[News] Puppy Mill Bills Across the Nation

[yorkiesmiles]

Legislative bill could ban Arizona puppy mills, dog fighting

Legislative bill could ban Arizona puppy mills, dog fighting - Phoenix Arizona news, breaking news, local news, weather radar, traffic from ABC15 News | ABC15.com

Reported by: Deborah Stocks
Email: dstocks@abc15.com

Nearly a year after hundreds of dogs were found at a puppy mill in Southern Arizona, the Arizona House Government Committee could approve a bill that offers significant protection against puppy mills, dog fighting and animal hoarding.

According to a news release, House Bill 2517, sponsored by Rep. Nancy Young Wright of Tucson, allows counties to check licensed kennels when a written complaint is received. The bill reportedly has bipartisan support.

“This bill offers preventative measures to avoid future animal abuse and the devastating costs to Arizona’s animal shelters, law enforcement and taxpayers,” Young Wright said.

March 10 marks the one year anniversary that authorities seized 750 dogs from a puppy mill in Avra Valley, northwest of Tucson, that were being sold for thousands of dollars.

According to the news release, the puppies were ill from living in filthy conditions on the property. Some reportedly had missing paws and some were found dead.

A woman who purchased a puppy from the property took it to the vet because the puppy was ill. She reported she had seen hundreds of dogs on the property and the vet told her to contact authorities.

According to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, all of the dogs had Giardia and hookworms, which are diseases that can be transferred to humans.

According to the news release, one month earlier, Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the Humane Society busted a massive dog fighting ring on four properties. Officials seized 150 dogs with injuries and scars consistent with dog fighting. At least 95 of the dogs were euthanized after an attempt to find homes for them.

Reportedly, Maricopa County officials estimate the cost to taxpayers this year is nearly $700,000 to euthanize an estimated 30,000 animals at $23 per animal. It reportedly costs Pima County $20 per animal, according to the news release.

[yorkiekist]

Originally Posted by yorkiesmiles

Legislative bill could ban Arizona puppy mills, dog fighting

Legislative bill could ban Arizona puppy mills, dog fighting - Phoenix Arizona news, breaking news, local news, weather radar, traffic from ABC15 News | ABC15.com

Reported by: Deborah Stocks
Email: dstocks@abc15.com

Nearly a year after hundreds of dogs were found at a puppy mill in Southern Arizona, the Arizona House Government Committee could approve a bill that offers significant protection against puppy mills, dog fighting and animal hoarding.

According to a news release, House Bill 2517, sponsored by Rep. Nancy Young Wright of Tucson, allows counties to check licensed kennels when a written complaint is received. The bill reportedly has bipartisan support.

“This bill offers preventative measures to avoid future animal abuse and the devastating costs to Arizona’s animal shelters, law enforcement and taxpayers,” Young Wright said.

March 10 marks the one year anniversary that authorities seized 750 dogs from a puppy mill in Avra Valley, northwest of Tucson, that were being sold for thousands of dollars.

According to the news release, the puppies were ill from living in filthy conditions on the property. Some reportedly had missing paws and some were found dead.

A woman who purchased a puppy from the property took it to the vet because the puppy was ill. She reported she had seen hundreds of dogs on the property and the vet told her to contact authorities.

According to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, all of the dogs had Giardia and hookworms, which are diseases that can be transferred to humans.

According to the news release, one month earlier, Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the Humane Society busted a massive dog fighting ring on four properties. Officials seized 150 dogs with injuries and scars consistent with dog fighting. At least 95 of the dogs were euthanized after an attempt to find homes for them.

Reportedly, Maricopa County officials estimate the cost to taxpayers this year is nearly $700,000 to euthanize an estimated 30,000 animals at $23 per animal. It reportedly costs Pima County $20 per animal, according to the news release.

I am all for the ban on dog fighting and cock fighting!! I will have to look up the bill to see what noncense is included.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by yorkiesmiles

Legislative bill could ban Arizona puppy mills, dog fighting...

According to a news release, House Bill 2517, sponsored by Rep. Nancy Young Wright of Tucson, allows counties to check licensed kennels when a written complaint is received. The bill reportedly has bipartisan support.

