Senator Rick Santorum delivered a speech on the Senate
floor in which he discussed the reasons and merits for passing what has
become known as the PAWS bill. Key points in his short speech included
plans to hold hearings shortly after the August recess to address some of
the language issues on the bill.
Santorum put to rest many of the rumors being circulated
by breeder interest groups opposed to PAWS that rescue groups would also
be affected by PAWS with the statement "True rescue and shelter
organizations who do not sell dogs or cats in commerce, for profit, will
not be brought under regulation by PAWS, whether or not they are formally
incorporated as not for profit organizations."
Instead, PAWS will focus on the high volume breeders who
breed MORE than SEVEN litters per year or sell MORE than 25 puppies.
Responsible breeders who fail to meet that number will be exempt.
Senator Santorum along with cosponsors Senator Richard
Durbin and Diane Feinstein finally offer an opportunity to close the
loopholes which allow the Jennifer Siliski's in the breeding world from
thumbing their noses to current AWA criteria by simply marketing their
poorly bred puppies to unsuspecting consumers on the Internet.
It is critical for all the breeding stock that continues
to suffer in unregulated inadequate kennels that the rescue and advocate
community work diligently in support of PAWS.
Statement by Senator Rick Santorum on July 27, 2005
delivered on the U.S. Senate floor:
"First, it will bring under coverage of the Animal Welfare
Act high volume dealers who are in every respect like those dealers
currently regulated, but are evading regulation because they sell animals
exclusively at retail."
"Second, PAWS will help the Secretary of Agriculture
identify persons not complying with the law by requiring those who acquire
animals for resale to keep records of the source from whom the animals are
acquired and make these records available to the Secretary upon request."
"With the advent of the Internet, mass national marketing
channels, and mass importation of puppies for resale, there are a large
number of unregulated dealers who are in every respect identical to the
dealers regulated by the Act, except that they evade regulation by selling
exclusively at retail."
"Breeders who sell dogs and cats from fewer than 7 litters
a year bred or raised on their own premises, or fewer than 25 dogs and
cats per year bred or raised on their own premises, which ever is greater,
would be exempt."
"PAWS will continue to regulate sellers of hunting dogs on
the same basis as those who sell dogs as pets."
"True rescue and shelter organizations who do not sell
dogs or cats in commerce, for profit, will not be brought under regulation
by PAWS, whether or not they are formally incorporated as not for profit
organizations."
"There is nothing in PAWS, or in the current Animal
Welfare Act, that precludes persons from breeding and raising animals in a
residential setting provided the animals are properly housed and cared
for. In implementing PAWS, the Secretary of Agriculture will have to
assure that the animal care regulations take into account breeders and
dealers who conduct their operations in a residential setting."
"I intend to convene a hearing and mark-up of PAWS shortly
after the August recess to make technical corrections, and to clarify some
of the bill's language to better reflect our intentions as set forth in
this statement."
Senator Rick Santorum
Go on to Protect Dogs
and Cats from Commercial Breeding
Return to 31 July 2005 Issue
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