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yorkiegirl2 · 07-04-2009, 06:29 PM

Operation Bark Alert
Operation Bark Alert

April 7, 2009
seMissourian.com: Story: Mo. tries to shed reputation as 'puppy mill' capital of U.S.
Missouri is the "puppy mill" capital of America, home to more than 4,000 shoddy and inhumane dog-breeding businesses, by one estimate. But now the state is trying to shed its reputation, with the chief of the Agriculture Department pledging to do more to crack down on bad breeders.
"Missouri led the nation in licensing breeders. Let's lead the nation in putting unlicensed breeders out of business," agriculture director Jon Hagler said.
'It's embarrassing'

June 30, 2009
seMissourian.com: Story: Unlicensed dog breeders targeted by Missouri initiative

Missouri is starting to crack down on Unlicensed dog breeders.
The unlicensed breeders problem in Missouri came about as a result of these regulations not being enforced and the issue being neglected for too long, said Attorney General Chris Koster.
"For a long time, the General Assembly turned a blind eye toward puppy mills," Koster said.
More than 2,000 dogs have been rescued so far as a result of the crackdown, many of them having suffered neglect and abuse at substandard facilities, Koster said.

In addition to often poor health conditions at unlicensed breeder facilities, such operations put properly licensed breeders at a competitive disadvantage, Hagler said.
The first part of "Bark Alert," enacted in February, focused on raising awareness and gathering information -- much of it in the form of anonymous tips -- about these breeders, Hagler said. Now the focus turns to eradicating those facilities through legal action,

Hagler said.
"It'll put a lot more teeth in the Bark Alert," Hagler said.
Koster said investigations have already pinpointed seven cases of unlicensed breeding operations he thinks can be prosecuted. Penalties involve $1,000 fines per violation, a punishment that could get costly for an operation with 40-plus dogs, Hagler said.

07-04-2009, 06:29 PM	#1
yorkiegirl2 YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 2,394	Missouri tries to shed reputation as 'puppy mill' capital of U.S Operation Bark Alert Operation Bark Alert April 7, 2009 seMissourian.com: Story: Mo. tries to shed reputation as 'puppy mill' capital of U.S. Missouri is the "puppy mill" capital of America, home to more than 4,000 shoddy and inhumane dog-breeding businesses, by one estimate. But now the state is trying to shed its reputation, with the chief of the Agriculture Department pledging to do more to crack down on bad breeders. "Missouri led the nation in licensing breeders. Let's lead the nation in putting unlicensed breeders out of business," agriculture director Jon Hagler said. 'It's embarrassing' June 30, 2009 seMissourian.com: Story: Unlicensed dog breeders targeted by Missouri initiative Missouri is starting to crack down on Unlicensed dog breeders. The unlicensed breeders problem in Missouri came about as a result of these regulations not being enforced and the issue being neglected for too long, said Attorney General Chris Koster. "For a long time, the General Assembly turned a blind eye toward puppy mills," Koster said. More than 2,000 dogs have been rescued so far as a result of the crackdown, many of them having suffered neglect and abuse at substandard facilities, Koster said. In addition to often poor health conditions at unlicensed breeder facilities, such operations put properly licensed breeders at a competitive disadvantage, Hagler said. The first part of "Bark Alert," enacted in February, focused on raising awareness and gathering information -- much of it in the form of anonymous tips -- about these breeders, Hagler said. Now the focus turns to eradicating those facilities through legal action, Hagler said. "It'll put a lot more teeth in the Bark Alert," Hagler said. Koster said investigations have already pinpointed seven cases of unlicensed breeding operations he thinks can be prosecuted. Penalties involve $1,000 fines per violation, a punishment that could get costly for an operation with 40-plus dogs, Hagler said.