VERY exciting! Thank you so much for posting this!

[yorkiesmiles]

House passes puppy mill bill

KSWO, Lawton, OK- Wichita Falls, TX: News, Weather, Sports. ABC, 24/7, Telemundo - House passes puppy mill bill

Associated Press - March 4, 2009 3:55 PM ET

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Legisation that would regulate dog and cat breeders in Oklahoma has been approved by the state House.

House members passed the measure 74-26 Wednesday and sent it to the Senate for a vote.

The bill was authored by Rep. Lee Denny, a Cushing veterinarian who says it provides minimum standards for dog and cat breeding operations. It would apply to breeders who raise at least 35 puppies or kittens a year.

Opponents say they are concerned that animal rights activists are behind the legislation. Rep. Charles Key of Oklahoma City says Oklahoma already has laws on the books that forbid animal cruelty that need to be enforced.

Provisions dealing with the rescue and fostering of animals removed from illegal puppy mills were stripped from the bill.

[bugsmomma]

There is hope for the puppies yet! Yay!!!!

Originally Posted by yorkiesmiles

House passes puppy mill bill

KSWO, Lawton, OK- Wichita Falls, TX: News, Weather, Sports. ABC, 24/7, Telemundo - House passes puppy mill bill

Associated Press - March 4, 2009 3:55 PM ET

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Legisation that would regulate dog and cat breeders in Oklahoma has been approved by the state House.

House members passed the measure 74-26 Wednesday and sent it to the Senate for a vote.

The bill was authored by Rep. Lee Denny, a Cushing veterinarian who says it provides minimum standards for dog and cat breeding operations. It would apply to breeders who raise at least 35 puppies or kittens a year.

Opponents say they are concerned that animal rights activists are behind the legislation. Rep. Charles Key of Oklahoma City says Oklahoma already has laws on the books that forbid animal cruelty that need to be enforced.

Provisions dealing with the rescue and fostering of animals removed from illegal puppy mills were stripped from the bill.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by yorkiesmiles

Legislative bill could ban Arizona puppy mills, dog fighting

Legislative bill could ban Arizona puppy mills, dog fighting - Phoenix Arizona news, breaking news, local news, weather radar, traffic from ABC15 News | ABC15.com

Reported by: Deborah Stocks
Email: dstocks@abc15.com

Nearly a year after hundreds of dogs were found at a puppy mill in Southern Arizona, the Arizona House Government Committee could approve a bill that offers significant protection against puppy mills, dog fighting and animal hoarding.

According to a news release, House Bill 2517, sponsored by Rep. Nancy Young Wright of Tucson, allows counties to check licensed kennels when a written complaint is received. The bill reportedly has bipartisan support.

“This bill offers preventative measures to avoid future animal abuse and the devastating costs to Arizona’s animal shelters, law enforcement and taxpayers,” Young Wright said.

March 10 marks the one year anniversary that authorities seized 750 dogs from a puppy mill in Avra Valley, northwest of Tucson, that were being sold for thousands of dollars.

According to the news release, the puppies were ill from living in filthy conditions on the property. Some reportedly had missing paws and some were found dead.

A woman who purchased a puppy from the property took it to the vet because the puppy was ill. She reported she had seen hundreds of dogs on the property and the vet told her to contact authorities.

According to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, all of the dogs had Giardia and hookworms, which are diseases that can be transferred to humans.

According to the news release, one month earlier, Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the Humane Society busted a massive dog fighting ring on four properties. Officials seized 150 dogs with injuries and scars consistent with dog fighting. At least 95 of the dogs were euthanized after an attempt to find homes for them.

Reportedly, Maricopa County officials estimate the cost to taxpayers this year is nearly $700,000 to euthanize an estimated 30,000 animals at $23 per animal. It reportedly costs Pima County $20 per animal, according to the news release.

Thanks for posting this, I'm glad people are finally starting to do something.

[yorkiekist]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Thanks for posting this, I'm glad people are finally starting to do something.

