Request for Enforceable Louisiana anti-puppy mill Law

Whereas Louisiana HB 1193 authored by Rep. Harold Ritchie has serious flaws;

http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=488215

and though some news articles are commenting that this bill "targets operators of puppy mills" but it certainly appears to do exactly the opposite;

Whereas HB 1193 appears to encourage puppy mills in our state but does very little in the way of providing for animal control, humane care or spay/neuter programs which Louisiana sorely lacks;

Whereas huge discounts in licensing for bulk breeding is certainly not going to help this situation, and will most certainly make it worse;
 

Whereas, if HB 1193 becomes law, people who adopt multiple spayed and neutered rescue dogs will actually be penalized by paying higher licensing fees, while those who run large scale wholesale breeding facilities will be rewarded, only paying $30 for having 11 to 75 intact adult dogs for wholesale or retail breeding purposes;

Whereas, it is not feasible for one individual to provide proper care and socialization for seventy five breeding dogs;

Whereas, HB 1193 is vague, confusing, and has inconsistencies that will be difficult to interpret; (Breeders are required to procure a kennel license which they can't get until the local government passes an ordinance authorizing it, which may be never.)

Whereas similar bills that have been passed into law are never used or enforced because they are vague and contradictory and will not hold up in court; (The penalty for violation is not specific as to what violation. Is it a state violation to violate a local government ordinance? Or is the penalty the maximum that local government can pass into law? There is no guarantee that local governments will enact any of these laws that would be authorized, which will likely result in things remaining the same.)

Whereas, HB 1193 apparently has been poorly researched, and input from organizations dealing with animals seems to be lacking;  (Research into similar "anti-puppy mill" bills and laws from other states is needed as well as input from local government animal shelters, private animal shelters, and reputable breeders.)

Whereas no agency is referenced to be responsible or authorized for oversight or enforcement, so the HB 1193, if made law will likely never be enforced due to its vague, confusing and weak wording and will just add to an already confusing maze of laws;

I respectfully ask that Representative Harold Ritchie and all of our Louisiana Legislators take a serious look at the problems of puppy mill operation and unwanted animal overpopulation in the state of Louisiana, as well as the extremely high kill rate in Louisiana animal shelters and create a well thought out, researched, enforceable, clear, concise anti-puppy mill law that will discourage hoarding and puppy milling in Louisiana and help provide funding for animal control, shelters and low cost spay/neuter programs, which are much needed in this state.  I further request that huge discounts in licensing for bulk/large scale/puppy mill breeders NOT be included in future bills, as puppies from these type operations only add to the unwanted animal population which is currently costing our state approximately 10 million dollars per year.  A limit of 20 to 30 dogs per individual would be quite generous, fair and reasonable.

Whereas Louisiana HB 1193 authored by Rep. Harold Ritchie has serious flaws;

http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=488215

and though some news articles are commenting that this bill "targets operators of puppy mills" but it certainly appears to do exactly the opposite;

Whereas HB 1193 appears to encourage puppy mills in our state but does very little in the way of providing for animal control, humane care or spay/neuter programs which Louisiana sorely lacks;

Whereas huge discounts in licensing for bulk breeding is certainly not going to help this situation, and will most certainly make it worse;
 

Whereas, if HB 1193 becomes law, people who adopt multiple spayed and neutered rescue dogs will actually be penalized by paying higher licensing fees, while those who run large scale wholesale breeding facilities will be rewarded, only paying $30 for having 11 to 75 intact adult dogs for wholesale or retail breeding purposes;

Whereas, it is not feasible for one individual to provide proper care and socialization for seventy five breeding dogs;

Whereas, HB 1193 is vague, confusing, and has inconsistencies that will be difficult to interpret; (Breeders are required to procure a kennel license which they can't get until the local government passes an ordinance authorizing it, which may be never.)

Whereas similar bills that have been passed into law are never used or enforced because they are vague and contradictory and will not hold up in court; (The penalty for violation is not specific as to what violation. Is it a state violation to violate a local government ordinance? Or is the penalty the maximum that local government can pass into law? There is no guarantee that local governments will enact any of these laws that would be authorized, which will likely result in things remaining the same.)

Whereas, HB 1193 apparently has been poorly researched, and input from organizations dealing with animals seems to be lacking;  (Research into similar "anti-puppy mill" bills and laws from other states is needed as well as input from local government animal shelters, private animal shelters, and reputable breeders.)

Whereas no agency is referenced to be responsible or authorized for oversight or enforcement, so the HB 1193, if made law will likely never be enforced due to its vague, confusing and weak wording and will just add to an already confusing maze of laws;

I respectfully ask that Representative Harold Ritchie and all of our Louisiana Legislators take a serious look at the problems of puppy mill operation and unwanted animal overpopulation in the state of Louisiana, as well as the extremely high kill rate in Louisiana animal shelters and create a well thought out, researched, enforceable, clear, concise anti-puppy mill law that will discourage hoarding and puppy milling in Louisiana and help provide funding for animal control, shelters and low cost spay/neuter programs, which are much needed in this state.  I further request that huge discounts in licensing for bulk/large scale/puppy mill breeders NOT be included in future bills, as puppies from these type operations only add to the unwanted animal population which is currently costing our state approximately 10 million dollars per year.  A limit of 20 to 30 dogs per individual would be quite generous, fair and reasonable.

We respectfully ask that Representative Harold Ritchie and all of our Louisiana Legislators take a serious look at the problems of puppy mill operation and unwanted animal overpopulation in the state of Louisiana, as well as the extremely high kill rate in Louisiana animal shelters and create a well thought out, researched, enforceable, clear, concise anti-puppy mill law that will discourage hoarding and puppy milling in Louisiana and help provide funding for animal control, shelters and low cost spay/neuter programs, which are much needed in this state.  I further request that huge discounts in licensing for bulk/large scale/puppy mill breeders NOT be included in future bills, as puppies from these type operations only add to the unwanted animal population which is currently costing our state approximately 10 million dollars per year.  A limit of 20 to 30 dogs per individual would be quite generous, fair and reasonable.

House Bill 1193 has too many serious flaws to properly do what is needed.