Cat, dog breeders data no longer sheltered under proposal OK’d in agriculture committee

A commonsense consumer benefit or a license to harass? That’s the question at the heart of a bill to make data about licensed dog and cat breeders more publicly available.

Sponsored by Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL-Golden Valley), HF3410 would give the public access to commercial cat and dog breeder licensing information that is now considered private. This would include the number of animals kept and recent inspection reports.

On a split-voice vote, the bill, as amended, was approved Tuesday by the House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee and sent to the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee.

It would apply to licensed breeders, those with at least 10 adults and five litters per year.

Bill supporters say it would help people do the homework necessary before investing financially and emotionally in a pet. They could know whether the animal came from a facility with five or 500 puppies and why a breeder may have been cited in the past. 

Proponents say the measure would bring kennels in line with other licensees and put commercial breeders on the same footing as nonprofits.

Representing the Minnesota Pet Breeders Association, Daryn McBeth said that is an apples-to-oranges comparison. Nonprofit shelters almost never know the background, rearing or parentage of a dog or cat; commercial breeders select for certain traits which are valuable for things such as hunting dogs or show cats.

Another concern for bill opponents would be public disclosure of breeders’ locations, leaving them open to harassment or business interruption. Keeping information private was a key point when legislation requiring licensing was negotiated in 2014.

People who truly want information to research a pet can get it from the breeder. Public disclosure would only help people opposed to the industry in general, McBeth said.