They already check up on kennels if there is a complaint. Sheriff Joe already does a great job on this because he LOVES dogs and all animals!!!! One complaint and the Maricopa County Sherrif will be knocking at your door. Sounds like more redundancy of the law. Stiffer fines for DMX and the like would be great though.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by yorkiekist

They already check up on kennels if there is a complaint. Sheriff Joe already does a great job on this because he LOVES dogs and all animals!!!! One complaint and the Maricopa County Sherrif will be knocking at your door. Sounds like more redundancy of the law. Stiffer fines for DMX and the like would be great though.

I guess the part I'm confused about is, there has to be a complaint first. If no one has to register locally, how would people know there are local kennels? Who would see them to complain? Many comercial breeders aren't registered with the AKC. They sure don't need to register fighting dogs. This bill sounds pretty weak though, if you don't register as a kennel, you get a $25.00 fine.

[livingdustmops]

Originally Posted by yorkiekist

They already check up on kennels if there is a complaint. Sheriff Joe already does a great job on this because he LOVES dogs and all animals!!!! One complaint and the Maricopa County Sherrif will be knocking at your door. Sounds like more redundancy of the law. Stiffer fines for DMX and the like would be great though.

Sheriff Joe only handles Maricopa County (Phoenix)...many dog fighting rings are in the rest of the state along with puppy mills that are hidden away from the larger cities.

I worked hand in hand with the vet at Animal Control (Tucson) to help shut down a Yorkie puppy mill south of Tucson. People apparently didn't see it was a problem how the dogs were living and didn't complain/report what was going on. I also might add many of the dogs that were surrendered to rescue were from Phoenix and some of the dogs came into rescue in horrible condition.

Animal cruelty is alive and well in Phoenix even if Sheriff Joe loves animals. My hat is off to him as he has gone after two cops who's dogs died while in their cars due to the heat. I think they lost some pay but I could be wrong what their penalty was.

[yorkiekist]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I guess the part I'm confused about is, there has to be a complaint first. If no one has to register locally, how would people know there are local kennels? Who would see them to complain? Many comercial breeders aren't registered with the AKC. They sure don't need to register fighting dogs. This bill sounds pretty weak though, if you don't register as a kennel, you get a $25.00 fine.

Vets, buyers, neighbors can all call in complaints. Evidentally the lady with 800 dogs in her mobile lived out in the sticks and didnt have neighbors. But wasnt it a buyer that turned her in? I only saw 3 usda registered breeders in Az. Not too many commercial breeders here. I forgot who turned in DMX. I would think that the noise alone would alert neighbors unless they are all debarked. There are alot of bybers, but not as many as there were. I remember 10 years ago the AZ Republic would have jillion dog adds every Sunday. I noticed that there is not near as many today. I havent read the whole bill yet. I do hope they make it illegal for dog and cock fighting.

[yorkiekist]

Originally Posted by livingdustmops

Sheriff Joe only handles Maricopa County (Phoenix)...many dog fighting rings are in the rest of the state along with puppy mills that are hidden away from the larger cities.

I worked hand in hand with the vet at Animal Control (Tucson) to help shut down a Yorkie puppy mill south of Tucson. People apparently didn't see it was a problem how the dogs were living and didn't complain/report what was going on. I also might add many of the dogs that were surrendered to rescue were from Phoenix and some of the dogs came into rescue in horrible condition.

Animal cruelty is alive and well in Phoenix even if Sheriff Joe loves animals. My hat is off to him as he has gone after two cops who's dogs died while in their cars due to the heat. I think they lost some pay but I could be wrong what their penalty was.

I just wanted to oppologise to you for something I wrote on another thread. I didnt mean to demean your passion for rescue. I think it sounded like I did. I applaud you for your passion and care for these unwanted and neglected dogs.

[livingdustmops]

Originally Posted by yorkiekist

I just wanted to oppologise to you for something I wrote on another thread. I didnt mean to demean your passion for rescue. I think it sounded like I did. I applaud you for your passion and care for these unwanted and neglected dogs.

