CFA Info

CFA Legislative ALERT

The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) Position Statement
Pet Animal Welfare Statute of 2005 (PAWS) S.1139/HB 2669

Unanimously approved by the CFA Board of Directors, 14 June 2005

• CFA opposes the PAWS bill as it is written. The bill is not well drafted, it is confusing and complicated. CFA favors better enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act. It is our understanding that some enforcement provisions in PAWS 2005 are needed because these can only be achieved through the statute rather than the regulations. If the bill were to be amended to include only enforcement provisions we would reconsider our opposition.

• CFA is against regulation of breeders who sell direct to the public. We support the original concept of the AWA, which is to regulate breeders and commercial brokers who sell dogs and cats at wholesale. The USDA should not be involved in licensing/inspecting private breeders raising cats/dogs in their homes. Even if cat breeder licensing were taken out altogether we would not support this bill. Once retailers are no longer exempted the arbitrary thresholds established will always be subject to change.

• There are portions of this bill that either would not affect cats, such as the dog importing provision, or that concern pet store matters. Should the bill be amended to maintain the retailer-breeder exemption then CFA would want to explore these other issues before taking a revised position.

It is unlikely that this bill will be amended to maintain the existing retailer (pet store) exemption that applies to cat/dog breeders without a great deal of pressure throughout the legislative process. It would help to have the American Kennel Club aligned with CFA on this matter rather than with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Doris Day Animal League (DDAL) as is presently the case. These organizations have goals that include greatly restricting or ending the breeding of pedigreed cats/purebred dogs. CFA encourages dog fanciers to ask for AKC's withdrawal of its support for PAWS.

Joan Miller
The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc.
Legislative Coordinator
JMillerArt@aol.com

Please read also:

• CFA's letter to AKC re the Pet Animal Welfare Statute of 2005 - Jun.08.05
• The "Pet Animal Welfare Statute of 2005" (PAWS) - Apr.28.05
• PDF Flyer re PAWS alert

To correspond with the CFA Legislative Committee, please send email to legislation@cfa.org