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Teresamag · 10-31-2010, 09:39 AM

Here is the link to a copy of Proposition B - as it is written.

SOS, Missouri - Elections: 2010 Approved Initiative Petitions

What the ballot initiative says below is in black and my objections are in red

2010 Initiative Petitions Approved for Circulation in Missouri
Statutory Amendment to Chapter 273, Relating to Dog Breeders 2010-085,

Version 1
THE PROPOSED STATUTE

Be it enacted by the people of the State of Missouri:

Section A. One new section is enacted, to be known as section 273.345, to read as follows:
273.345. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the ”Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act.”
Naming this Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act is an inflammatory description - HSUS is using this term to encourage people to vote yes without fully reading and understand this bill - everyone wants to prevent puppy mills and cruelty.

2. The purpose of this Act is to prohibit the cruel and inhumane treatment of dogs in puppy mills by requiring large-scale dog breeding operations to provide each dog under their care with basic food and water, adequate shelter from the elements, necessary veterinary care, adequate space to turn around and stretch his or her limbs, and regular exercise.
These items above are already in existing law under the Missouri Department of Agricultures Animal Care Facilities Act Program (ACFA). These rules can be seen at Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) - click on animals and livestock to see the act. There is no reason to pass new laws (at the cost of over 1 MILLION dollars) when we already have laws in place to cover these items.
3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person having custody or ownership of more than ten female covered dogs for the purpose of breeding those animals and selling any offspring for use as a pet shall provide each covered dog: Is it ok to not do these things if I only have 9 female dogs? Current Missouri law requires breeders with more than 3 females to follow the ACFA or it is a misdeamor. Missouri even has a program called Operation Bark Alert for people to report unlicensed breeders. (for more information see the above website).
(1) Sufficient food and clean water;
(2) Necessary veterinary care;
(3) Sufficient housing, including protection from the elements;
(4) Sufficient space to turn and stretch freely, lie down, and fully extend his or her limbs;
(5) Regular exercise; and
All the above is already covered in existing laws under the ACFA - see above.
(6) Adequate rest between breeding cycles.
Breeders should make this decision in conference with their vet/reproductive specialist. This is not something that should be decided by the government or laws passed by people with no knowledge of breeding health issues.
4. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person may have custody of more than fifty covered dogs for the purpose of breeding those animals and selling any offspring for use as a pet.
Why is the government placing a number limit on the amount of "property" anyone can own? Are there laws telling me how many cars I might own or children I may have because I "might not" take care of them? Regulations and laws should be based on care - not numbers. This is just a ploy by HSUS trying to limit our numbers - in the future they could pass laws limiting breeders to 25 - 15 - 10 - 5 animals. Remember the goal of HSUS is to stamp out all breeding. Why is it that breeders can have only 50 dogs while animal shelters, rescues, hunting kennels, & HOARDERS can have way more? Isn't good care the same for all of us - why mandate a number for breeders when they are not mandating a number for anyone else?
5. For purposes of this section, and notwithstanding the provisions of section 273.325, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) ”Covered dog” means any individual of the species of the domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris, or resultant hybrids, that is over the age of six months and has intact sexual organs.

