The sporting dog community is showing its fangs in response to an onerous set of dog care regulations proposed in Pennsylvania.
The USSA’s Sporting Dog Defense Coalition, working closely with the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America, is leading a grassroots campaign to ensure that sporting dog owners are not burdened by myriad unnecessary dog care regulations.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture proposed dog regulations in December 2006 to target puppy mills. The overreaching rules are among the most repressive that sporting dog owners have ever seen, and are backed by the nation’s leading anti-hunting group, the Humane Society of the United States. The proposal includes outrageous specifications for animal care that will make it impossible to breed and raise hounds and hunting dogs. (Click here to view regulation details that will devastate sportsmen’s rights).
“The utterly unrealistic proposal will cost sporting dog owners thousands of dollars and burden them with complicated requirements,” said USSA President Bud Pidgeon. “Even more alarming is the notion that, if not stopped, the regulations could become the benchmark by which other states will base their laws.”
The USSA’s Sporting Dog Defense Coalition has launched a full-scale campaign to fend off the anti-hunting threat. It is drafting comments to oppose the regulations, directing grassroots opposition via the E-mail Network and a massive series of mailings to Pennsylvania sportsmen, and will meet with key decision-makers to stop the proposal.
Contribute to the campaign that will ensure these onerous dog regulations fail and do not appear in another state - join the Sporting Dog Defense Coalition. Individuals and clubs can join online or call USSA National Headquarters at (614) 888-4868.
Take Action! Your help is needed immediately to end this threat to hunting with hounds. Pennsylvania sportsmen should contact Gov. Ed Rendell and ask him to reject the dog regulations put forth by the Department of Agriculture. Let him know that the proposal contains countless complicated and contradictory requirements, which will burden sporting dog owners, and in some cases, prevent them from legally enjoying their sport.
Send comments to Gov. Edward Rendell's Office, 225 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA, 17120. Phone: (717) 787-2500. Fax (717)772-8284. Sportsmen can click here to use the Legislative Action Center and print a sample letter that can be sent to Gov. Rendell.
Topic: Exorbitant Restrictions Threaten Sporting Dog Owners (Read 983 times)
