Tammie & Robert Rogers

RR1 Box 114, Brownstown, IL 62418

(618) 427-3333                                                                         tammie@darnfar.com  

State Representative JoAnn D Osmond

January 28, 2009

RE:  Oppose House Bill 198

Dear Representative Osmond,

I am writing you today because I am concerned about House Bill 198, a measure that would require any dog breeder who owns more than 3 breeding females to be licensed and inspected.  I see that you are a co-sponsor of the bill.  As a citizen of Illinois and responsible dog breeder I ask that you oppose this burdensome and ineffective legislation.

As a professional dog trainer for over 20 years, I take very seriously my integrity as an instructor of both people and their dogs. 

I am an AKC CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Evaluator.  I teach 4H kids in my county to prepare for their dog competitions at the Fayette County Fair and several have gone onto earn high placements at the State Fair.  I have spent a substantial amount of my time counseling kids and their parents about responsible dog ownership. 

I do not take breeding dogs lightly.  I trained and trialed dogs for over a decade before I considered myself knowledgeable enough to consider such an important undertaking.  I go to great lengths to ensure the health of my dogs before breeding.  Temperament is critical as is the dog’s physical structure.  Intelligence and bidability, too, enter into the decision of whether I choose to breed a dog.  It is both an art and a science.  As a Biologist I understand the science.  The art has taken even longer than the years I spent in college earning my degree.  I am serious about what I do and I consider myself to have the highest level of integrity in my breeding program.

Then, of course, there is the most important aspect of breeding dogs; appropriate puppy placement.  First, I have an extensive application for anyone who may be interested in purchasing a puppy from me.  Second, I do not sell a puppy to every person who might submit an application.  In fact, I reject about 30% of the folks for various reasons. My puppy sale contract requires spay or neuter, strongly suggests age appropriate training, and I agree to take back a puppy at any time for any reason.  The document also states that the puppy is never to be relinquished to an animal shelter, rescue or otherwise “disposed of”.  I provide each puppy buyer a 25 page booklet of information that I have written about housebreaking, care and management.

HB 198 will impact my ability to raise high quality pure bred dogs.  It could require that I need to build a new facility for their management.  If that comes to be, I will effectively be stripped of one of my most cherished life’s ambition.

As I understand it, it will require that I:

• Submit to an annual, unannounced home inspection – for an unspecified fee.
• Undergo fingerprinting and criminal background checks – for an unspecified fee.
• Build facilities to meet rigid engineering standards which exceed those required by the USDA. This will require most breeders to purchase expensive new equipment and build new facilities.
• Breed only dogs between 18 months and 8 years of age.
• Correct any deficiencies within 7 days or dispose of all intact animals at an animal control facility, a licensed Illinois shelter or have them euthanized by a veterinarian.
• File detailed annual reports with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
• Provide specified disclosures to puppy purchasers.
• Comply with any additional regulations drafted by the department.

I consider this a complete and utter invasion of both my privacy and my ability to continue to work towards a very admirable goal which I established back in 1995, when I bred my first litter of puppies.  I still have Lexie, the product of that litter.  She is now over 13 years old, a herding trial winner and a very cherished member of our family. 

I am a good, law abiding citizen.  I have never had more than a minor traffic ticket, and the last one of those was over 10 years ago!  I do not understand why I will be treated as a potential criminal for producing exceptional quality, highly socialized, healthy, happy puppies.  It is not only unjust, but it is a complete stripping of my rights, as I see it.   I have never bred more than three litters in a year, and mostly I have had just one or two a year (often none at all).  But, I do own more than three intact females.  This bill defines Breeders as anyone who owns more than 3 breeding females and sells their offspring, regardless of whether any puppies are produced in any given year.

I received an email from the Humane Society suggesting that this bill is designed to address Puppy Mills.  Of course I am staunchly opposed to Puppy Mills.  They sicken me.  As a person who has dedicated her life to dogs, it probably sickens me more than the average person.  But, this bill is not written to combat Puppy Millers as much as it is designed to, essentially, take away the rights of good, law abiding citizens who strive to produce high quality dogs.  The law will remove a critical component of my livelihood.  It is not about making money breeding dogs.  When a person does it right, there isn’t much left, if anything, after what is put into producing healthy, happy puppies.  But, I want to breed my own dogs at a standard that I consider higher than anywhere else I could find one.  Why should I have to go out of state to find a puppy that is planned, whelped and socialized by someone who may not have my standards?  Why should other Illinois citizens have to do the same?

HB 198 will not improve the welfare of dogs in Illinois, but it will hurt responsible breeders like me who strive to raise healthy, well cared-for dogs and work to ensure that these puppies are placed with responsible owners. The expense of complying with the engineering standards in the bill will force breeders to shut down, making it virtually impossible for Illinois residents to obtain locally raised purebred dogs.

Is the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation equipped to hire and train inspectors who are familiar with animal husbandry? Under current law, animal control authorities have the power to investigate suspected animal cruelty and I strongly support enforcement of those laws. This would be a better use of taxpayer funds and would more effectively address animal welfare concerns.

Concentrating animal control efforts on dogs whose behavior demonstrates that they are a problem for the community, and investigating credible animal cruelty complaints would be a much better use of taxpayer funds.

I respectfully ask that you deeply consider the law abiding, ethical breeders of high quality pure bred dogs in Illinois and how HB 198 will strip us of our rights and the rights of other Illinois citizens who are benefited from our dedication to our goals.  Opposition of HB 198 is the only right thing to do.

Sincerely,

Tammie Rogers