FEDERAL LEGISLATION
SENATE BILL 1139 (PAWS)

The Board of Directors of the Georgia Canine Coalition has voted to support the principles in the Pet Animal Welfare Statute (PAWS) of 2005.  The bill was introduced on May 26 and has been assigned the number S1139.  The Board reserves the right to pull support for this bill if during the legislation process, changes are made to the bill which the GCC Board considers detrimental to dogs and their owners.

The Board feels that overall the proposals in the PAWS bill are in the best interest of our owners.  The Board would have preferred not to have a "number" introduced in the Dealer definition.

Below please find the answer to a few questions that have come to me from our members.

At this time, those in the Dog Fancy are not protected in writing the AWA but are exempted because the USDA has chosen to classify us as "retail pet stores".  This has been challenged and upheld by the courts but the USDA is not locked into it.

A person who (a) sells 25 or fewer dogs a year or (b) sells only dogs bred or raised on their own premises and does not whelp more than 6 litters a year or (c) is a retail pet store will be excluded from the definition of dealer.  Please note that a person who meets EITHER criterion (a) or (b) is exempt.  So Toy breeders who may have more than six litters a year but average only two puppies a litter would be exempt.  A breeder of dogs who have large litters (say 10) who whelps 6 litters a year would be exempt even though they could have in 6 litters 60 puppies or more.

A non-profit rescue group is not covered by the AWA at this time and will not be covered under the PAWS unless they are selling dogs for a profit.  An organization that receives money to cover costs and expenses of a dog they have rescued and placed should not be required to register as a Dealer.

The American Kennel Club made the proposals, except for the Numbers section, that are in the PAWS legislation.  I would like to says that the AKC is not meeting with Animal Rights groups over this legislation.  While Animal Rights groups are supporting this legislation, they did not make the proposals that are in this legislation.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.