dog law changes in ma.

[Jim Person]

To all interested parties (anyone who lives/trains in Ma.), I am still on the road to getting this done. To those of you who have contacted the state senator,thanks,he listened. I am working with the sportsmans council on drafting some bills,that should be filed by july 2008. BUT!!!!!! and this is a big BUT!!!!!!!!. In the past all dog training bills fell on their face because no one came out to testify at the statehouse on this matter when the time came. The last time a bill was brought up they 1 person show up,that isn't going to change anything. I'd like to see 10-12 at least show up when the time comes. If any changes are to come about we need you to come out to testify in a house or senate committee. As the legislative guru for the council put it, we need to take baby steps,or death by a thousand cuts. All of the changes may not happen,but some of them should get through. Heck I'd be happy with getting one passed.
here is the link to a site with the proposed changes
www.sportdogtraining.net/massdoglaws
Anyone that wants to can pm me or email me with any help/comments/support
Thanks for listening, Jim

[Steve Hamel]

Jim,


If I can be of any help, just say the word.

Steve

[paul young]

i'll gladly use a vacation day to be there. keep me posted, Jim.

thanks for your persistence!-paul

[Terry Thomas]

Will the presence of an out of stater help? If so I'll come.

[Miriam Wade]

Jim-

I've trained & run a lot in MA. Would be happy to drive down too. (But I won't sit next to Terry who views my fluffy dog as alligator bait! )

M

[Susan Young]

Just let us know when, Jim. I'm sure we can pass the word through the local all breed retriever clubs, the specific breed clubs, etc.

[Jim Person]

Thanks all, The big thing is getting as many people at the hearings as we can. These hearings will take place no sooner than July 2008. Each item will be addressed individually. The first one we are going after is allowing the use of shotguns with blanks. Eliminating the epo requirement will most likely never happen(it was a deal struck between a past governor and the epo union).next will be to be protected by hunter harass law,which would make it a crime to interfere or obstruct dog training/trials/tests. then we will try for access to more state WMAs. Most of these will be changes or amendments to existing laws and not new laws,which should make it a little easier. One thing for sure is there are many flaming hoops to jump through to get anywhere. Thanks again, Jim