Dear Senator Branan,

With our state in such a budget crisis, as well as being the butt of national jokes for allowing so many puppy mills to proliferate here, SB 1712 seems like a no-brainer.

Laws already exist that require all Oklahoma citizens to pay income taxes. As a business owner and an Oklahoman, I pay income tax as well as sales tax on my company’s sales.

It is not fair, or legal, for those who commercially breed animals to not pay sales or income tax on those sales. Although I don’t personally feel that dogs and cats are “products” to be bought or sold, I recognize that this is a huge industry and for many people it is a business, it is their livelihood. But just as I run a business and I must pay taxes, so must these people. By conducting business on street corners and doing most of their commerce in cash, they are able to circumvent most existing laws that require people to pay income tax and sales tax.

This bill will enable law enforcement to do its job and make sure these people obey the existing laws.

Another way this bill recognizes dog breeding for the business/industry that it is, is that it subjects breeders with more than 11 female breeding dogs to greater levels of inspection. This is not a problem for “hobby breeders” who have a pair or two of dogs that they wish to breed and raise at home, and sell. These individuals are not our “puppy mill” problem (although they should pay taxes as well on that income!). These people have nothing to fear from this bill—nothing will change for them. On the other hand, if you have more than 11 female dogs that you are breeding, chances are you’ve got something more than just a hobby going on: you’ve got a commercial enterprise. In that case, you are subject to inspection, licensing and regulations to protect the animals in your care.

This bill does not play into the whims of “animal rights activists.” Nor does it ask anyone to give up their livelihood. It simply requires Oklahomans engaged in commerce to abide by existing laws regulating that commerce, just as all of us do who sell food, cars, toys, furniture, haircuts, surgeries or any other of the myriad of products and services for sale in our great state.

As your constituent, I ask you to support this important bill. It will generate much needed and rightfully owed revenue for our state, and will improve our state’s reputation in the USA for our treatment of animals.

Thank you for your time and your service to our state.

Sincerely,

Emily G
(address and phone)