Senator Lois Snowe-Mello Introduces Legislation to Provide Relief for Pet Shop Owners

Bill Would Reduce Fee on Sale of Cats and Dogs Purchased at Pet Stores

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 9, 2007

AUGUSTA – Senator Lois Snowe-Mello, of Poland, has introduced legislation that would reduce the fee collected by state government from the sale of each cat or dog that has not been sterilized to $5.00. Currently, the fee imposed on the sale of all non-sterilized cats and dogs totals $25.00 per pet, and is deposited in the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund.

The Companion Animal Sterilization Fund, created in 2003, is used to pay the costs of sterilization for cats and dogs that are owned by individuals who cannot afford the full cost of the procedure without government assistance. For example, individuals on Medicaid or receiving food stamps would qualify for assistance from the fund. Individuals on welfare, or who qualify for welfare, are also eligible. In addition to the fees collected from the sale of cats and dogs, the fund’s account increases through private donations. Additionally, Mainers have the option of contributing a tax deductible portion of their income to the fund on their state income tax forms.

Pet shop owners, because of the $25.00 fee imposed on the sale of un-sterilized cats and dogs, are experiencing decreases in sales as a result of the higher cost of the animals and are finding it difficult to compete with mega pet stores. For example, many pet shop owners have stopped carrying cats because the major increase in their cost. The $25.00 fee often comprises between 30 and 50 percent of the total sales price of a cat.

Sen. Snowe-Mello, a dog and cat owner herself, is concerned with the effects this fee is having on small business owners. “I respect the compassion and intentions of the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund, but I have real concerns with the economic effects this $25.00 fee is having on pet shop owners in Maine,” she said. “With Maine’s economy struggling the way it is, we have to take the steps we can to remove the barriers our small business owners face as they struggle to survive and expand. By reducing the fee from $25.00 to $5.00, and leaving all other funding sources intact, I think we can strike a necessary balance between the intentions of the Fund, and the need to support Maine’s small business community.”

Sen. Lois Snowe-Mello represents District 15, which includes Auburn, Durham, Poland and New Gloucester. She can be reached in Augusta at 287-1505 or by e-mail at replois@megalink.net.

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