Four Northwest Missouri state lawmakers told residents Thursday night to prepare for a renewed effort to revamp a dog-breeding law affecting agriculture.

The legislators spoke during a town hall meeting at Missouri Western State University. Their appearance was organized in conjunction with Missouri Farmers Care, a coalition formed to promote the preservation and growth of agriculture.

Led by state Sen. Dr. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, the lawmakers told 25 people they are concerned that a new initiative petition will harm Missouri’s agriculture and food production industries. They said the effort is being led by supporters of Proposition B, an initiative that a slight majority of voters passed in November 2010. That law wrought changes for the state’s dog breeders, but was criticized by agricultural interests for provisions regarded as a threat to the existence of animal husbandry. The Legislature then forged a compromise between the two interests.

The Proposition B supporters reportedly want another vote on an initiative similar to the original 2010 proposal.

“Let’s rally the troops and stop that initiative petition,” Dr. Schaaf told the audience.

He was joined in the criticism by state Rep. Galen Higdon, R-St. Joseph

“Our licensed breeders weren’t the problem,” he said. “Our unlicensed breeders were the problem.”

Another lawmaker, state Rep. Glen Klippenstein, R-Maysville, said Proposition B was based on misinformation and disinformation. He said the new effort to revise Proposition B would endanger farmers’ livelihood.

“It’s awful, awful dangerous what’s going on,” he said. “This is the time to be vigilant. Who else takes better care of animals than those of us who raise them?”

The legislators targeted the Humane Society of the United States as seeking a return to Missouri to fund a campaign for revising the law.

“They’re not done with us yet,” Mr. Higdon said.

State Rep. Delus Johnson, R-St. Joseph, said the organization will soon embark on an advertising campaign that would fault lawmakers for modifying the legislation in the 2011 Missouri General Assembly.

“They’re coming back,” Mr. Johnson said.

Dr. Schaaf outlined what might be expected in such a campaign.

“We didn’t just turn around and undo the will of the voters,” he said. “They (opponents) will misrepresent what we did.”

One woman who identified herself as a dog breeder spoke on the law.

“We work hard because we love it,” she told the legislators. “This has literally almost ripped my business ... The bad ones can’t be found that created this issue.”

A woman who sat next to her agreed.

“It is so hard to stay in business,” she said.

Dan Kleinsorge, operations manager for Missouri Farmers Care, said the organization is working to prevent Proposition B supporters from pursuing the initiative petition. He said Missouri Farmers Care is meeting with hunting and fishing interests in hopes of securing a partnership toward defeating the effort, and is also focused on formulating grass-roots opposition.

Mr. Higdon urged constituents to contact agricultural associations and civic groups to explain the new Proposition B campaign. All four legislators said they would welcome the opportunity to speak before such groups.

Ray Scherer can be reached at ray.scherer@newspressnow.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPScherer.