I am one of your constituents and I want to express my appreciation of your efforts on behalf of animals. However, at the same time, I want to be sure that you are aware that Assembly Bill 536 (AB 536) will not benefit animals and will not deal with the problems that need to be addressed such as shelter overpopulation and pet retention. It also does not protect the tax-paying consumer in any way.

As one of your constituents, I encourage you to oppose AB 536.

Upon close inspection of the bill itself it is clear that AB 536 will not deal with the "puppy mill problem" In some ways, it can be shown that it will serve to aggravate it.

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	AB 536 is not needed to deal with inhumane conditions and prior enforcement difficulties. A law newly passed in 1999 was intended to deal with inhumane conditions and prior enforcement difficulties. Time and funding was needed to train Humane Officers and more of them are needed to further the successes already demonstrated. Before creating a confusing, contradictory and expensive new program this law, Chapter 173 of the Wisconsin Statutes, needs to be given a further chance to work. Chapter 173 provides for properly certified Humane Officers who are equipped to enforce the animal care law on a local basis. The estimated annual cost of AB 536, $691,000, if used for enforcement under Chapter 173 would provide for certification of over 1500 Humane Officers in just the first year. This would give each of Wisconsin's 72 counties 20 new Humane Officers - a number which is unlikely to be needed. AB 536 proposes funding a whole new bureaucracy and employing only 5 inspectors who are not required to be certified Humane Officers. Furthermore, these inspectors are expected to inspect the estimated 1300 qualifying facilities only once every two years. For a large "mill" once every two year inspections are, to say the least, inadequate. In that two year period, each such "mill" will produce, sell, and turnover huge quantities of animals who inspectors will never see nor inspect the conditions in which they were raised.
	This bill will legitimize "puppy mills" in our state. Meeting the criteria for licensing will not ensure proper care, it will in fact protect these kennels from being dealt with on more serious issues and will allow them to use this "state certification" to lend credence to their advertising.
	Several members of the small group who originally sought to help deal with the "puppy mill" issue are outraged that this effort has been perverted by other agendas, and it is very clear that this piece of legislation will not solve or even abate the problems it is meant to address.

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Thank you for your attention on this matter and thank you for voting against AB536.

Sincerely,