Ignoring the concerns of sporting dog kennels, a Utah legislative panel favorably reported a bill that treats nearly all breeders as commercial entities. The House Business and Labor Committee passed House Bill 359, clearing the path for a full House vote. Under the bill, anyone who breeds more than one litter of dogs in a year is classified as a “dog breeder” and could be subject to regulation similar to commercial entities in the future.
In addition to selling or bartering, Utah’s definition of dog breeder also regulates breeders who transfer or trade a dog to other sportsman for the purpose of enhancing bloodlines.
What the state of Utah intends to do to regulate this new class of dog owners is anyone’s guess. But the clear intent is to allow an agency of unelected government workers to regulate anyone who breeds dogs for profit or simply to better a breed.
Dog groups in Utah attempted to slow the bill down to provide education about these concerns to members of the committee, but their complaints were overridden as the panel rushed the bill to meet a legislative deadline.
“Bills like these normally originate with the intent to prevent a specific animal abuse complaint that can often be cured by enforcing existing law,” said Todd Adkins, vice president of government affairs. “But once this new law is in place, the bureaucracy will create real problems for those who raise dogs to hunt, train and field trial. Our bottom line is that HB 359 puts dog owners at risk of burdensome and unnecessary regulation and must be defeated.”
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
