PIJAC Predicts Hectic Legislative Year for Pet Industry
An unprecedented number of proposed laws and regulations will target the pet industry and restrict pet ownership in 2009, according to the Washington-based Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council. Hot topics include:
- Dog breeder/dealer licensing standards. Media coverage of “puppy mills,” which spurred a host of legislative introductions last year, continues to drive efforts in 2009 as well.
- Dog breeding/sales limits. Laws limiting the number of dogs people may breed or sell will be considered in several states, PIJAC said.
- Pet warranty laws. Expect proposals in states that don’t have pet warranty statutes. That may or may not be bad, depending on how they are crafted, said PIJAC. More worrisome: bills to expand existing laws with unreasonable and onerous liability for pet dealers.
- Invasive species regulation. These regulations, including restrictions on what may be imported, traded and possessed, will continue to be a major issue.
- Mandatory spay/neuter statutes. These will target both pet dealers and pet owners.
- Breed-specific prohibitions on dogs.
- Animal “hoarding” bills. These technically apply to pet owners who keep more animals than they can care for, but they can effectively limit legitimate pet dealers from selling animals, depending on how they are written, said PIJAC.
- Pet store licensing and animal care standards/restrictions.
- Mandatory microchipping of dogs/cats.
In the first three weeks of 2009, PIJAC said it screened almost 7,000 proposed bills and regulations that could seriously impact the pet industry. [March 2009 PET AGE]
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