Registered: Jun 2003
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 4502

From AKC: WV Update: Governor Signs Breeder Regulations Bill

May 3, 2013

Today the West Virginia governor signed Senate Bill 437, which will
regulate those who own 11 or more intact dogs over one year of age "for
the exclusive purpose of actively breeding."

Those who keep or breed dogs "for the purpose of herding or guarding
livestock animals, hunting, tracking or exhibiting in dog shows,
performance events or field and obedience trials" are exempt from the bill.

Several changes requested by the AKC were included in the final bill,
including:

Removing the ownership limit – The 50-dog ownership limit is no
longer in the bill. The AKC requested this change because limits are
arbitrary and do not address the issue of responsible dog ownership and
care – which are important regardless of the number of dogs a person
owns. In addition, those who had over 50 dogs would have been given
just 30 days to get under the limit. This would likely have resulted in
a massive influx of dogs in local shelters. The AKC greatly appreciates
the legislature’s willingness to recognize these concerns and remove
this provision from the bill.

Removing specific breeding ages, and kennel temperature
requirements that existed in this bill in previous years – These
provisions did not take into account the needs and health of specific
breeds and could have actually harmed dogs rather than protect them.
The AKC appreciates the sponsors’ and legislature’s willingness to not
include these provisions that were not in the best interest of dogs.

Senate Bill 437 includes several new requirements, such as obtaining an
annual permit and business license if you meet the definition of
commercial breeder. No primary enclosures or cages may be stacked, and
they must have solid flooring.

Commercial breeders will be subject to inspections twice each year by
local law enforcement. Judges will be permitted to provide breeders up
to one year to correct deficiencies before being charged with a
misdemeanor and forced to pay a large fine.

The bill will go into effect on July 11, 2013. The AKC will provide
further information on how to obtain the annual permits once it becomes
available.

The AKC encourages breeders to continue communicating with legislators
any concerns or questions you have with this law as it is implemented.

For questions or more information, contact AKC Government Relations at
(919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.

__________________
2012 National Grand Show Champion, World Show Bluetick Female CCH GRCH 'PR' Southern Flame Blame it on the Rain (Rain)
2012 Purina Show Bluetick Breed Winner GRCH 'PR' Southern Flame Grt Balls o' Fire (Jerry Lee)
2013 World Champion Bluetick, 2013 AO Overall Bred By winner GRCH 'PR' Sexy and I know It (breeder)
2015 AO Overall Dual Champion NTCH GRCH 'PR' Sexy and I know It (breeder/owner/handler)
2016 Grand American Overall Dual Ch, Overall Show CHampion NTCH GRCH 'PR' Sexy and I know It

AKC CSG, UKC CCH GRCH 'PR' Southern Flame Bad News Bandit (Bandit)
2010 National Grand Champion Bluetick
2013 AO Bluetick Stud Dog winner

CCH GCH 'PR' Southern Flame Elvira - the one that started it all

southernflamekennel@earthlink.net

RIP Southern Flame Elvira (the cornerstone of the kennel) 5/16/02-1/17/14

RIP Southern Flame Scarlet (the lone Redbone) 5/11/01-7/19/13

RIP Southern Flame Wild Irish Rose (Rosie) 6/15/09 - 3/12/15

RIP Southern Flame Too Hot to Trot (Bonnie) 3/27/07 - 4/20/15

RIP Southern Flame Bad News Bandit (Bandit)

RIP Southern Flame Triple Trouble (TT) 12/17/04 - 11/19/16

RIP Southern Flame Blame it on the Rain (Rain)

RIP AdeleMay's a Smokey Bandit (Adele)

RIP Southern Flame I Like Ike (Ike)

RIP Bella the Beagle

Bear, Jerry Lee, Camo, Maybellene, Lacy, Thor, Sissy, Merle, Tina, Bridgette - the Blueticks, Hollie - the Aussie

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