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Federal Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Crack Down on Abusive Puppy Mills

Legislation Seeks to Close Loophole in Animal Welfare Act that Allows Internet Breeders to Sell Puppies without any Federal Oversight 

WASHINGTON (Sept. 19, 2008) Ôø‡Ôø‡Ôø‡ The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund commend federal lawmakers for introducing bills that will crack down on abusive “puppy mills” in the United States Ôø‡Ôø‡Ôø‡ where breeding dogs are often stacked in wire cages for years to produce litter after litter. The legislation will close a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act that currently allows large, commercial breeders who sell puppies online and directly to the public to escape licensing and regulation.

The legislation Ôø‡Ôø‡Ôø‡ known as the “Puppy Uniform Protection Statute” (PUPS), or “Baby’s Bill” in honor of rescued puppy mill survivor Baby who is the subject of Jana Kohl’s new book A Rare Breed of Love Ôø‡Ôø‡Ôø‡ was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday as H.R. 6949 by Reps. Sam Farr (D-Calif.), Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.), Lois Capps (D-Calif.) and Terry Everett (R-Ala.). A companion bill was also introduced in the Senate by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.).

The bills also require that dogs used for breeding be removed from their cages for exercise every day. Female breeding dogs in puppy mills are typically forced to live their entire lives in small cages with no opportunity for exercise, no socialization, and little human interaction.

“Dogs are not livestock, and they shouldn’t be treated like a cash crop,” said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of The Humane Society of the United States and president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “We are grateful to federal lawmakers for introducing this legislation to curb the worst abuses in the puppy mill industry. It’s a much-needed upgrade to our nation’s laws that protect man’s best friend from cruelty and harm.”

Facilities that breed dogs for commercial resale through pet stores are required to be licensed and inspected under the federal Animal Welfare Act. But thanks to a gaping exception in the law, puppy mills that sell directly to the public are exempt from any federal oversight whatsoever. Unregulated Internet sellers and other direct sales facilities sell thousands of puppies a year to unsuspecting consumers. Due to improper care, their puppies are often sick, leaving outraged consumers with frail, sometimes dying puppies and high vet bills. Meanwhile, the breeding dogs at these facilities often spend their entire lives in constant confinement and deprivation.

“Sadly, finding your puppy online may well increase the chance that you’ll be buying from a puppy mill,” said Sen. Durbin. “Our bill simply requires that breeders obtain a license from the USDA if they raise more than 50 dogs in a 12-month period and sell directly to the public and sets forth reasonable standards of care for commercial breeders. Responsible dog breeders are not the target of this legislation, but hopefully it will put the puppy mills out of business.”

“My work supporting puppy mill regulation goes back to my time in the California Assembly where I championed California's puppy mill law,” Rep. Farr said. “I think it’s very important that Congress take the time to address issues like animal welfare. These are the kinds of issues that really demonstrate who we are as a society.”

“I’m proud to join with Congressman Farr and representatives of The Humane Society of the United States today as we continue our efforts to ensure that commercial dog breeders are appropriately regulated,” added Rep. Gerlach. “Our bill, the PUPS Act, will close a loophole in current law that allows large breeding operations avoid any and all oversight. I am confident that this bill will not hinder the operation of reputable and responsible breeders. Instead, it is aimed at protecting dogs and making individuals who are motivated by profit over the fair and humane treatment of dogs accountable for their actions.”

The legislation will close the loophole in the AWA that allows thousands of commercial breeders to go unregulated. It will require the following changes to the AWA: 

• All dog breeders who sell more than 50 puppies per year directly to the public will be federally licensed and inspected; and
• Dogs at commercial breeding facilities must be given the opportunity to exercise for 60 minutes a day.
• The bill will not affect small breeders and hobby breeders who sell fewer than 50 dogs per year directly to the public, but is crafted to cover only the largest commercial breeding facilities.

Public concern about the inhumane conditions typical in puppy mills is at an all-time high, due to coverage on national television and several large-scale cruelty investigations and rescues from puppy mills this summer that The HSUS and local shelters spearheaded. Earlier this year, the Farm Bill passed by Congress included a new provision to ban the importation of puppies under six months old from puppy mills in China, Russia, Mexico and other foreign countries.  

