FEDERAL LEGISLATION

H.R. 767

National Animal Rescue Day

Status: Pending

K9 PAC Position: Support

Summary: To designate National Animal Rescue Day to promote, create awareness, and educate people about the importance of adoption.

Sponsor:
Rep. Andrews (D-NJ)

H.R. 812

Adoption of Military Working Dogs

Status: Pending

K9 PAC Position: Support

Summary: Authorizes the adoption of military working dogs by the family of the dog's handler when the handler is a deceased or seriously wounded member of the Armed Forces.

Sponsor:
Rep. Jones (R-NC)

H.R. 2480 /
S. 1076

Fur Labeling

Status: Pending

K9 PAC Position: Support

Summary: Amends the Fur Products Labeling Act to: (1) eliminate the exemption to fur labeling requirements for products containing relatively small amounts of fur; and (2) permit states to enforce more restrictive labeling requirements.  Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in the Fur Products Name Guide, to replace the term "Raccoon, Asiatic" with "Dog, Raccoon."

Click here to urge Congress to support this bill.

K9 PAC Applauds Sponsors:
Rep. James Moran (D-VA)
Rep. Bono-Mack (R-CA)
Sen. Collins (R-ME)
Sen. Menendez (NJ)

K9 PAC Comment: Dog fur is being imported into the United States from China and sold to unsuspecting American consumers.  The Fur Products Labeling Act of 1951 states that animal fur garments sold in the United States must have labeling that describes the species used, manufacturer, and country of production.  Unfortunately, garments with “a relatively small quantity of value” of fur are exempt from the labeling requirement.  According to the Federal Trade Commission, garments with “a relatively small quantity of value” are those containing less than $150 worth of fur.  Chinese fur producers have taken advantage of this loophole and are failing to properly label fur garments.  What unsuspecting consumers do not realize is that the fur products they purchase from Chinese producers sometimes contain cat, raccoon dog, domestic dog, or wolf fur. 

K9 PAC Acknowledgments: K9 PAC thanks the Humane Society of the United States for conducting the investigation of American designers and retailers that uncovered the prevalent use of dog fur in Chinese-made garments.

H.R. 3266 /
S. 1495

Service Dogs for Disabled Veterans

Status: Related provisions enacted as part of Department of Defense authorization bill (P.L. 111-84).

K9 PAC Position: Support

Summary: To establish a program of grants for nonprofit groups to encourage the use of service and therapy dogs to assist disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces.

Sponsors:
Rep. Klein (D-FL)
Rep. Whitfield (R-KY)
Sen. Franken (D-MN)
Sen. Isakson (R-GA)

H.R. 3501

Pet Care Tax Deduction

Status: Pending

K9 PAC Position: Support

Summary: To amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction of up to $3,500 for veterinary and other pet care expenses for qualified pets (defined as “legally owned, domesticated, live animals”).

Sponsor:
Rep. McCotter (R-MI)

H.R. 3907 /
S. 1834

Class B Dealers

Status: Pending

K9 PAC Position: Support

Summary: Prohibits the sale of "random source" (vs. purpose-bred) dogs and cats for research purposes by Class B dealers.

K9 PAC Comment:
Although we disagree with the use of dogs in laboratory research, the use of "random source" dogs is even more detrimental than purpose-bred because Class B dealers have been known to obtain the animals fraudulently by taking them from "free-to-good-home" ads and through theft of family pets.

Sponsor:
Rep. Doyle (D-PA)
Sen. Akaka (D-HI)

H.R. 4269

Animals in Military Research

Status: Pending

K9 PAC Position: Support

Summary:Requires that only human-based methods are used to train members of the Armed Forces in the treatment of severe combat, chemical, and biological injuries.

Sponsor:
Rep. Filner (D-CA)

H.R. 5092

"Crush Videos"

Status: Pending

K9 PAC Position: SUPPORT

Summary: Prohibits the sale and distribution of "crush" videos that show living animals intentionally crushed, burned, drowned, or impaled.

Click here to learn more and urge congress to vote "yes" on this bill to end heinous cruelty to & killing of animals.

Sponsors:
Rep. Gallegly (R-CA)
Rep. Moran (D-VA)
Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR)