News

Puppy Mill measure passes

Dog breeders in Missouri face stiffer regulations within the next year. The state ballot initiative, Proposition B, narrowly passed Tuesday. The measure was approved by 51 percent of Missouri’s voters. The so-called Puppy Mill Bill limits breeders to a maximum 50 breeding dogs.

Although the Missouri Department of Agriculture currently regulates the state’s dog breeders, the state auditor estimates the measure’s passage will require the addition of seven more inspectors plus an additional administrative assistant to enforce the new law.

In addition to limiting the number of breeding dogs, the measure, backed by the Humane Society of the United States, also requires yearly veterinary examinations. Other provisions of the bill relate to enclosures in which dogs are housed and the square footage of space per animal.

The measure was opposed not only by many Missouri dog breeders, but by the state’s agriculture interests. Breeders say the regulations are cost prohibitive and won’t eliminate current bad actors in the dog breeding business. Agriculture interests feel that HSUS will attempt passage of regulations shackling livestock operations.

Votes in favor of passing Proposition B were trailing much of the night with opposition to the measure strong in Missouri’s rural areas. A high number of urban-based votes in favor pushed Proposition B to passage by a total of 992,094 in favor and 932,615 opposed with most of the voting precincts accounted for.

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  Thank goodness. NO animal should be forced to live in these horrible conditions so people can make money. So happy this cruelty will be over.

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  Fact is this wasn’t to be a close race at all! Fact, this had to be the closest race in MISSOURI HISTORY!!!! When we started this race, we were not even to be in the running! Breeders and agriculture groups showed America what kind of people are in Missouri, nice, honest, caring, and hard working!!! This isn’t over! They still have a voice! Other states, get ready! HSUS is on their way. I did learn HSUS can not back their facts or provide any facts. The BBB Report, I was told was not accurate, did not contain all the information for it to be correct. Then at the end another report flashed all over the news, with pictures from a DNR Report, that breeders where now dumping poor dead puppies and Proposition B was sooo badly needed. Too bad all listed on the report were already unlicensed or a broker, which would not be covered under the Puppy Mill Cruelty Act. I can not understand how agriculture companies and suppliers can watch and not help take a stand against HSUS. HSUS is not a government agency responsible for oversight nor were they established to mandate legislation! After I broke the news to a lady in St. Louis that her “cage-free” eggs were really still from hens, and there was NO scientific studies to prove she was safe from salmonella with “cage-free” eggs, she was appalled that I referenced my fact from an agriculture magazine! Then it hit me that maybe we have segregated ourselves so much from people in the city, that they are unaware of the economic impact animal agriculture is to our Country and State. They are unaware of the financial FACTS of the role animal agriculture takes part in our economy. They are only aware of agriculture when negative impact reflects in bailouts and taxes. HSUS has labeled Missouri as the Puppy Mill Capitol. “The term “puppy mill” has been widely used by animal rights groups in protests against breeders who have substandard breeding conditions. According to the Humane Society of the United States, thousands of puppy mills are located around the country.[14] A high concentration of both puppy mills and breeders has been reported to be in the states of Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri”-Wikipedia. What happened to laws that protect the damaging or interfering with the operations of an animal enterprise? When multi-million dollar non-profit organizations run TV ads and target Missouri on websites stating these damaging slang terms, what protects animal agriculture?

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  Yup, problem is now solved. Everything will turn into heavenly bliss for dogs and dog owners, breeders buyers, everybody involved. Thanks to the city people who cannot see outside their city block, life will be good for dogs now. Oh wait….who is going to make sure the licensed breeder is following the rules?? Who is going to find the people who do this without a license?? Maybe Lisa and her friends will drive around and find people doing something wrong? The problem is not with the licesed breeder stupid, it the people who are doing it illegally and unethically. If HSUS and Tony and his bunch would have gave the money they spent on this campaign to the Missouri Department of Ag with the stipulation it goes to hire people and adminsiter operation Bark, everyone would have benefitted with the people who abuse dogs being caught.

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