LEGISLATIVE ALERT FOR ILLINOIS DOG OWNERS
 
We have had several bills to watch in Illinois that could be problematic for dog
owners.  These bills would effect ALL dog owners, not just dog breeders.  They could
effect a person owning only ONE dog.  So this information is for ALL dog owners.
Please pass this info on to all dog owners you know.
 
 
A repeat of last years punitive dog breeding bills is being proposed by S. Mendoza,
dem, HB5771.  This bill as written basically has ignored all the imput from this
summers task force meetings. It is an HSUS backed proposal.  It was to be read in
committee this week, but was not heard.  The sponsor will be out of town for several
weeks, so we have a small amount of time to call and write and fax our reps on this
committee.  So please do this.  If we sit on our hands, we will be in the same mess
we were in last year.  If you can network to all your dog friends, get on it.  Would
be nice to see this bill completely pulled. Since Illinois has one of the toughest
animal welfare acts in the nation, our congress needs to be paying attention to the
monetary issues this state is facing first and foremost.
 
Also anyone in Dave Severson's district needs to call his offices and give a strong
no to the bill he is sponsoring on barking restrictions, SB3496.  This bill will be

brought back to committee in the fall.
It is a subjective bill, hard to enforce the way it is written and would operate on
neighbor reporting neighbor.  There are other ways to handle this issue.
 
A third bill, the Tethering bill, SB2580 is also problematic so needs to be
addressed also.  It would truly hamper dog owners who have fencing ordinances and
hunting/sporting breeders who use tethering in the field and in training.  Not to
mention some farm dogs that may be tethered at dog houses, etc. 

This bill is moving through committee. 
 
These bills may seem small at face value, but they are the continuing, slow,
creeping move of laws that remove your rights and freedoms as a dog owner.  So
please become active.
 
Check out process of these bills at www.ifdco.org  which also links to the bills in
totality.
 
Thank you
Cynthia Storz
Rockford-Freeport K C, president/legislative liaison
Doberman Pinscher Club of America, Illinois legislative liaison
Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America
prairiefire@byronil.net