(2) ”Sufficient food and clean water” means access to appropriate nutritious food at least once a day sufficient to maintain good health; and continuous access to potable water that is not frozen, and is free of debris, feces, algae, and other contaminants.
Why only once a day? Current law under the ACFA is twice a day. Why go to less often? Have the creators of this bill read our current laws?
(3) ”Necessary veterinary care” means, at minimum, examination at least once yearly by a licensed veterinarian; prompt treatment of any illness or injury by a licensed veterinarian; and, where needed, humane euthanasia by a licensed veterinarian using lawful techniques deemed “Acceptable” by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Current law for Missouri licensed breeders is that they have to have a Program of Veterinary Care and that their vet make an annual visit to the premises. This rule would prevent breeders from treating minor illnesses (upset stomach, diarrhea, torn toenail, small cut) on their own using their own experience and knowledge and instead mandate that the breeder make a vet visit for every little thing.
(4) ”Sufficient housing, including protection from the elements” means constant and unfettered access to an indoor enclosure that has a solid floor; is not stacked or otherwise placed on top of or below another animal’s enclosure; is cleaned of waste at least once a day while the dog is outside the enclosure; and does not fall below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or rise above 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temp, flooring, and cleaning are all already covered in the ACFA, some dogs do not like to be inside - Siberians, Malamutes, and Great Pyrenees. Are we supposed to make them be inside? Why is it not ok to have stacked cages for breeders but it is ok for pet shops, vets, animal shelters?
(5) ”Sufficient space to turn and stretch freely, lie down, and fully extend his or her limbs” means having (1) sufficient indoor space for each dog to turn in a complete circle without any impediment (including a tether); (2) enough indoor space for each dog to lie down and fully extend his or her limbs and stretch freely without touching the side of an enclosure or another dog; (3) at least one foot of headroom above the head of the tallest dog in the enclosure; and (4) at least 12 square feet of indoor floor space per each dog up to 25 inches long; at least 20 square feet of indoor floor space per each dog between 25 and 35 inches long; and at least 30 square feet of indoor floor space per each dog for dogs 35 inches and longer (with the length of the dog measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail).
Space requirements are already covered under the ACFA
(6) ”Regular exercise” means constant and unfettered access to an outdoor exercise area that is composed of a solid, ground level surface with adequate drainage; provides some protection against sun, wind, rain, and snow; and provides each dog at least twice the square footage of the indoor floor space provided to that dog.
This is the scariest part of this bill. Constant and unfettered access to the outdoors means I can no longer put a puppy or a dog in a crate, puppy pen, or exercise pen for housetraining, to keep them safe, to separate them from dogs they don't get along with (ever seen 2 girls fighting - it's horrible), or to keep a girl in season away from a stud dog. Constant and unfettered access to the outdoors means that nursing moms will have their fragile puppies exposed to drafts and the heat/cold making the puppies very susceptible to colds, pneumonia, and other illnesses. It also puts these young puppies at risk of getting outside in the cold/heat and not being able to get back inside - puppies can die from this. It will also put the moms under more stress because their babies are not safe and secure.
(7) ”Adequate rest between breeding cycles” means, at minimum, ensuring that dogs are not bred to produce more than two litters in any 18 month period.
Breeders should make this decision in conference with their vet/reproductive specialist. This is not something that should be decided by the government or laws passed by people with no knowledge of breeding health issues.(
8) ”Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, corporation, estate, trust, receiver, or syndicate.
What about co-owned dogs? Do co-owned dogs count in your total of 50 dogs? It certainly looks like it.
(9) ”Pet” means any domesticated animal normally maintained in or near the household of the owner thereof.

