Puppy Mill Industry Fights New Missouri Law

Missouri puppy mill news from the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation:

"The new Canine Cruelty Prevention Act, which improves standards of care for dogs confined in puppy mills, is facing strong criticism from dog breeders.

At a recent hearing before the Interim Commission of Agriculture Innovation and Economic Recovery, a representative for Hunte Corporation, the largest broker of pet store puppies in the country, complained that their business has declined by over 50% and that they have downsized from 350 employees to 150 since the passage of the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act. Hunte's decrease in business is a result of hundreds of dog breeders leaving the business since the passage of the new law. 

Unfortunately, what wasn't explained to this legislative Committee was the reason why so many commercial dog breeders have stopped breeding dogs. Namely, that far too many were in the business simply for a quick buck. The single most distinguishing characteristic of many of these breeders was to produce puppies as cheaply as possible regardless of the welfare of the breeding dogs. Too often, a breeding dog could be replaced cheaper than having it treated by a veterinarian and thus many breeding dogs were left to languish in the hope it would get better on its own.

Fortunately, the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act now requires veterinary care for a seriously ill animal and every breeding dog must be examined at least once a year by a veterinarian. While most pet owners routinely have their dogs examined yearly, such a requirement for dogs producing up to two litters a year was seen as too costly for many commercial dog breeders. 

The new law also requires that breeders provide their dogs with adequate living space and access to the outdoors. If there was ever hard evidence of the abusive living conditions of puppy mill dogs, it is the fact that 50% of the dog breeders have closed down rather than meet these basic humane standards of care for their animals. 

In addition, dog breeding representatives have filed a lawsuit to overturn key provisions in the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act. The suit names Governor Nixon, Attorney General Chris Koster, and Director Jon Hagler of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The industry's initial request for a temporary restraining order against the regulations has thankfully failed.  

It is truly telling when common sense measures such as veterinary care, adequate living space, and fresh air are drawing so much ire from the commercial dog breeders.

As one USDA inspector told a group of Missouri breeders shortly after the new law passed, you should welcome the new law as it finally gives you an opportunity to rid yourself of the moniker of "puppy mill."

Regrettably, the mindset of the industry has not changed as they continue to fight and oppose basic care of their breeding animals.

On the plus side, our new law is forcing out the bad breeders and their stubborn resistance to the new law is clear evidence that we are making significant progress in ending puppy mill abuse in Missouri."

Missouri is Not Ohio: New Exotic Animal Ownership Law

By now we've all heard about the owner of an Ohio exotic animal farm who released numerous wild animals from their pens before taking his own life. Over fifty of these animals, including 18 rare Bengal tigers, 17 lions, and 8 bears were shot and killed by local law enforcement officials.

The owner of this exotic animal farm had been in trouble in the past for allowing his animals to roam free and also for mistreating them.  He had a prior cruelty conviction and was recently released from prison for a felony firearms possession. 

It was alleged that the owner housed his animals in small pens and kept them in poor condition and fed his lions meat from malnourished horses.  Reuters reported, " 'When he was charged with animal neglect, there were complaints that he wasn't feeding his horses enough, and then when they would die he would feed them to the lions', said Larry Hostetler, executive director of the Muskingum County Animal Shelter. 'We've been trying to get him shut down since 2003,' Hostetler said, adding that authorities had made several visits to the farm since 2004 and found underfed animals with open sores."

I don't know about you, but I've been wondering is something like this could happen here.  Missouri is one of the few remaining places in the US where the exotic animal trade has flourished. According to Bob Baker, Executive Director of the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation, MAAL has worked for years to establish regulations for ownership of large carnivores in Missouri.

In fact, during the 2010 legislative session, MAAL helped to pass the Large Carnivore Act (LCA). This law requires anyone who owns, breeds, possesses, or transports a large carnivore on or after January 1, 2012, to obtain a permit from the Missouri Department of Agriculture and to maintain a minimum of $250,000 in liability insurance. Verification of insurance must be provided annually. The LCA (Section 578.600 - 578.624 RSMO) includes the following protections for the animals:

• Requires the Department of Agriculture to enforce the provisions of the Act to ensure that owners of such animals "practice best husbandry and health care protocols to ensure the humane and safe treatment of large carnivores on behalf of their physical well-being."
• Requires owners of large carnivores to provide their animals with adequate care and treatment, as established by USDA, in the areas of housing, handling, transportation, sanitation, nutrition, water, general husbandry, veterinary care, and protection from extreme weather and temperature.
• Prohibits the issuance of a permit to own or possess a large carnivore to anyone who has "been found guilty of, or pled guilty to, a violation of any state or local law prohibiting neglect or mistreatment of any animal..."
• Prohibits the issuance of a permit to anyone who has any type of felony conviction within the previous ten years.

Regulations like those could have prevented that fellow in Ohio from owning a large carnivore based on his felony firearms conviction and his conviction for animal cruelty.

Another interesting thing about Missouri's new Large Carnivore Act is that it also prohibits law enforcement officials from randomly hunting down and shooting free-roaming carnivores.   In fact, the LCA requires that the officer observes, or has reason to believe, that the large carnivore is actually "chasing, attacking, injuring, or killing" a human being or another animal before killing the carnivore.

Missouri may be the puppy mill capital, but a tragedy like Ohio will not be legal in Missouri next year.

Puppy Mills: Missouri Governor Signs Prop B Repeal SB 113 Today

According to the Missouri Net, earlier today Missouri Governor Jay Nixon signed Senate Bill 113.  This effectively repeals MO Prop B, the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act.

Prop B was approved by a majority of Missouri voters last November.  Several legislative bills were introduced in the Missouri legislature that would gut or essentially repeal Prop B.  SB 113 sailed through both the House and Senate chambers.

Governor Nixon commented that he hopes to have his own suggested compromise bill (SB 161) on his desk for signature before the legislative session ends next month.

Missouri Prop B Compromise Already in Trouble

The ink is barely dry from the press release from the Governor's office about his proposed compromise on Missouri's Proposition B, the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act, and already the proposed measure is in trouble.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon's compromise would strengthen current commercial dog breeding laws, but take out portions of Prop B which was passed by a majority of Missouri voters in November.  According to his office, his compromise measure was supported by advocates on both sides of the issue.

Last night more than 60 lawmakers from the House and Senate, as well as members of the agriculture industry, sent a letter to the Governor telling him they want him to sign SB 113 which would essentially repeal Prop B.

Governor Nixon's compromise has not even been introduced yet and must travel through both houses of the Missouri legislature before the legislative session ends on May 13.  Otherwise Nixon must sign SB 113 or veto it.  

It's not looking good.  Among those signing the letter urging Nixon to gut Prop B is House Speaker Steve Tilley.  Tilly controls the flow of legislation in the Missouri House.