Just 20 months ago, the Texas legislature passed sweeping new laws regulating dog breeders in the state.  Now, animal rights and anti-hunting forces are back for more.

Texas House Bill 1449, sponsored by Representative John Kruempel (R-Seguin), would classify many sporting dog and hobby breeders as dog “dealers.”  Despite an exemption in the 2011 law, sporting dog owners who produce and sell as little as two litters of dogs (21) in a year once again could find themselves regulated.

Under the bill, dog dealers would be required to:

• Allow warrantless and unannounced government inspections of areas where dogs are kept, including the owner’s home if dogs are kept indoors.
• Obtain a state license in order to breed and sell their sporting dogs.
• Follow new state mandated standards of care for dogs, including new housing and enclosure requirements.
• Have a veterinarian examine each dog before it can be sold.
• Be prohibited from selling a dog less than 8 weeks of age.  Many sporting dog breeders sell dogs before they reach 8 weeks old (and in some cases before they are even born).  Typically, these dogs are not delivered to the new owner until the dog is old enough to be on its own. Read more