Take Action - Puppy Mill Campaign (Write Congress!!)

[Catchawave]

Congress Introduces Bill to End Puppy Mill Abuse
May 26, 2005 -- Today the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives introduced a bill to regulate large, commercial pet breeding operations that sell directly to the public. This bill, entitled the Pet Animal Welfare Statute (S. 1139/H.R. 2669) will close a loophole that exempts the sale of puppies over the Internet and through newspaper ads.

Young puppies are often transported across state lines to unsuspecting consumers who are unable to see the conditions the animal was bred in.

“This bill is long overdue and truly welcomed by the humane community,” said Sara Amundson of DDAL. "This is a significant first step in seeking parity between the federal Animal Welfare Act’s requirements for large, commercial breeders selling to pet stores and to the public."
Ask your Members of Congress to support S. 1139/H.R. 2669.

Details: http://www.ddal.org/puppymills/

[seemunkee]

1. This bill is NOT supported by legitimate breeders and dog clubs

Even the AKC is hedging on this one with several officers taking exception to the official club response. This bill will HURT rescue groups and legitimate breeders. The Italian Greyhound club that I am a member of is opposed to this as well as a large number of other single breed clubs and organizations.

[Catchawave]

2. Sources ?

I'd like to see where this information is originating from because the pet industry always cries "not fair" for any puppy protection legislation.

The AKC pays lobbyists and hides behind NAIA. If we honestly want to shut down these puppy factories, we have to change laws, not sign petitions!

Thanks :hi:

[seemunkee]

3. Sources are on my home computer. I'll try to post them tonight

[seemunkee]

6. Here

http://www.dfow.org/paws.htm
http://www.ncraoa.com/alerts.html
http://www.naiatrust.org/
http://www.thedogplace.com/TheDogPress/Columns/Editorials/PAWS_and_Pause_for_Thought.asp
http://saova.org/1139.html
http://saova.org/1139battaglia.html

[Catchawave]

8. Thanks seemunkee.....

These are organizations that fight for "breeders rights" and do not address the pet overpopulation problems, blaming everybody but themselves. NAIA is the head cheerleader, and a front group for the AKC. None of these groups support "mandatory" spay/neuter programs either. And when we try to raise city license fee differentials for unneutered pets, they fight us over that too. Of course, they don't realize the extra money municipalities can raise to take care of homeless pets, that's not their problem because "we didn't breed them". It's very political as you can see !

The legislation in my OP will close some gaps in the very inhumane breeding industry that the groups you listed refuse to self-police.
Also, this legislation is bipartisan, which is the best kind of legislation there is
:patriot:

I've gathered some links for you also, with hopes it will give you a better understanding of how those of us in animal protection are trying to help the animals, as well as prevent broken human hearts when irresponsible and inhumane breeding is allowed to run amuck:

http://www.friendsofanimals.org/programs/spay-neuter/puppy-mills-pet-shops-the-akc-basic-facts.html

http://www.imom.org/voices/literature/pm_faq.htm

http://www.oes.org/page2/4179~Hunte_Corp_and_AKC_and_puppymills.html

http://www.theyreallkeepers.com/akc.html

http://www.imom.org/voices/pm_auction.htm

With hopes you'll support this very pro-animal legislation, and ask your representatives to do so also

:pals:

[expatriot]

4. what are some of the points of disagreement?

What do they disagree with it on?

[flvegan]

5. No, no, no. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Of course it's not. "Legitimate breeders" and dog clubs are making dollars off puppies, bottom line.

It's NOT going to hurt rescues, as they don't "sell to the public" as the bill is written.

For more info, please see The Humane Society of the United States FAQ on this important bill. HSUS, as you know, is the world's largest animal advocacy lobbying organization.
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pets_related_news_and_events/paws.html

An excerpt, specifically relating to rescues:
"Will PAWS have a detrimental effect on rescue organizations or animal shelters?
No. Some commercial breeders and organizations who profit from the high-volume sale of dogs and cats are using scare tactics to confuse caring people in the rescue community into taking a position against the PAWS legislation. These groups claim that if the bill passes anyone who rescues more than 25 dogs a year will need a federal license. This is not true. We hope those who work to rescue animals will not be fooled by these tactics. To oppose the PAWS bill is to oppose improvements in the treatment of animals at large-scale commercial breeding operations.

