Dog Breeders Under Fire: the National Legislative Push Against Responsible Breeders

A sweeping mandatory sterilization bill in Hawaii refuses to die. It's part of a coordinated national campaign targeting responsible breeders and dog sports.

Responsible dog owners and breeders across the country are facing a coordinated legislative push that threatens the future of purebred dogs, working dog sports and preservation breeding. Host Laura Reeves breaks down the landscape and brings in Lynn Muramaru, board member of the Pacific Pet Alliance, to detail the fight happening in Hawaii right now.

Hawaii's Mandatory Spay-Neuter Legislation

The Hawaiian Humane Society introduced legislation requiring mandatory spay and neuter of all dogs and cats imported into Hawaii, along with a declaration requirement for all intact animals already living in the state. After more than 200 people submitted testimony — forcing the joint committee to limit speakers to one minute each — the bill appeared to die when it failed to receive its third committee hearing by the March 6 deadline. But it didn't stay dead. Within days, the Hawaiian Humane Society revived a prior-year bill, gutted it, and replaced its contents with the identical language. The renamed bill has now been referred to a new House committee. All the original concerns remain: mandatory sterilization language, intact animal registration requirements and penalties for non-compliance. Residents and non-residents alike can submit written testimony through the Hawaii State Legislature website. Registration requires only a name and email address.

The Bigger Picture: A National Strategy

Hawaii is not an isolated case. Laura outlines a deliberate, incremental strategy being deployed by animal rights organizations across multiple fronts simultaneously:

• Oregon— A ballot initiative effort is currently underway
• The Federal Farm Bill— An amendment to the Greyhound Protection Act has been inserted into the Farm Bill's broadly supported legislation. As currently written, vague language could ban live lure training, open field coursing and controlled bird exposure used in training hunting and sporting breeds — affecting earth dog, barn hunt, lure coursing, Fast CAT, field trials and more

What You Can Do Right Now

• Contact your member of Congressand ask them to oppose the Greyhound Protection Act language inserted into the Farm Bill
• Submit testimonyon Hawaii legislation at the Hawaii State Legislature website
• Monitor legislative alertsat theAKC Government Relationspage
• Engage your representativesat every level — federal, state and local — every session, every bill. Locate your representativesHERE.