House To Debate Puppy Mill Bill
House To Debate Puppy Mill Bill - WHO
WHO Staff Writer
March 19, 2009
Lawmakers looking to change regulations for large-scale breeders (AP)
This week PETA named Iowa one of the top eight states for puppy mills. Now, Iowa lawmakers want to crack down on the practice.
The bill would add additional inspectors to help regulate large breeding facilities. Right now, state inspectors are in charge of small breeders who sell directly to customers. Federal authorities including the USDA, inspect larger, wholesale breeders.
The bill would give the state authority to go into federally licensed facilities if someone files a complaint against them. State inspectors are skeptical of the bill. They say they can barely handle
the 600 facilities they inspect now, and don't have the manpower to handle any additional duties.
"I think that would be a lot of added work for our department, already really shorthanded. The number of facilities keeps expanding. We've been getting by with a lot fewer inspectors than we've ever had," says Doug Anderson, an Iowa Department of Agriculture Inspector.
The bill made it out of the agriculture subcommittee Wednesday.
The House will debate the bill early next week.