Registered: Dec 2004
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 498

Thanks to some very heads up people on the board everyone should have seen by now the threads about SB 406. And while most people roll their eyes and groan over anything political, this is something we have to monitor. For those that don't know, I am the president of the WV Coonhunters Association and I'm going to send a letter to the State Senators on the committee and see if we can head this thing off. I have never done anything like this before so I'm looking for some help from those of you who have. Below is what I have so far. I'm trying to be concise but include why we are opposed to this bill so I'm open to any constructive criticism you may have up to and including grammar. Any help is appreciated...



Dear and Honorable Senator,
We are writing to ask you to oppose S.B. 406 which we believe will negatively impact responsible dog owners in the State of West Virginia and cause extra tax burdens on the State’s taxpayers. We believe there are already enough laws on the books to deal with irresponsible and/or abusive dog owners and this bill just adds more bureaucracy on top of those existing laws.
Arbitrarily implementing a set number of dogs that constitutes whether or not you are a “commercial breeder” will not make someone a better dog owner. Furthermore, setting the number at 11 intact dogs could adversely affect sportsmen who use hounds in the legal pursuit of game animals throughout the State. In most hound breeds simply 2 females having litters could put you upwards of 15 dogs! Or, if a responsible and able sportsman simply had 4 hounds he used for bear hunting, 3 hounds he used to coon hunt, 3 beagles for chasing rabbits, 1 dog he squirrel hunted and 2 smaller house dogs he would be defined as a commercial breeder simply because he wants to take advantage of all the hunting opportunities he has been granted by the State!!
We also find that mandating breeding ages is entirely arbitrary and what works for one breed may not work for another; especially concerning hounds where one breeds for ability and conformation. We also consider the alternative of having a female inspected by a vet prior to breeding an unnecessary financial burden on sportsmen.
We also find the premise of bi-annual unannounced inspections totally unacceptable. If wrong doing is suspected shouldn’t the animal control officer do like any other officer of the law and obtain a warrant after convincing a judge one is needed?
In short, the West Virginia Coonhunters Association and its member clubs finds Senate Bill 406 too severe in the limits it seeks to set on law abiding sportsmen in the State of West Virginia. While we understand the intent of the bill is to go after the “puppy mills” that do not obey existing laws, we find this bill to be overreaching in its scope and ask that you not vote for this bill to leave committee. Let’s focus on enforcement of existing laws, go after those that are truly breaking those laws and leave the law abiding sportsmen of West Virginia out of the definition of “commercial breeders”.

With Respect,

The West Virginia Coonhunters Association and Member Clubs

Steven Cain


President -- WVCHA

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My dog has never done that before!!!

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Registered: Jul 2011
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Posts: 354

I think you should attach a page of signatures of petition just to let them know how many houndsman in our state agree with you and don't want this bill. Put my name on there first, Jonathon McRobie

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Registered: Jul 2011
Location: banks of lake erie
Posts: 44

Hope all goes ok for you guys i live in your neighbor state to the north here in ohio i know if something like that passes in a sportsman rich state such as yours it will just add fuel to the fire and give them a toe hold and bench mark for other states keep up the fight

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Registered: Dec 2004
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 498

Jonathan,

I like your idea. If everyone that reads this would get a petition started in their local club at the next meeting or better yet, their next hunt we could send a clear message to Charleston. Can we get some guys to work on that?

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Registered: Jan 2007
Location: Texan by Birth---Virginian by Choice
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best thing to do is each member of the association and fellow coonhunters of west virginia and anyone in the state who believes as you send a letter to all senators, reps and all, it will mean more than one petition with a list of names.....Jump on it now....... Texas has already been hit same thing it passed and Ole Rick Perry signed it into law,,,,,,,,

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Last edited by crossbblues on 02-11-2012 at 04:27 PM

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Registered: Jul 2011
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Steven, maybe you could attempt to tell each member of the association whats going on and ask them to each write a letter, and also through word of mouth we can get enough houndsman to do the same. I know i definitely will.

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