Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on August 24, 2011

Click here to view bill details.

I think you should have better definitions:  Pet Dealer &  Pet Shop  (pet shop owner usually has to buy the dogs & cats it sells) -  both could buy and sell Dogs & Cats.    Frankly, if no funding is available for inspections; and if breeders (before the dogs get to the Pet Shops) were inspected and shut down for violations, you wouldn't need more laws covering the Pet Shops.  Picketing Pet Shops and Pet Shop owners is not the place to start.  Get after the local communities who give Special Approval for every breeder that comes along - regardless of the accommodations, which are not receiving Building Inspector approval.  Then, make sure the accommodations that are inspected by whoever for a license are suitable and Building Inspector approved - for dogs and the people who are supposed to be hired to run the operation - if for nothing other than safety to the human beings involved.  You don't give a 60-dog breeding kennel license to a little old lady with no employees.  These are the kinds of operations that are sending sick, etc., dogs to market.  And however is doing the check on out-of-state dogs coming in to the Pet Shop has to be held responsible.  I feel a lttle sorry for a Pet Shop owner being dragged through the coals, because of irresponsible people  and departments he should be relying on for the merchandise he receives  -  I doubt if a shop owner wants to be buying sick dogs.  Also, get after some of the vets who hand out signed approval slips for the breeders to fill in at time of sale - some sell those documents by the dozens.  If everybody cleaned up their own act, the Pet Shops wouldn't be getting sick dogs. Nobody wants to tackle the Breeders and their Lobby - that's too tough - and may cost votes. Just pick on  the :Pet Shop owner who is attempting to bring a business to the community. And if you want to hear more:  Dorothea Knight  -  dorothea.knight@SBCglobal.net.

Sorry Mickie19, but, in my opinion, a good breeder would NEVER sell their puppies to a pet store anyway.  Most puppies in pet stores come from puppy-mill type situations .....can't even imagine having my "babies" locked up in cages all day on display!  I do agree, however, that a little old lady has no business having 60 dogs!  I do think that more kennels should be thoroughly investigated......the new laws should be geared toward shutting down puppy-mills......which means not allowing puppies to be sold in pet stores:(

 This bill is a bunch of bull...it is full of “definitions” of just about every “term” they wanted to throw in there…but where, I ask you, is the “definition” for “Infectious Disease”????  

   Where do they get off telling a breeder, or whoever is selling animals, what they should warranty?   If a breeder does not stand by the health of their dogs, their own reputation will take them down anyway.  How can they demand a replacement AND cost of vet bills?  Too much Government Regulation and interference is what is ruining what used to be a prosperous nation of business. 

Any reputable breeder sends their puppies off with a health warranty anyway and will stand behind their puppies.....but, if the puppy buyer does not take some responsiblity in keeping their puppy safe then how can the breeder warrant that?  One "infectious disease" in particular comes to my mind......PARVO......a pup infected with the Parvo Virus usually shows symptoms in 5-10 days (see link about Parvo Virus here  ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canine_parvovirus#Pathophysiology ).......even though us reputable breeders have our puppies examined by our Vet and immunized, the shots only last so long (3-4 weeks) so if the new owner does not follow through with re-vaccinating......then why should the breeder be responsible for that??   For example, my pups are Vet-checked and vaccinated at about 7 weeks of age.......puppies leave my house around 8 weeks of age with a health record, and health warranty.  The new owners are instructed to have the puppy seen by their Vet within 3 days so that they are assured they have a healthy pet.....the are also instructed to have the vaccinations repeated in 3-4 weeks.  If the new owners do not re-vaccinate in 3-4 weeks then the puppy could contract the Parvo Virus (among other things) and get sick within the period that this bill is allowing.........THEN THEY ARE ALLOWED TO CHARGE ME, THE BREEDER, FOR THE VET BILLS AND A REPLACEMENT PUPPY??????? 

 This is just one example of many.......I think they are barking up the wrong tree with this bill!!!

         Molly LaFleche~Breeder

 I totally agree that there needs to be more clarifications of the terminology within this Bill.  It is obviously written by someone who is ignorant of what is happening in the "real world".  As a breeder and exhibitor of some of this country's top winning show dogs for almost 50 years, I believe I can state that anyone who has an animal's best interest at heart will always sell that animal with a bill of health.  Mine includes the puppy's complete health record and statements that the new owner MUST take the puppy to his vet within 24 hours along with the purchase agreement.  That way the veterinarian has the health record immediately and is shown a healthy, clean puppy.  I would not be opposed to have a state authority inspect my animals and paperwork proving that I have tested them for heriditary diseases.  I would also be willing to take a written test proving that I am aware of vaccination procedures, etc.  I do believe that this may cut down on puppy mills.

Even if the concept was great - you need somebody beyond 3rd grade English Composition to author a Bill.

 

I also agree that pet stores are not the most fit places for puppies. It's cruel to see them locked up like that, if you look closely you'll see they all have sad eyes. I bought my little puppy from an authorized breeder, I found him on our local Orlando classifieds and it was a nice experience, quite touching actually.

I understand that it's important for this to be regulated, but it just sounds very cruel the way they stated that. I work for a dog tags for dogs company and a lot of times I see customers who knew the dogs they took in were sick, but still got them. No animal shelter or pet shop can take care of these dogs better than someone who takes them into their home.