Support HB 5230/5231, SB 891/892, the “Puppy Protection Act.” On April 9, 2012 authorities removed over 350 dogs from a commercial breeding kennel in Allegan County that had spiraled out of control. The mother dog below is shown nursing her puppies under her layers of matted feces. The animals were found soaked in urine, with severe dental problems and fleas. Stronger laws and oversight could have prevented this facility from declining to this condition, and could have prevented the significant expenses incurred by local agencies, including the expense of investigation, evidence gathering, animal care and court proceedings. The Puppy Protection Act (HB 5230-5231 and SB 891-892) is legislation to protect dogs in large-scale breeding facilities. This legislation would establish long-overdue guidelines for housing, sanitary conditions, enclosure space, exercise, and veterinary care of dogs used by large-scale breeders in Michigan. It would also place an upper limit on the number of intact breeding dogs that may be housed in breeding facilities, to prevent our state from becoming a haven for inhumane puppy mills. The Puppy Protection Act was launched by Michigan Humane Society and is supported by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association, and the Michigan Association of Animal Control Officers. Stop puppy mills from coming to Michigan: While Michigan is not known as a big “puppy mill” state, with only four USDA-licensed commercial breeders and 21 county-licensed breeders who report owning more than 50 dogs, the Allegan County case underscores the fact that puppy mills exist here, and that current laws are insufficient to manage them. Moreover, we are very close to the “Puppy Mill Belt,” sharing borders with states that have more than 100 commercial breeders. The Puppy Protection Act will help ensure that the largest, most problematic breeding operations do not migrate to Protect animals in unlicensed large-scale breeding facilities: Some large-scale kennel operators have moved to Say No to Inhumane Commercial Breeding Conditions: This Jack Russell is one of 130 dogs in a Missaukee County breeding kennel, hidden in the woods. She is provided minimal food, water and just a doorless carrier to live in. In the summer she has no shade, and in the winter the floor of her kennel becomes solid ice, making it painful to walk across. The bulldog below (left) lives in a barrel on wire floors. Another dog in a Branch County facility has untreated inflammations in his eyes. Under the Puppy Protection Act, this kennel would need to make some changes: (1) reduce the number of intact breeding dogs from 85 to 50, (2) provide solid cage floors, (3) provide exercise, (4) seek veterinary care, (5) provide rest between breeding cycles, and (6) have unstacked cages. Limit the number of animals: As evidenced by the Allegan County case, the potential for neglect and inadequate care increases significantly when the number of breeding animals becomes unmanageable. A limit on the number of breeding animals would prevent the introduction of overcrowded, large-scale breeding operations into Protect Consumers: Sick puppies sold by puppy mills typically can cost their new owners hundreds or even thousands of dollars in veterinary care, if they live long enough to be sold. The lack of proper health screening and careless breeding at puppy mills often results in a prevalence of inherited health issues that trickle down to the unborn puppies. Some owners get rid of dogs because of bad behavior, not understanding the real causes behind the behavior, causing more animals to flood shelters that are already filled to capacity. State action is needed: 34 states have laws to license or regulate dog and cat breeders. In 2009, a Please support HB 5230/5231, SB 891/892 to require the humane treatment of dogs in
| Sponsors: Reps. Vicki Barnett and Wayne Schmidt, Sens. Steve Bieda and Rick Jones Talking points: • Enacts standards of care and a limit on the number of breeding dogs. • Supported by Michigan Humane Society, • May have prevented the recent Allegan County puppy mill/hoarding case, involving more than 350 dogs. Action needed: Call Sen. Joe Hune, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, at 517-373-2420 to request a hearing on the bills. What you can do First, contact the Chairs of the House Regulatory Reform Committe and the Senate Agriculture Commitee, and ask them to put these bills up for a vote! Contact state Senator Joe Hune (R-Hamburg Township), Chair, Senate Agriculture Committee Download Information House Bills Sponsors: Senate Bills Sponsors: Download the Facts: Puppy Protection Act Fact Sheet Links to pending bills: HB 5230, HB 5231, SB 891 and SB 892 Follow the bill: Michigan Humane Society Website Media Animal Advocates and Lawmakers Unite Against Puppy Mills With Puppy Protection Act Link to Media Log: More Media Stories |
