| Governor
Vilsack got the message that “Dogs are not livestock,
nor should they be considered as such!” He line-item
vetoed the language on Friday, June 2, 2006.
Do
you consider dogs to be “farm products?” Should
they be? Do you want to have facilities licensed to raise
dogs to be considered as being in the “agricultural
production business?”
Why
should Iowans be encouraged to raise dogs as a cash crop?
On
May 3, 2006, the Iowa legislature passed a bill* that re-defines
dogs raised in commercial operations (i.e., breeding kennels/puppy
mills) as “livestock.” This concept was introduced
by Senator Mary Lundby (R—District 18) Marion, Iowa.
We’ve
asked her why and are waiting for her response, which we
will print here. We found it odd that Senator Lundby would
choose to work with the Iowa Federation of Pet Owners and
the Iowa Pet Breeders Association rather than draw on the
expertise of the Iowa Federation of Humane Societies or
any of the Iowa Kennel Clubs.
This
new legislation has us worried. Factory farming has done
no favors for pigs, cows, chickens, or turkeys. No doubt,
it will be disastrous for dogs, as well.
Many
of you know that actually, dogs have been illegally raised
as a cash crop in Iowa for years. We have plenty of puppy
mills already breeding plenty of misery. In fact, Iowa,
Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania
have for decades shared the onus of being the top seven
puppy mill states that supply pet shops all over the nation.
If seeing is believing for you, here are some photos
the puppy mill industry wouldn’t want you to see (warning:
these are graphic).
We
all need to be concerned about the significant negative
repercussions that dogs a a legal cash crop will have on
Chapters 717,
717A,
& 717B
of the Iowa Code, which contain the laws relating to how
animals in Iowa are to be treated (abuse/cruelty/neglect).
It took y-e-a-r-s of hard work to get what protection animals
now have.
Thank
You for Taking Action!
*Here
is the language that was passed by the legislature: |
Iowa
Code Chapter 352—County Land Preservation &
Use Commissions
352.2—Definitions
Subsection 7—Farm Products (would be amended
to read—changes in fuschia)
“Farm products” means those plants and
animals and their products which are useful to people
and includes but is not limited to forages and sod
crops, grains and feed crops, dairy and dairy products,
poultry and poultry products, livestock, canines
from licensed facilities, fruits, vegetables,
flowers, seeds, grasses, trees, fish, honey and similar
products, or any other plant, animal or plant or animal
product which supplies people with food, feed fiber
or fur. |
Iowa
Code Chapter 423—Sales and Use Taxes
423.1—Definitions
Subsection 3—Agricultural Production (would
be amended to read—changes in fuschia)
“Agricultural production” includes the
production of flowering, ornamental, or vegetable
plants in commercial green house or otherwise, and
production from aquaculture or
canines from licensed facilities. “Agricultural
products” includes flowering, ornamental, or
vegetable plants and those products of aquaculture
or canines from licensed facilities. |
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