I think that's my point - there are no standards, so there are no fines or anything. A person can have a hundred dogs, and as long as they are selling to private individuals, the Animal Welfare Act does not apply to them. It applies to commercial breeders selling to pet stores and researchers that breed more than five dogs a year.
Perhaps what is needed is a better definition of breeder. That way, if a person has, say more than seven dogs, they have to meet the standards set forth in the act. I don't know. But I saw some very sad conditions in private homes and there is nothing I can do about it as an individual because there is no legislation out there to back me.
A very thought provoking discussion....thanks for your input. |