I’m inspired by a post on Urban Review STL regarding the Puppy Mill Cruelty act (Proposition B) to write this note… Frankly, I’m amazed that there is opposition to this proposed law:
Per http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-085.asp (summary borrowed from Steve Patterson of Urban Review STL):
“Shall Missouri law be amended to:
- require large-scale dog breeding operations to provide each dog under their care with sufficient food, clean water, housing and space; necessary veterinary care; regular exercise and adequate rest between breeding cycles;
- prohibit any breeder from having more than 50 breeding dogs for the purpose of selling their puppies as pets; and
- create a misdemeanor crime of “puppy mill cruelty” for any violations?
It is estimated state governmental entities will incur costs of $654,768 (on-going costs of $521,356 and one-time costs of $133,412). Some local governmental entities may experience costs related to enforcement activities and savings related to reduced animal care activities.
Fair Ballot Language:
A “yes” vote will amend Missouri law to require large-scale dog breeding operations to provide each dog under their care with sufficient food, clean water, housing and space; necessary veterinary care; regular exercise and adequate rest between breeding cycles. The amendment further prohibits any breeder from having more than 50 breeding dogs for the purpose of selling their puppies as pets. The amendment also creates a misdemeanor crime of “puppy mill cruelty” for any violations.
A “no” vote will not change the current Missouri law regarding dog breeders.
If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.”
From what I can tell, many people support Proposition B. The support generally takes the form of: “We should not allow puppy mills to be cruel to the dogs in their care.” And let me tell you, contrary to what some Prop B opponents say, Missouri is full of bad people running cruel puppy mills. A quick search of Google will find a number of cases of puppy mill abuse:
I have some personal experience with the issue, having adopted a number of dogs that were rescued from a puppy mill. My dog Widget (a Silky Terrier) was left to die in her cage, found starving and sick during a raid by state law enforcement. For years afterward she hoarded food and chewed on metal objects as if they were toys. My dog Toby (a Standard Poodle) was abandoned, tied to a tree with a rope cinched around his neck, found emaciated and covered in mud with sores on his skin. To this day, he still has skin problems. Widget was unsuitable to breed and Toby wasn’t “show” material due to an overbite. And so they were left to die, alone, starving, in pain. But having been rescued, they are beautiful and wonderful companions to my family.
This isn’t an isolated problem. Cruelty is endemic to puppy mills, where people are motivated more by greed than by ethics. It’s just “business” to them. Thus like the banking industry, big tobacco, and numerous other cases of corporate corruption, the environment in which they operate must be regulated if we expect their behavior to improve. (see e.g. the FDA, USDA, SEC, DEA, ATF, FTC, etc)
The opposition seems to be a vocal minority, intent on spreading fear about jobs and economic instability. Their message is completely unrelated to the core issue; they don’t address the question of cruelty to animals but instead complain about the economic impact of the proposed law. But economic impact is not the most important measure of success in all things; we the people demand ethical behavior, as well. If all this law does is reduce the wealth of a few thousand people engaged in animal cruelty, that wouldn’t be such a bad thing. (We throw heroin dealers, murderers, and child abusers in jail, for instance.)
However, even that “reduced wealth” scenario is false. There will be some breeders that fail to adapt, who will be driven out of business. But overall the industry will thrive in an environment where the worst offenders, those with the cut-throat prices, are no longer an issue. Quality can re-enter the industry and breeders that care for their dogs will be able to make a decent living once again. Stores will have better products to sell and consumers will have better choices available to them. In fact, after the dust settles I believe the companion animal industry will be in better economic shape than before.
So vote “Yes” on Proposition B. Ignore the fear-mongering of the selfish vocal minority opposed to this law. Help eliminate the animal cruelty endemic to puppy mills, and improve the quality of the breeding industry at the same time. Refuse to buy puppy mill dogs; ask about the animal’s background. And always remember to look for rescued pets in need of adoption first.
To adopt a pet, look at PetFinder.
And for more information on Puppy Mills:
