A bill that recently passed both houses of the Virginia legislature will have serious effects on ALL RESCUE GROUPS AND RESCUE ACTIVITIES.
Senate bill # 260 was introduced and passed without hearings in either house. It now awaits the signature of the Governor of Virginia. If Wilder signs this bill, it will become law, so the time for action is very short.
The new law would bring all rescue activities into conformity with the standards of public shelters, including those regarding public opening, kennel facilities, local dog ordinances, fines and fees.
The
Boston Terrier Club of Maryland, which runs an active rescue program, would probably cease if this bill becomes law because our Chair, Mary Hovey, lives in the state of Virginia. Her home would not qualify as a facility in the terms of the law.
Please help defeat this bill!
If you live in Virginia, you can do the following:
1. Write, call or email your STATE REPRESENTATIVE to say that you oppose the bill in its present form;
2. Point out to him/her that it is GOVERNMENTAL INTERFERENCE IN PRIVATE CHARITABLE ACTIVITY;
3. Write, call or email the GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA;
4. Make your
kennel club aware of this legislation;
5. Write, call or email AKC Vice President in
charge of Public Education & Legislation, Noreen E. Baxter.
If you do not live in Virginia you can still act on points 3,4,5. Make no mistake: if this bill becomes law in Virginia, it will be copied in other states.
