Oppose Senate Bill 8252 and Assembly Bill 8653

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to respectfully urge you to oppose Senate Bill 8252 and Assembly Bill 8653. While I understand the intent may be to prevent unethical breeding practices, these bills would inadvertently penalize responsible hobby breeders in New York State, the very individuals who dedicate their lives to the preservation and betterment of beloved dog breeds.

This legislation would limit the sale of puppies to no more than nine per year before a breeder is subject to extensive licensing and regulatory requirements. While large-scale commercial breeders may be able to absorb these burdens, passionate hobby breeders, those who breed occasionally and responsibly, would be pushed out entirely.

Many of the most ethical, informed breeders begin with just one carefully planned litter in their home. These are the people who do it right, they perform health testing, screen homes, and offer lifelong support to the families who adopt their dogs. These are not the people contributing to shelter overpopulation, on the contrary, their puppies rarely, if ever, end up in shelters thanks to thorough placement practices and legally binding contracts.

Ironically, this bill would do little to stop those who disregard ethical breeding altogether. Backyard breeders and irresponsible individuals who skip health testing, avoid contracts, and sell to anyone with cash in hand will continue unchecked because they already operate outside of the law.

If passed, this legislation would eliminate the stepping stone needed for good breeders to begin and grow their programs. It would destroy the foundation on which many preservation breeders, those who care deeply about genetics, temperament, and the future of their breeds.

Please consider the unintended consequences of this bill. It does not protect animals, it punishes those who do. I strongly urge you to vote NO on SB 8252 and AB 8653.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Learn how you can help

AKC: Five Actions to Take TODAY to Oppose Drastic Hobby Breeder Regulations

Sincerely,
Michael W. Hosier

Greenfield Center, NY
518-951-5961