Sunday, July 6, 2008
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Tracking Virginia’s General Assembly
since 2007.
HB691: Animal control officers; inspection of breeding facilities.
Chief Patron
Del.
Ward Armstrong (D-10)
Ward Armstrong
(D-10)
Martinsville, VA
Served: 1992–
Progress
 |
Introduced |
 |
Passed Committee |
 |
Passed House |
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Passed Senate |
|
Signed by Governor |
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Became Law |
Status
01/23/2008: Failed to Pass in Committee
Summary
Animal control officers; inspection of breeding facilities. Requires an animal control officer to make quarterly inspections of any premises in his jurisdiction where dealers breed companion animals. The animal control officer will ensure that dealers comply with state and federal standards for sanitation, licensure, and adequate care.
View Full Text »Video
Votes were cast on this bill on the following dates for which Richmond Sunlight has video: 01/17/2008, 01/23/2008 and 01/23/2008.
Poll Results
14 votes
Tags
Bill Text
Related Bills
Status: signed by governor
Status: Failed to Pass in Committee
Status: signed by governor
Status: signed by governor
Status: Failed to Pass in Committee
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Comments
Are breeding facilities currently NOT inspected? I completely support inspections of such places.
This bill language makes *every* dog and cat seller in Virginia subject to quarterly inspections, without requiring due cause or a warrant.
VA Code: "Dealer" means any person who in the regular course of business for compensation or profit buys, sells, transfers, exchanges, or barters companion animals. The following shall not be considered dealers: (i) any person who transports companion animals in the regular course of business as a common carrier, or (ii) any person or organization whose primary purpose is to find permanent adoptive homes for companion animals.
Further, while USDA has 60 pages of regulations detailing precise animal care requirements, Virginia has none. How can ACOs do federal inspections when they can't do their normal jobs and aren't sufficiently trained for those? Whose inspection result governs, if federal inspectors and VA ACOs disagree? This is extraordinarily bad, poorly crafted, ill considered legislation. The bill's legal conflicts and negative policy and fiscal impacts are staggering.
Thank goodness this one died already! These people will stop at nothing to waste the Assembly's time.