HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2018.07.19 - 23668MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #18268
BY: Commissioner Marcia Gershenson, District #13
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — OPPOSITION TO HOUSE BILLS 5916 AND 5917 —
QUALIFIED PET SHOPS LEGISLATION
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS House Bills 5916 and 5917 seek to amend Public Act 287 of 1969, MCL 287.335, by
establishing standards a pet shop must meet to be considered a qualified pet shop and prohibit a local unit
of government from regulating a pet shop that meets those standards; and
WHEREAS even though HB 5916 adds restrictions to the sale of dogs by pet shops, there is still opportunity
to allow the sale of animals from, or by way of, facilities with inhumane breeding and/or shelter practices;
and
WHEREAS HB 5917 creates a new act to prohibit a county, city, village or township from enacting or
enforcing an ordinance, policy, resolution, or rule that regulates a qualified pet shop; and
WHEREAS ensuring local communities are not preempted from enforcing local ordinances with the
passage of state legislation, provides communities that are taking action to improve their economic fortunes,
protect their quality of life, and crack down on horrific abuses against animals; and
WHEREAS more than 260 localities across the nation, including 3 in Michigan, have enacted ordinances
preventing the sale of commercially produced puppies in pet stores; and
WHEREAS Macomb and Genesee Counties have adopted resolutions opposing House Bills 5916 and
5917 in their respective commissions; and
WHEREAS similar preemption bills have been rejected in recent years by state legislators in Florida,
Georgia, Tennessee and Illinois; and
WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners opposes HB 5916 and 5917 as an effort to protect
animals from inhumane conditions in commercial breeding facilities and stores, help reduce the number of
healthy animals surrendered to local animal shelters and animal groups, reduce the financial burden on
local animal control organizations, and reduce the financial and emotional strain often experienced by
unsuspecting citizens who unknowingly purchase animals that were bred in commercial animal breeding
facilities; and
WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners champions the protection of an animal's welfare
and the consumers' rights to purchase a healthy pet from a sensibly regulated breeder or pet shop as well
as ensuring local communities have oversight.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby opposes
House Bill 5916 and 5917 which would provide for the opportunity to allow the sale of animals from
inhumane breeding facilities, and creates a new act that would prohibit a county, city, village, or township
from enacting or enforcing and ordinance, policy, resolution or rules that regulates a qualified pet shop.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Oakland County Board of Commissioners opposes legislation that further
restricts the ability of a county or local government to enact reasonable regulations to protect animals from
unsafe, unhealthy or inhumane conditions or practices.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward
copies of this adopted resolution to the Governor of the State of Michigan, the Lieutenant Governor of the
State of Michigan, the members of the Oakland County delegation to the Michigan Legislature and the
Members of the Michigan House Agricultural Committee.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
Commissioner Marcia Otyrshenson
District #13
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Resolution #18268 July 19 2018
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no objections.