In 2007, in Washington D.C. (another HSUS territory LOL), the American Kennel Club (AKC) printed this article in the Legislative Update Section at http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3236 and
Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council
The Pet Industry’s Unified Voice:
“Unfortunately, there are a growing number of well-financed organizations proposing regulations that could put the industry, pets, and the people who love them at risk. Believe it or not, some people are of the opinion that you should be PROHIBITED from having companion animals–no more dogs…no more cats…not even a goldfish!” http://www.pijac.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1 (HOME PAGE)
PIJAC’s (Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council) Government Affairs team reads, reviews, researches and represents the pet industry’s position on thousands of bills and regulations each year. It is impractical for you to try to follow all of them and run your business at the same time, so PIJAC does it for you.
**[ Petdefense recommends joining so you can see first hand what is taking place in the Pet Industry. Hobbyist affiliate is only $35 membership.]
- PIJAC is the industry’s advocate with respect to government legislation and regulations that affect the survival of the pet industry.
- In 2007, PIJAC screened more than 14,000 federal, state and local initiatives and closely monitored more than 2000!
- PIJAC’s StateWatch system scans legislative and regulatory proposals in all fifty states, as well as at federal and international levels. This enables PIJAC to alert the industry to immediate and emerging issues.
- PIJAC is a recognized authority and is called upon for consultation and to serve on task forces and advisory committees by federal, state and local governments, and international conventions.
- PIJAC is the industry’s liaison with governmental agencies; formulates industry policy positions; prepares analyses and testimony; coordinates industry responses; assists industry witnesses; and directs legislative grassroots work.
- PIJAC is the one single unified voice for the pet industry, able to present the industry’s position on key issues.
Legislative Bill and Regulation Tracking
Every year, PIJAC reviews legislative bills and proposed regulations at the federal and state level throughout the United States to identify possible impacts on the pet industry. The subjects of these proposals run the gamut, dealing with everything from licensing and taxation to restrictions on the ownership and sale of companion animals. Many of them are innocuous in their introduced form, and do not require immediate action by PIJAC and its members.
Others represent serious threats to the ability of those in the pet trade to continue operating their businesses; a prompt response is critical. Still other initiatives may benefit the trade and are deserving of positive support. PIJAC tracks all of them to ensure its ability to act promptly when any meaningful change in status occurs.
PIJAC’s electronic bill tracking system promptly alerts us to new legislative introductions at both the federal and state level, while our regulatory tracking system reveals rulemakings that may affect the industry. Each of the pertinent proposals is reviewed and evaluated for its potential impact, then assigned a ranking for future monitoring.
Some justify a high priority status and are designated as “hot” while others do not raise immediate concern but must be tracked for possible amendments that could result in a change in ranking. Regardless of their ranking, PIJAC continues to monitor such proposals until a final outcome, whatever it may be.
