From: George Meyer [georgemeyer@tds.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 9:09 AM
To: Kerkman, Samantha
Subject: [Possible Spam] Assembly Bill 250---Puppy Mill Legislation

Importance: Low

Dear Representatives:

The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation is comprised of 168 hunting, fishing and trapping organizations and represent most of the sports hunting dog organizations in the state including the: Wisconsin Association of Field Trial Clubs, Wisconsin Association of Sporting Dog Clubs, Wisconsin Coon Hunter Association, Wisconsin Association of Beagle Clubs, Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, Wisconsin Sharp-Tailed Grouse Society, Wings Over Wisconsin, the American Wild Turkey Hunting Dog Association, the Badger Dachshund Club, Central Wisconsin Shoot to Retrieve, Green Bay Duck Hunters Association, Little Wolf River Houndsmens Club, Manitowoc County Coon Hunters and the Sugar River Coon Hunters.

The sportsmen and women that belong to the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation strongly believe in the humane treatment of dogs. Hunting and field trialing with dogs are an important part of their lives and they treat their dogs humanely. They also abhor the poor treatment of animals associated with many puppy mills.

The Federation initially opposed AB 250 because the legislation included in its licensing the many thousands of sporting dog owners who are not the problem breeders of dogs. We truly appreciate the hard work of Rep. Smith and Sen. Kreitlow and their staffs in working with us and other sporting dog groups to redraft the bill in a manner that exempts virtually all of the sporting dog owners in the state while still getting at the vast number of puppy mills operating in the state. Our members are still governed by the inhumane treatment of animal statutes. We are comfortable with the passage of the bill as proposed to be amended.

Thank you for your attention to this legislation.

George Meyer
Executive Director
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation