A ban on imports from foreign puppy mills for commercial sale

The Humane Society of the United States--not surprisingly--was closely following the just-passed Farm Bill (the Senate and the House overrode a presidential veto). HSUS says the bill ushered in "key new protections for animals." According to an HSUS release:

The final bill -- which is now considered law, except for one section excluded due to a technical glitch -- bans the import of puppies from foreign puppy mills for commercial sale in the U.S. The law spares young, unweaned, and unvaccinated pups from harsh, long-distance transport -- during which they are exposed to extreme temperatures and often die in cargo holds -- and will keep foreign breeders from adding to the tragic overpopulation of pets in this country.

The Farm Bill also adds a provision to federal law to make almost any form of animal fighting a federal felony. It's also now a federal crime to knowingly possess or train animals for fighting, and the maximum prison time for a single violation of any section of the law goes from three years to five years. It is hard to overstate what a blow this is to dogfighters and cockfighters, and it brings us one step closer to eradicating these criminal industries.

The Associated Press reports that about two-thirds of the law would pay for nutrition programs such as food stamps, which would see increases of around $1 billion a year. About $40 billion is for farm subsidies and almost $30 billion would go to farmers to idle their land and for other environmental programs.

--Alice Short

Photo: Craig Mathews/Associated Press

Comments

[JP Faiella]

Saving the Puppy in the Window
Cohasset, MA-Based Organization Has National Voice.

(Cohasset, MA) In 1989 when Deborah Howard noticed the cramped and unsanitary conditions at a Docktor Pet Center in Atlanta, one of more than 300 franchise locations, she became enraged. A tiny yellow Labrador puppy was pressing an open cut against the wire bars of its cage. As she held this puppy, she wondered about his origins. To her horror, Ms. Howard discovered out that almost all pet shop puppies come from “puppy mills,” commercial breeding facilities that mass produce dogs for resale. She knew she had no choice but to take action.

Every year, more than a half-million purebred puppies, destined for pet shops across the United States and Canada, are born in crowded and usually squalid conditions at Midwest, New York and Pennsylvania puppy mills. Unfortunately, these puppies become part of a society that routinely destroys millions of unwanted dogs and cats a year. The parents of these puppies spend their lives in wretched confinement, exposed to the elements, only to often encounter a cruel death at the end of their reproductive years.

At pet shops, puppies sleep on wire grates in small, poorly ventilated, and sometimes dirty cages. These puppies suffer from a plethora of illnesses and disorders as a result of inbreeding, inadequate shelter, dirty and overcrowded living conditions, transportation stress, exposure to random source animals, and improper veterinary care.

Many unknowing consumers cannot resist the cute puppy in the pet shop window of the local mall or shopping center. After purchasing the overpriced dog -- payment plans are often available -- they may then discover their puppy has a medical ailment that requires veterinary care. Pet shop warranties usually preclude reimbursement for veterinary expenses unless there is a state lemon law. The standard recourse for customers who have purchased a sick puppy is to return the puppy for credit toward another dog. Most customers, however, become emotionally attached to their puppies and will not return them. Tragically, some pet shop puppies may die or become so sick or aggressive they must be euthanized.

Ms. Howard contacted several national animal protections organizations, but none wanted to take on the pet shop issue. She decided that the best way to address this issue was through her public relations experience; she contacted “20/20” and discovered they had been thinking about doing a story on the pet shop/puppy mill issue but didn’t have the necessary documentation and video footage.

Steadfast and tenacious, she heard of a young man that had taken a job at one of the Docktor Pet Centers merely to help the animals. She provided him with a camcorder so that he could document conditions for the “20/20” expose. He also made copies of numerous store records. Through this groundbreaking news story, she me Robert Baker, then the foremost puppy mill investigator in the country. Mr. Baker is now a CAPS board member.

Ms. Howard also used her organizational skills obtained through years of working for political campaigns and causes, to organize pet shop protests the weekend before Christmas in 30 – 40 cities across the United States and Canada from 1990 to 1993. The producer at “20/20” even agreed to air an update story the night before the protests in 1991. The new CEO of Docktor Pet Centers claimed in his interview for this piece that the company did not buy from puppy mills; Mr. Baker’s footage proved otherwise.

Ms. Howard, a former radio news reporter, lawyer and PR professional, formed CAPS in 1990. The nonprofit became a 501(c)(3), in 1992. As a result of CAPS’ efforts, Docktor Pet Centers, Inc., who refused to do business without the sale of puppies, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in February 1993.

Ms. Howard has generated publicity on the pet shop and puppy mill issue with the following media: CNN, “Dateline,” “20/20,” (three times) “Hard Copy,” Life, People, Reader’s Digest, Detroit Free Press, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Tulsa World and numerous local television news stations and newspapers.

About:
The Companion Animal Protection Society is the only national nonprofit dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals, CAPS' foremost concern is the abuse and suffering of pet shop and puppy mill dogs. Founded in 1992, CAPS actively addresses this issue through investigations, education, media relations, legislative involvement, puppy mill dog rescues, consumer assistance, and pet shop employee relations.

[concerned]

What is a Puppy Mill?
By Legal definition there is no such thing as a Puppy Mill. Why? One must ask how legislation is being made against a term with no legal definition? And also ask what types of people commit themselves to groups who are against a term with no legal definition? One also must ask the professionalism and education of those who freely use a term that has no definition. A civil rights movement was made against similar hate terms.
The Term Puppy Mill is used to bring on emotion. Animals, especially our dogs can be almost like children to us. The thought of intentionally harming a child or defenseless animal brings on a knee jerk reaction of pure hatred in most humans. Unlike other terms used to divide, hate and caused dangerous finger pointing. The Term Puppy Mill can bring on almost dangerous responses, causing regular citizens to join in a battle against something they have never seen or witnessed first hand.
Like the Term Teacup when used to describe a smaller dog. The Term Puppy Mill is a marketing Term. Non profit rescues have learned that placing the term Puppy Mill next to their inventory, will cause it to be sold very rapidly. In all Honestly if the thousands of groups wanted to end the ideal of the term Puppy Mill to the supposed 10,000 of them residing in the USA. All the groups had to do with their hundreds of millions if not billions of un-taxable donations was to use the money to educate kennels and also use the money in research to bring the living conditions to that of what they deem Humane. That said they should start firstly with their own facilities.
Many kill shelters euthanize puppies and dogs for a simple common cold many times labeled a Upper respiratory infection (URI) , or Kennel Cough. Instead of killing these animals for an infection that can be self eliminating a needed study could have been done to end it. As with leukemia in cats that helped discover a cure for leukemia in children. that study may have found and end to the common cold. Yet these organizations are against animal study even if it means saving animals themselves.
To say ALL pet stores buy from Puppy Mills. And that ALL licensed and inspected USDA commercial kennels are dirty Puppy Mills. Comes from a thought process that many Americans hoped would have been outgrown in today’s Society. By Supporting your local Pet Store which sells Puppies and Kittens you are helping to eliminate the need for the Term Puppy Mill. But first Pet Stores need the billions of lost taxable income back into their hands so they can do the right thing . To once and for all end the 60 year battle against a term that has matured into a pure marking tool, to take jobs and taxable income away from hard working Americans.