Missouri Breeding Dogs Have Their Day

Last week, I was shocked to learn that dogs kept in large-scale commercial breeding facilities in Missouri were in imminent danger of losing the protection afforded them by Proposition B, “The Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act.”

According to Michael Markarian’s Humane Society Legislative Fund Animals & Politic Blog, just five months after Missouri voters approved the bill, the Missouri House of Representatives voted to repeal it, stripping it of most of its humane and common sense requirements for decent canine care. These included providing dogs clean fresh water, adequate space for exercise and annual veterinary exams. The repeal would have effectively plunged these dogs back into canine care dark ages, allowing breeders to house them in small stacked wire cages once again.

Fortunately, however, according to an article published on Monday, April 25 on the Global Animal Foundation website, due to the tireless work of passionate animal advocates, concerned dog lovers, along with compassionate Missouri citizens, the “vote went to the dogs” and the repeal was defeated.

Global Animal Foundation, members of the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States were in St. Louis celebrating the historic vote, which will now mandate that large-scale breeders provide their stock free access to indoor and outdoor runs, cement instead of wire floors, and the cleaning of dog pens at least once a day.

And while the vote barely passed, with 51% voting yes and 49% no, Proposition B survived! Many national groups are in support of Proposition B, saying that it is high time that better animal protection must be enforced throughout the country.

Tim Rickey, Senior Director of the ASPCA's Field Investigations and Response Team said the Missouri puppy mills are a national issue, since dogs bred in the state are sold across the country. According to Global Animal Foundation, “Rickey told KOMU that dogs bred in cruel conditions in puppy mills end up having medical and behavioral problems. He added that puppy mills are the worst form of animal cruelty.”

The new regulations required of Missouri dog breeders that have been added to existing laws by the citizen-sponsored initiative will include: Having no more than 50 breeding dogs, having their dogs given an annual veterinarian examination, giving their dogs free access to indoor and outdoor pens, and provided enclosures based on the animal's size.  However, these new laws only pertain to those breeders who have 10 or more breeding females.

Missouri is the fifth state in the country to limit the number of breeding dogs a facility can own. According to the Humane Society of the United States, Washington, Oregon and Virginia presently limit facilities to 50 breeding dogs. Louisiana allows breeding facilities to own 75 intact dogs.

However, some commercial breeders are not happy about these new regulations, claiming that they will be put out of business due to the exorbitant cost of compliance.  My question is: Are these breeders considering the welfare of their breeding stock, or just in the business to make money?

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