Media Contact: Liz Bergstrom, 301-258-1455, ebergstrom@humanesociety.org 

Woofstock brings people and their pets to Arboretum

Monday, September 22, 2008

NewsHearld

Tracy Read

A wet t-shirt contest, best buns competition and a singing rivalry.

No, this wasn’t an X-rated version of “American Idol.”

Those were just a few of the attractions Sunday at Woofstock Ôø‡Ôø‡Ôø‡ a far-out pet festival at Kirtland’s Holden Arboretum amid a sea of tie-dyed shirts. 

“We’re doing the best buns contest,” Margaret Schwing of Shaker Heights said to her husband, Bill.  She quickly added, “It’s for the dogs!  Not us,” motioning toward her two purebred Bernese mountain dogs and Rottweiler/Afghan hound mix.

“This is kind of like a butt beauty contest,” the emcee shouted out to canine participants as judges scrambled to see if Fluffy really does got back. 

The day-long event also included plenty of family-friendly activities like children’s games, live music and unique pet gifts on Vendor’s Rrrrrow. 

Concord Township resident Christ Hoyt brought her 5-year-old son, 8-year-old daughter and morki (half Maltese/half Yorkie to Woofstock. 

Although she didn’t win the pet-owner look-alike contest, Zoey still outshone many other females.  “We bought her a rhinestone collar and rhinestone clip,” Hoyt said.

Angela Warholic, a 10-year-old Chester Township resident, said she enjoyed volunteering at the children’s craft table.  “I’m an animal lover, and I love kids, so this was great,” she said.

This was the eighth year for Woofstock, but the second time it has been at Holden, said Hope Brustein, executive director of the Geauga county Humane Society’s Rescue Village. More than 2,000 people and 600 dogs were expected to attend the event.  “People love to gather with their dogs, people love to support Rescue Village and there’s so much to do,” she said.   

The goal of Woofstock was to raise $100,000 for Rescue Village and find homes for adoptable animals.  The adult and child who raised the most money from pledges received a Nintendo Wii system. 

The $5 parking fee was donated to Rescue Village, which cares for and finds homes for more than 2,200 sick, injured, abused and abandoned animals each year.

Chagrin urged to allow pit bulls, put teeth into dog ordinances

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Solon Herald Sun

By Amanda E. Garrett agarrett@sunnews.com CHAGRIN FALLS – Animal rights advocates urged Village Council not to ban pit bulls – saying owners, not dogs, should be punished for bad behavior.

Animal lovers and concerned residents packed a safety committee meeting on Monday to discuss the potential ban, which was proposed by a group of Church Street residents May 12.

Safety committee members heard from residents advocating a ban May 12, so they scheduled Monday's meeting to hear from those opposing the ban.

Animal rights supporters said the belief that all pit bulls are vicious is a myth. Shana Klein, of Canine Advocates of Ohio, said she runs a rescue program for abandoned pit bulls and she has never been threatened.

"Many of these dogs have been abandoned and abused, and I have never once been bitten," she said.

Klein and others, including the executive directors of the Geauga Humane Society and the Cleveland Animal Protective League said that similar legislation has not worked in other communities.

"Breed specific legislation doesn't work," said Hope Brustein, executive director of the Geauga Humane Society. "It doesn't achieve what it sets out to achieve and it certainly doesn't improve public safety."

Brustein urged council to instead pass legislation that would make dog owners accountable for the actions of their animals. Council should toughen existing animal ordinances and enforce laws already on the books, Brustein said.

Some of the changes proposed were:
- Enhanced enforcement of dog license laws.
- Enhanced enforcement of leash laws and loose dog laws, with adequate penalties to ensure that the laws are taken seriously.

Dangerous dog laws should focus on individual dogs instead of specific breeds. The laws should mandate muzzling, confinement, training and – in extreme cases – euthanasia for problem dogs. The laws should hold owners financially accountable for their problem dogs.

Church Street resident John Mitchell said May 12 that he and his neighbors became concerned after two pit bulls moved into their neighborhood and threatened Mitchell's two young children.