Accepted and no harm done. I am sure you can understand why I feel the way I do about many of these issues. It is very difficult to walk into a room and see dead dogs piled up on top of each other because of the surplus of animals that we have. It is also very difficult to see the shape some of these Yorkies came into rescue, broken bones, complete fear of humans, rotten teeth, covered in ticks and sunburnt from being left outside in the sun to name just a few of the things I have dealt with. I have been able to sneak dogs out of the pound that owners turned in to be killed because the people were done with them and our laws allow this....

I will never understand the cruelty of man to these creatures.

P.S. The mobile home bust - it took the vet convincing the woman who bought a dog from that horrible place to finally turn them in. The woman would not have done it on her own.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by yorkiekist

Vets, buyers, neighbors can all call in complaints. Evidentally the lady with 800 dogs in her mobile lived out in the sticks and didnt have neighbors. But wasnt it a buyer that turned her in? I only saw 3 usda registered breeders in Az. Not too many commercial breeders here. I forgot who turned in DMX. I would think that the noise alone would alert neighbors unless they are all debarked. There are alot of bybers, but not as many as there were. I remember 10 years ago the AZ Republic would have jillion dog adds every Sunday. I noticed that there is not near as many today. I havent read the whole bill yet. I do hope they make it illegal for dog and cock fighting.

Most buyers of dogs raised in those conditions are sold the dogs through puppy brokers, so buyers aren't aware. Lot of puppy mill types of kennels are on land where there are no neighbors. Vets could report abuse, if the dogs ever got vet care, but did you know the Indiana law is trying to address this in part of this in it's legislation, by saying a vet could not be sued for reporting abuse? Many states don't have this in their legislation; I'm not sure about Arizona. The case in Florida last year concerning Teresita Hughes took too long to get the restraining orders because a vet was afraid to report the abuse. Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Puppy mill - over 120 dogs - Tarpon Springs, FL (US)

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by yorkiesmiles

Rep. Charles Key of Oklahoma City says Oklahoma already has laws on the books that forbid animal cruelty that need to be enforced.

Thanks for posting this article!

This is now becoming just the canned answer for those against any and all legislation and this really frustrates me! It just shows the lobbyists are putting words in people's mouths instead of people thinking for themselves. This is the exact same phrase we're hearing over and over here on our threads. And yet, as we've seen in our recent discussions regarding the current laws and the USDA - they are NOT effective toward shutting down mills or stopping cruelty.

[yorkiesmiles]

OK - I do not live in Illinois nor have I read all these bills for different states - but I was just doing a search on these bills & this letter to the editor regarding the Illinois bill shocked me - I had no idea that some of these bills are trying to stop tail docking & ear cropping. Here's an interesting letter, and if you go to the website - lots of comments already



Law would harm law-abiding breeders
Letter to the Editor

Daily Herald | Law would harm law-abiding breeders

My husband and I are retired, and show our boxers in conformation and obedience, and have won several AKC titles. We breed a litter of puppies twice a year. We place them in pet homes on spay/neuter contracts, and people seek us out because they know we care about our Boxers and breed carefully, always health-testing our dogs before mating them.

Now we have lawmakers trying to usurp our rights to own this breed the way the American Boxer Club has designated since it was formed. We oppose Senate Bill 139, which renders the common practice of docking the tails of dogs and cropping ears as torture and a felony. More than 17 breeds dock or crop or both and remove dew claws. This has been safely and humanely done for centuries. Additionally, the American Kennel Club forbids the participation of a cropped dog in its events if the state prohibits the procedure. Thus, those dogs that come from all over the country, including Illinois, would be prohibited from participation in any AKC field trials, obedience trials, agility trials and conformation shows that are held in Illinois. These events bring millions of dollars to Illinois every year, revenue that would be lost at a time when our state needs all the help it can get.

If that isn't bad enough, Rep. John A. Fritchey is seeking to enact a law (HB 0198) that would require me to be fingerprinted, have my home searched, a criminal background check run, and pay a fee for this. We are not a part of the puppy mill problem and do not sell through pet stores. We are a local in-house breeder, which is always the best place to purchase a pet. We have strict ethics rules regarding the breeding and placement of our puppies. Our puppies are micro chipped, inoculated and health cleared by a veterinarian before they go to their devoted families.

Bill and Barbara O'Connor

Villa Park