Virginia Hunting Dog Owner's Association

----- Original Message -----
From: vhdoa@mailman.montana.com
To: S_VHDOA
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2006 8:16 PM
Subject: VA Senate Agriculture Committee Report - 1/23/2006

A VHDOA message to dog owning sportsmen about protecting their traditions, avocations and livelihoods from anti-hunting, anti-breeding, animal guardianship advocates. Forwarding and cross posting, with attribution, encouraged.
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-typo edited-
Today was a very poor day for dog owners in Virginia's General Assembly.

In the order which they were discussed.

SB200, Edd Houck's Dangerous Dog Bill - Substitute reported 14-0.

VA's show fancy and ADOA sold one kidney and its first-born grandchild to keep the words "pit bull" and "Rottweiler" out of SB200. The classic emotional, public policy train wreck and a very bad bill. First offense misdemeanor (jail) or felony (imprisonment) penalties for owners of dogs that injure everything from a hamster to a human. All dangerous dogs not covered by a $300,000 surety bond to be put-down. SB200 does absolutely nothing for others in killed Dorothy Sullivan's situation, whose death was mainly attributable to failed county enforcement of the existing DD code, and won't help prevent family pet maulings which nearly killed the third VA child in 12 months two weeks ago. Only VHDOA opposed. 60 minutes

SB491, Fred Quayle's DD Bill - Solid Crime Commission drafting of Class 6 felony penalties only for dog-human attacks. No criminal owner penalties for lesser offenses, although any dog so involved is judged "dangerous" and put-down per current code. Laid over until 1/30. Some small possibility of a consolidated Houck-Quayle bill resulting from a three-man subcommittee so charged. VHDOA supported. 5 minutes

SB55, Roscoe Reynolds' VVAW Mandatory Spay-Neuter, Microchip Bill. Totally dead. Burial postponed to 1/30 at Reynolds' request. A public embarrassment. There should be a three strikes and you're out rule in VA legislation. No support whatever. VHDOA and others opposed. 15-20 minutes

SB232, Ticer, et al Immunity for reporting animal abuse (Virginia's version of pet neglect vigilantes). Reported 12-3. VHDOA opposed.

For the third year running, VVAW's forced spay-neuter bill never stood any chance of positive consideration. It did however divert dog owner attention and resources from the SB200 and SB232 fights.

My sincere thanks to all who emailed their opposition using http://vhdoa.uplandbirddog.com/VA.AG.Ctmes.html By early this morning, our emails slightly outnumbered those of the bills' supporters, but too many minds were already made up, for this round.

We've lots of work to do between now and crossover on February 14th, when the two chambers exchange their respective passed bills. This week's House AG Committee scheduled bill action should be available tomorrow.

Sincerely,
Bob Kane
Virginia Hunting Dog Owners' Association
http://vhdoa.uplandbirddog.com/ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The message above was posted to Virginia residents by the Virginia Hunting Dog Owners' Association (VHDOA).

VHDOA is a nonpartisan volunteer group working to protect sportsmen and hunting dog owners from the legislative and political threats of radical animal rightists. We lobby the General Assembly and Congress, when necessary. It is the largest Virginia organization fighting this struggle and has an established record of accomplishments for both sportsmen and dog owners in these arenas. Visit our website at http://vhdoa.uplandbirddog.com/ for our mission statement, goals, legislative track record and elist signup details.

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