Write Your Congressman about PUPS

As you know, PUPS is in Congress now, gathering co-sponsors every day. Now is the time to contact your congressman and senator to ask them to suspend judgment on this bill. Ask them not to sign on as a co-sponsor.

A TN Pet-Law member has very kindly written a great letter for people to e-mail to their congressmmen. You can simply paste the message below on your congressman's web form and send it. We also have a letter for Tennessee's senators.

Please send this message to your congressman. PUPS is a lousy bill that will harm hobby breeders and anyone who breeds dogs at home. Let your congressman know that he needs to take a closer look at this bill before taking any action.

Carlotta

Dear Representative ______:

Subject: Request to SUSPEND JUDGMENT on the PUPS Bill [H.R. 5434]

As your constituent, I respectfully ask that you suspend judgment and action on the PUPS Bill (H.R. 5434) until the following questions are fully vetted in a Committee Hearing:

1. Is the "perceived problem" and “need” for the PUPS Bill caused by the so-called internet sales "loophole," or by simply an inability of APHIS to enforce existing laws and regulations? In short, would the "perceived problem" and "need" be best addressed by more strictly enforcing the existing laws and regulations, rather than adding new laws and regulations onto the existing laws and regulations that may not have been strictly enforced?

2. Is it the intent of Congress to mandate that if someone has as few as one intact female dog that is capable of being used for breeding, then that person may be subject to the expanded coverage of the PUPS Bill?

3. Is it appropriate for Congress to define a four-month-old puppy to be an adult dog?

4. Would the existing language in the PUPS Bill have the unintended consequence of dramatically reducing the number of available dogs that are specifically bred and trained for use by special needs organizations that support the handicapped and the blind?

5. Would the existing language in the PUPS Bill have the unintended consequence of dramatically reducing the number of available dogs that that are specifically bred and trained for use by law enforcement throughout the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense, such as bomb sniffing dogs?

6. Why has the Humane Society of the United States, for the last three years, repeatedly refused to tell the American Public and the U.S. Congress that major Pet Breeder Organizations in 10 States have publicly condemned substandard kennels? Significantly, over 85% of all Federally licensed and inspected kennels are located in those 10 States.

Sincerely,