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Happy New Year from CCKC!

Here's what we have on tap for the year ...

Luck of the Irish Puppy Match, March 10. Download flyer here.

A puppy match is the perfect opportunity to introduce new puppies to the show scene and help young adult dogs (and adults as well)
develop good manners at ringside and in the ring and to accept a judge's examination.

Also scheduled ...

Agility trials, April 13-15,
Obedience/Rally trials, June 9-10,
& annual all-breed show weekend,
September 7-9!

(all pending AKC approval)

Ohio legislative news

For information on "How a Bill Becomes Law in Ohio," go to http://www.ohiosenate.gov/how-a-bill-becomes-a-law.html

The following bills affecting animal and animal owners have been introduced into the Ohio Legislature and will be subject to action during the 2011-12 legislative session.

HB 14, a bill to strike breed specific language from Ohio law was amended in the House of Representatives to add dangerous dog provisions. This bill from Representative Barbara Sears is a repeat of a failed attemptto delete "pit bull" from Ohio's vicious dog law in the last legislative session. The amendments 'fix' a court decision that some provisions in current animal control law are unconstitutional but go overboard. See Ohio Valley Dog Owners Inc. (www.ovdo.org) for details. Read HB 14 at http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=129_HB_14

HB 25 also deletes breed-specific language from Ohio law and allows courts to order counseling for juveniles convicted of animal cruelty, includes family pets in domestic violence protection orders, and raises the penalty for cruelty to farm animals.HB 25 was introduced by Butler County Representative Courtney Combs. The bill is at http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=129_HB_25. Representative Combs can be reached at 77 S. High Street,13th Floor; Columbus, OH 43215-6111; Phone: (614) 644-6721; Fax: (614) 719-6954; Email: district54@ohr.state.oh.us. Update: The House Criminal Justice Committee passed HB 25 WITHOUT THE PIT BULL LANGUAGE on May 25. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.

SB 130 repeats the provisions of failed SB 95 and has had several hearings in the Senate Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Main points of contention in the bill are:

• a kennel license for every breeder who keeps an intact dog "for the purpose of breeding";
• registration of foster homes used by rescue groups;
• establishment of a state agency to administer and enforce regulations for commercial kennels; and
• a set of unreasonable standards that have little to do with dog welfare and are far stricter than those used by the federal Animal Welfare Act. These standards prohibit keeping more than 3 dogs in a single enclosure; regulate pen size by the weight of the dog; require coated wire fencing; and mandate veterinary care for any disease, illness, or injury.

AKC, OVDO, and the Ohio Association of Animal Owners oppose SB 130. These organizations do not oppose kennel licensing, they oppose unreasonable licensing, and they are working with the Senate committee, OVMA, and the bill sponsor to amend the bill..

UPDATE: After four hearings and a panel discussion with the committee, discussions are underway to amend the bill. The current version of SB 130 is at http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_SB_130.

Other matters affecting Ohio animal owners

In June 2010, Governor Ted Strickland brokered a deal with the Humane Society of the US that has the potential to affect those who raise livestock for food and fiber, and owners and breeders of dogs, exotic animals, and fancy chicken breeds. SB 95, the dog breeding bill mentioned in the agreement died at the end of the 2009-10 legislative session but it has been reincarnated as SB 130. For more information about the agreement with HSUS and its impact on Ohio dog owners, go to http://www.ovdo.org. For information about how the agreement affects other animal owners, go to http://www.oaao.us.

Keep up with legislative issues affecting dog owners throughout the US on the AKC website at http://www.akc.org/news/sections/legislative_alerts.cfm

More news

• CCKC offers versatility & owner/handler awards for members & our dogs

• AKC announced creation of a program for mixed breed dogs. Details: http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3810

• New veterinary law: Ohio now limits alternative medicine & physical therapy practices to veterinarians. Read the law

• Clermont County 4-H kids are into dog training