This piece of legislation was successfully defeated in 2009 with the assistance of the Oklahoma Rifle Association, the Oklahoma Animal Interest Alliance, Quad States Breeders Association, APRI, AKC, and ACA. We would like to thank all those involved for fighting a good fight. BUT new pet legislation will be presented in 2010. We must remain vigilant. Oklahoma breeders need to unite and propose proper legislation that we can live with to control substandard facilities.
OKPP is not against legislation to eliminate substandard facilities in Oklahoma. We only want a voice in the development of this legislation. We want to do no harm to those already meeting and exceeding standards set by the federal Animal Welfare Act.
Again, thank you for assisting us with HB 1332.
Thea J. King
President, Oklahoma Pet Professionals
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| 2009-2010 Oklahoma Legislative Offerings |
In the 2009-2010 Oklahoma legislative session we have been challenged with three bills that have the supposed aim of controlling what the AR people call 'puppymills'. None of these bills will accomplish that. They are again aimed at the already regulated ethical breeders of Oklahoma. These bills are SB1712 by Sen. Patrick Anderson, SB1340 by Sen. Jerry Ellis, and HB2745 by Rep. Lee Denney. All of Oklahoma's pet breeders need to review these pieces of legislation on the Oklahoma legislative website and voice their opinions. One of these illustrious legislators has gone so far as to threaten that if Oklahoma breeders fight and defeat their offering this year, next year HSUS will be in Oklahoma. This legislator has said that we are illiterate, undereducated, and improperly attired. That we don't know how to properly address the legislators.
Please contact all of the state legislators and let them know how you feel. Let them know that you are a resident of Oklahoma, a taxpayer of Oklahoma, and a voter of Oklahoma. That you, in essence, hired them to do a job and carry out your wishes and that it is time they did it or joined the large number of Oklahoma's citizens that are already in the unemployment lines.
OKPP repeats, we are not against appropriate legislation, but none of these are considered appropriate. They will merely strain a budget that is predicted to run in the red and put more of Oklahoma's taxpaying citizens out of work. Please voice your opinions.
Thea J. King, President
Oklahoma Pet Professionals
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