Maine Hikes Pet Store Fee
A Maine bill that proposes hefty increases in license fees for pet stores, breeders and pet owners represents “a clear effort to end dog ownership in the state,” warned the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (Washington) in a recent PetAlert.
“There is no rational purpose for this bill other than putting breeders and pet stores out of business and barring the rights of Maine residents to own cats and dogs,” PIJAC said.
The current license fee for a pet shop is a flat $150. The proposed fee is $150 plus $500 for each dog sold.
License fees for dog and cat breeders would increase from a flat $75 to $500 for each adult dog and cat that is capable of breeding.
Dog owners would have to pay $150 for each intact dog 6 months of age or older. The current fee is $11.
House Bill 728 also includes a new prohibition against any breeding kennel having more than 10 female adult dogs or cats capable of breeding.
The bill resided in the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry awaiting its first hearing at press time. [May 2009 PET AGE]
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