The PAWS bill deals strictly with businesses who sell dogs and cats. Non-profit rescue groups who charge an adoption/donation fee are not selling animals. The bill covers commercial businesses breeding large volumes of animals (six or more litters per year) and selling them directly to the public. These businesses have thrived due in part to the exponential growth in the use of the Internet for commerce and because in most states, there is no oversight of such operations. These breeders' dogs are sold via the Internet, newspaper ads, and through other unregulated formats, so the first hint of a problem often comes when local law enforcement or animal control discovers that there are a large number of animals on site in extremely poor condition. Cruelty cases associated with unregulated breeders require local shelters and rescue organizations to step in and take in ill and unsocialized animals at their own expense. This problem threatens to bankrupt local organizations."

[seemunkee]

7. So legitimate breeders are not supposed to make a living?

Is that what you are implying? And that dog clubs, organizations that are full of people who love their animals are bad?

[flvegan]

9. Define legitimate breeder.

And no, there are a great many members of dog clubs that are perfectly wonderful. There are also a great many members, oftentimes in leadership, of dog clubs that are breeders, pure and simple. That, of course, brings us back to your definition of "legitimate" which I'll address once you put it forth. I want to make sure we're on the same page on that.

[Catchawave]

10. Define "legitimate" breeder.

This legislation shouldn't affect "responsible" and "ethical" breeders. Probably because they don't "make a living" at it.

Here's a good overall about responsible breeding:

http://www.dog-play.com/ethics.html

[davidinalameda]

11. if this legislation does what I hope it does

this is one of the best things that the government could ever do

puppy farms are out and out evil

my sister bought a Peke from a pet store and she later found out that he came from a puppy farm--they lied about the poor dog's health problems

also, people should refuse to buy from most petstores--the national chain stores get a good part of their animals from these places and the buyers are left holding the bag--my sister would never had bought the dog if she was told the truth

if you're going to buy from a pet store, ask them where their animals come from and if it's a local breeder, get the name of that person--check out their operation-most local breeders are fantastic because they depend on repeat business from people who have bought from them before--they treat their animals so well, unlike the puppy farms--the conditions those poor creatures live in, well I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy

[flvegan]

12. Sorry about your sister's peke. However,

99.99% of petstores get puppies from mills. Mills out west, mills in PA, or mills in their own locale. To say local breeders are fantastic, is...well, I don't know about your area, but Florida is famous for it's backyard breeders. They don't know crap about the breed nor the laws to protect the consumer. They want a quick buck, and this is the only animal industry they can get away with.

That, and every dog bought in a store kills 2 shelter animals. The one whose place that puppy took, and the one that was euthanized because he didn't have that space open up. That's a big part of the 6 million or so animals we euthanize in our shelters each year.

Don't breed or buy while homeless animals die.

[Catchawave]

13. ASPCA endorses PAWS legislation !!!!!

You can also participate through their campaign:

https://secure2.convio.net/aspca/site/Advocacy?id=1713&JServSessionIdr006=csws87tje1.app26b

From their website:

Bill No. H.R. 2669/S.1139
Primary Sponsors H.R. 2669: Representatives Jim Gerlach (R-PA) and Sam Farr (D-CA); S. 1139:Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Richard Durbin (D-IL)
ASPCA Position Support
Action Needed Send a letter to your representative now and urge him or her to support The Pet Animal Welfare Statute (PAWS)! Take Action Now!

The Pet Animal Welfare Statute (PAWS, H.R. 2669/S. 1139) would amend the Animal Welfare Act to strengthen the licensure requirements for commercial dog and cat breeders. Under the current law, breeders who sell directly to the public do not have to be licensed by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). PAWS would require any breeder who breeds more than six litters of dogs or cats and sells them at retail to be licensed. It would also require licensure for any person who sells more than 25 dogs if they were bred or raised on the premises. If these facilities are required to be licensed by the USDA, they would be legally required to comply with the standards of care set forth in the Animal Welfare Act.

Additionally, PAWS would require licensure for any retail pet store that imports dogs from outside of the United States. As there is no United States oversight of the conditions under which imported puppies are bred and raised, PAWS is critical to ensure that no health risks are present upon the sale of these puppies to the United States public. PAWS would also require all retail pet stores to keep detailed records on the source of dogs offered for sale.

Ultimately, PAWS is designed to strengthen the Animal Welfare Act and help achieve the objectives of the original legislation and the Congressional intent of the law. Contact your representative now and urge him or her to support and cosponsor H.R. 2669/S. 1139! Take Action Now!

[Catchawave]

14. *kick* to help deflect false information being

passed around by breeder "federations", and making the rounds on DU.