We Need Your Help To Protect Responsible, Professional Breeders!

Tell the General assembly to Amend The New Animal Care Statute!!! 

As many of you may know, Rhode Island recently enacted legislation to protect animals from cruel treatment in pet shops and puppy mills.  While we applaud these efforts, the legislation contained a major flaw:  it lumped professional breeders, like Royal Flush Havanese, in the same licensing category as “pet shops.”  

As educated lovers of Royal Flush Havanese, you understand that breeders are far, far different from pet shops.  Pet shops are there to sell a dog – no matter what the cost to the dog and the breed.  Professional breeders are there to ensure responsible and ethical practices that promote the well-being of the dog and the breed as a whole.

If Rhode Island professional breeders are required to be licensed as “pet shops,”  the damage to their reputations will  be catastrophic.  Many will be forced out of business – and leave the market open to the puppy mills and “backyard breeders.”

We have attempted to have the legislature fix this problem, only to see the bill stall in the Senate.

Please take a few minutes in order to e-mail the following to the President of the Senate,

Dominick Ruggerio,
sen-ruggerio@rilegislature.gov.
Please copy and paste the letter below to help us continue to do what we love and provide many great families with our amazing Havanese:

Dear Senate President:

 I am writing in support of Senate Bill 349.

This legislation is needed to fix a flaw in the current legislation.  The current statues put professional breeders in the same licensing classification as “pet shop.”  

While this may seem like a technical distinction, the difference to professional breeders is crucial.  Professional breeders are very different from pet shops.  Pet shops are there to sell dogs – no matter what the cost to the dogs.  Professional breeders use ethical practices that promote the well-being of the dog, including ensuring that the dog goes to a responsible home.

If Rhode Island professional breeders are required to be licensed as “pet shops,” the damage to their reputations will be catastrophic.  Many will be forced out of business – and leave the market open to the puppy mills and “backyard breeders.”  This of course defeats the very purpose of the legislation.

Senate Bill 349 will fix this problem without diluting the standards of care for animals in any way.   I therefore urge the passage of Senate Bill – which has the support of the State Veterinarian.

Thank you for your kind consideration.
(Your Name Here)

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We also ask for your help in e-mailing the following to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nicholas Mattiello,
rep-mattiello@rilin.state.ri.us

Please copy and paste the letter below to help us continue to do what we love and provide many great families with our amazing Havanese:

Dear House Speaker:

I am writing in support of Bill SO349.

This legislation is needed to fix a flaw in the current legislation.  The current statues put professional breeders in the same licensing classification as “pet shop.”  

While this may seem like a technical distinction, the difference to professional breeders is crucial.  Professional breeders are very different from pet shops.  Pet shops are there to sell dogs – no matter what the cost to the dogs.  Professional breeders use ethical practices that promote the well-being of the dog, including ensuring that the dog goes to a responsible home.

If Rhode Island professional breeders are required to be licensed as “pet shops,” the damage to their reputations will be catastrophic.  Many will be forced out of business – and leave the market open to the puppy mills and “backyard breeders.”  This of course defeats the very purpose of the legislation.

Bill SO349 will fix this problem without diluting the standards of care for animals in any way.   I therefore urge the passage of this bill – which has the support of the State Veterinarian.

Thank you for your kind consideration.
(Your Name Here)

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We can’t thank you enough for helping us protect reputable breeders so that we can continue to provide you with happy, healthy havanese puppies!