultation with their veterinarians—not the government—should make informed decisions about their pets' health care.
- Once legislators determine they can ban certain elective procedures, they may be just a short step away from removing veterinarians' and owners' rights to make informed decisions about other aspects of animal car e and treatment.
What You Can Do:
- All concerned dog breeders and owners in New York: Please contact your Assembly member and the Assembly Agriculture Committee members listed below to let them know that you are a constituent and urge them to oppose A 7812.
- All concerned dog breeders and owners who are not from New York but exhibit their dogs at shows and events in New York: Please contact the committee members listed below. Let them know that you show your dogs in New York and that this measure will impact your ability to visit New York to exhibit your dogs. Respectfully urge them to oppose the measure.
- Contact your veterinarians and urge them to oppose A 7812. Point out that veterinarians should be concerned about allowing the government and public opinion too much control over their practices.
- Share this information with other fanciers and dog clubs. Everyone’s help is valuable
Assembly Agriculture Committee:
Assemblyman William Magee, Chairman
LOB 828
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-4807
MageeW@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Marc S. Alessi
LOB 419
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5294
AlessiM@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman George Amedore
LOB 426
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5197
AmedoreG@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Michael Benedetto
LOB 919
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5296
BenedeM@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Marc W. Butler
LOB 318
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5393
ButlerM@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Clifford W. Crouch
LOB 450
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5741
CrouchC@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte
LOB 553
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5284
DelMonF@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblywoman RoAnn M. Destito
LOB 621
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5454
DestitR@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Gary D. Finch
LOB 320
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5878
FinchG@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Tim Gordon
LOB 529
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5777
GordonT@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblywoman Aileen M. Gunther
LOB 435
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5355
GuntheA@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Stephen Hawley
Room 531 LOB
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5811
HawleyS@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton
LOB 555
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5444
LiftonB@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Peter D. Lopez
LOB 429
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5363
LopezP@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Alan Maisel
528 LOB
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5211
MaiselA@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblywoman Margaret M. Markey
LOB 654
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-4755
MarkeyM@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman John J. McEneny
LOB 648
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-4178
McEnenJ@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Bob Reilly
LOB 452
Albany, NY 12248< br> 518-455-5931
ReillyR@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Peter M. Rivera
LOB 826
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5102
RiveraP@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblywoman Linda B. Rosenthal
821 LOB
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5802
RosentL@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell
LOB 602
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5545
RussellA@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Frank K. Skartados
LOB 545
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5762
SkartadosF@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Al Stirpe
Room 430
Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-4505
StirpeA@assembly.state.ny.us
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| LEGISLATIVE RESOURCES: Letter templates to mail to legislators |
In June, 2007 The GSPCA established the Legislative sub committee under the Health and Welfare Committee. With the increasing political threat to our enjoyment of owning this versatile breed we need to proactively protect our rights. Because of our breed's versatility, we are targeted by the Animal Rights movement more than most. The areas that are of immediate concern to us are Breeding Restrictions, Ear Cropping, Tail Docking and Dewclaw Removal, Hunting Restrictions, Use of Live Birds, Land Use issues. The times of just enjoying our dogs and our sport are incrementally being taken away from us by the Animal Rights extremists.
This committee is just being established, so please volunteer to help. This is a nationwide effort that will need many people involved. This committee needs at least 2 people in each region to monitor the legislation and trends. If each club would designate 1 person to work on legislation that will satisfy one of the new AKC Requirements for holding an event. Although this may not be in name only -- they must actively participate. The areas of responsibility are breeding, surgical restrictions and the other hunting restrictions. No previous experience in this area is required just a dedication to the future of enjoying our breed. We will help train as we go.
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