TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida bill aims to ensure the safety and well-being of dogs in the state, creating significant new regulations for dog breeders.
What it does: The bill establishes a comprehensive framework for the operation of dog breeding facilities, including standards of care, inspections, and penalties for violations.
- Dog breeders would be required to obtain a certificate of registration from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, renewed annually, and facilities would need to pass inspections to receive a certificate of inspection, which must be publicly displayed.
- The department would create rules for the care of breeding dogs, including requirements for housing, food, water, veterinary care, and exercise.
- The department would have the authority to inspect facilities, issue fines, and suspend or revoke certificates for violations. A whistleblower program would be established to encourage reporting of violations.
The bill also requires breeders to microchip all dogs intended for sale and register those microchips with the department.
- Retail establishments selling dogs would need to display their certificates and could not sell dogs without microchips.
Sponsors: Rep. Meg Weinberger filed HB 1481. Sen. Jonathan Martin is carrying the similar bill, SB 1830, in the Senate.
What they’re saying: Weinberger, referring to the legislation as “Make America’s Dogs Safe Again,” said she was “proud” to see the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk wearing a “MADSA” hat during a Mar-a-Lago event.
- “We filed our #MADSA legislation in the Florida House of Reps to Make America’s Dogs Safe Again by updating old breeder laws and adding minimum standards so FL can lose our title as 4th highest rate of dogs killed in US,” Weinberger said.
- Weinberger told Florida’s Voice that the legislation is gaining “broad support because it is common sense to have minimum standards for dog breeders in Florida.”
- “Florida already has important laws against animal cruelty and this legislation will ensure the conditions that dog breeders keep their animals in are safe and healthy,” Weinberger said. “President Trump and Elon Musk are helping us call attention to this issue and we hope the entire Florida legislature gets behind it too. Together we can make America’s Dogs Safe Again! I will ALWAYS be a voice for the voiceless.”
- The American Kennel Club expressed its opposition, calling the legislation an “extreme anti-breeder” bill.
- “The American Kennel Club (AKC) strongly opposes these extreme bills, and urges all Floridians to immediately contact the bills’ sponsors along with their Florida state senator and representative to respectfully urge opposition,” the organization said.
Next steps: The bill has been referred to three committee stops. The Senate bill has also been assigned to three committees.
If approved, the legislation will take effect July 1.
Original Article (Source): https://flvoicenews.com/florida-bill-madsa-targets-stricter-dog-breeder-regulations-and-animal-welfare/
Author: Michelle Vecerina
Photo: Alvan Nee, Unsplash