This petition is asking our Governor and every Elected Official in the state of North Carolina..... To require all dog breeders (backyard, hobby and professional) to obtain a yearly business license and pay state and county taxes on all sales. Everyday, dog breeders make money hand over fist and never pay a dime in taxes, nor do they have to obtain a yearly business license. Dog breeding is a business period and should be treated as such. If there was no profit to be made, people wouldn't do it. Two breeder's I spoke with at my own vets office really stand out. One charged $2200.00 per pup. The mom had 8 pups. That's $17600.00 untaxed profit off one litter. That particular breeder had been in "Business" for 30 years! The other charged $1700.00 per pup. The mom had 6 pups. That's $10200.00 untaxed profit off one litter. On the average, let's say a backyard breeder charges $150.00 to $200.00 per pup and mom has 10 pups. That's $1500.00 to $2000.00 untaxed profit. While local businesses struggle to stay afloat or close because they can't make it, breeders are going strong, without overheard expenses. Deworming and shots don't cost a lot, if the pups actually even gets that much before they're sold. What other businesses do you know that can get away with making that kind of money and never pay taxes or have yearly business license? In 2018 North Carolina's companion animal euthanasia rate, in county animal shelters was ranked #3 in the nation. While perfectly healthy dogs and cats are dying, people continue to breed for the sole purpose of profit. Don't ever make the mistake of thinking, county animal shelters are just for mutts! Shelter stats prove that most of these dogs will eventually be discarded like yesterday's trash. Animals die in county animal shelters daily due to: Lack of space, their owners are moving, or didn't want them, too old to breed, roaming and never reclaimed, didn't have time for them and the list of sorry excuses goes on and on. If profits are down because guidelines have to be met, more and more breeders will be less likely to continue. Animals can't die alone and terrified in shelters, if they were never born in the first place. Other business examples: I had an internet furniture business. To sit in my home and sell furniture on my computer I had to obtain a yearly business license, get an EIN #, pay state/county taxes and do a profit/loss statement on my taxes. The Farmers that feed us, have to do profit/loss statements on their taxes. When we go to the grocery store our food is taxed. We pay state and county taxes on our cars and homes yearly, even after they are paid in full etc. Breeders do nothing but profit! It's not fair and it's time for that to stop!