10-31-2010, 09:39 AM	#44
Teresamag YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 358	Here are some of the objections about Prop B (in red) #1 post Here is the link to a copy of Proposition B - as it is written. SOS, Missouri - Elections: 2010 Approved Initiative Petitions What the ballot initiative says below is in black and my objections are in red 2010 Initiative Petitions Approved for Circulation in Missouri Statutory Amendment to Chapter 273, Relating to Dog Breeders 2010-085, Version 1 THE PROPOSED STATUTE Be it enacted by the people of the State of Missouri: Section A. One new section is enacted, to be known as section 273.345, to read as follows: 273.345. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the ”Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act.” Naming this Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act is an inflammatory description - HSUS is using this term to encourage people to vote yes without fully reading and understand this bill - everyone wants to prevent puppy mills and cruelty. 2. The purpose of this Act is to prohibit the cruel and inhumane treatment of dogs in puppy mills by requiring large-scale dog breeding operations to provide each dog under their care with basic food and water, adequate shelter from the elements, necessary veterinary care, adequate space to turn around and stretch his or her limbs, and regular exercise. These items above are already in existing law under the Missouri Department of Agricultures Animal Care Facilities Act Program (ACFA). These rules can be seen at Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) - click on animals and livestock to see the act. There is no reason to pass new laws (at the cost of over 1 MILLION dollars) when we already have laws in place to cover these items. 3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person having custody or ownership of more than ten female covered dogs for the purpose of breeding those animals and selling any offspring for use as a pet shall provide each covered dog: Is it ok to not do these things if I only have 9 female dogs? Current Missouri law requires breeders with more than 3 females to follow the ACFA or it is a misdeamor. Missouri even has a program called Operation Bark Alert for people to report unlicensed breeders. (for more information see the above website). (1) Sufficient food and clean water; (2) Necessary veterinary care; (3) Sufficient housing, including protection from the elements; (4) Sufficient space to turn and stretch freely, lie down, and fully extend his or her limbs; (5) Regular exercise; and All the above is already covered in existing laws under the ACFA - see above. (6) Adequate rest between breeding cycles. Breeders should make this decision in conference with their vet/reproductive specialist. This is not something that should be decided by the government or laws passed by people with no knowledge of breeding health issues. 4. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person may have custody of more than fifty covered dogs for the purpose of breeding those animals and selling any offspring for use as a pet. Why is the government placing a number limit on the amount of "property" anyone can own? Are there laws telling me how many cars I might own or children I may have because I "might not" take care of them? Regulations and laws should be based on care - not numbers. This is just a ploy by HSUS trying to limit our numbers - in the future they could pass laws limiting breeders to 25 - 15 - 10 - 5 animals. Remember the goal of HSUS is to stamp out all breeding. Why is it that breeders can have only 50 dogs while animal shelters, rescues, hunting kennels, & HOARDERS can have way more? Isn't good care the same for all of us - why mandate a number for breeders when they are not mandating a number for anyone else? 5. For purposes of this section, and notwithstanding the provisions of section 273.325, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) ”Covered dog” means any individual of the species of the domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris, or resultant hybrids, that is over the age of six months and has intact sexual organs. (2) ”Sufficient food and clean water” means access to appropriate nutritious food at least once a day sufficient to maintain good health; and continuous access to potable water that is not frozen, and is free of debris, feces, algae, and other contaminants. Why only once a day? Current law under the ACFA is twice a day. Why go to less often? Have the creators of this bill read our current laws? (3) ”Necessary veterinary care” means, at minimum, examination at least once yearly by a licensed veterinarian; prompt treatment of any illness or injury by a licensed veterinarian; and, where needed, humane euthanasia by a licensed veterinarian using lawful techniques deemed “Acceptable” by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Current law for Missouri licensed breeders is that they have to have a Program of Veterinary Care and that their vet make an annual visit to the premises. This rule would prevent breeders from treating minor illnesses (upset stomach, diarrhea, torn toenail, small cut) on their own using their own experience and knowledge and instead mandate that the breeder make a vet visit for every little thing. (4) ”Sufficient housing, including protection from the elements” means constant and unfettered access to an indoor enclosure that has a solid floor; is not stacked or otherwise placed on top of or below another animal’s enclosure; is cleaned of waste at least once a day while the dog is outside the enclosure; and does not fall below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or rise above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Temp, flooring, and cleaning are all already covered in the ACFA, some dogs do not like to be inside - Siberians, Malamutes, and Great Pyrenees. Are we supposed to make them be inside? Why is it not ok to have stacked cages for breeders but it is ok for pet shops, vets, animal shelters? (5) ”Sufficient space to turn and stretch freely, lie down, and fully extend his or her limbs” means having (1) sufficient indoor space for each dog to turn in a complete circle without any impediment (including a tether); (2) enough indoor space for each dog to lie down and fully extend his or her limbs and stretch freely without touching the side of an enclosure or another dog; (3) at least one foot of headroom above the head of the tallest dog in the enclosure; and (4) at least 12 square feet of indoor floor space per each dog up to 25 inches long; at least 20 square feet of indoor floor space per each dog between 25 and 35 inches long; and at least 30 square feet of indoor floor space per each dog for dogs 35 inches and longer (with the length of the dog measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail). Space requirements are already covered under the ACFA (6) ”Regular exercise” means constant and unfettered access to an outdoor exercise area that is composed of a solid, ground level surface with adequate drainage; provides some protection against sun, wind, rain, and snow; and provides each dog at least twice the square footage of the indoor floor space provided to that dog. This is the scariest part of this bill. Constant and unfettered access to the outdoors means I can no longer put a puppy or a dog in a crate, puppy pen, or exercise pen for housetraining, to keep them safe, to separate them from dogs they don't get along with (ever seen 2 girls fighting - it's horrible), or to keep a girl in season away from a stud dog. Constant and unfettered access to the outdoors means that nursing moms will have their fragile puppies exposed to drafts and the heat/cold making the puppies very susceptible to colds, pneumonia, and other illnesses. It also puts these young puppies at risk of getting outside in the cold/heat and not being able to get back inside - puppies can die from this. It will also put the moms under more stress because their babies are not safe and secure. (7) ”Adequate rest between breeding cycles” means, at minimum, ensuring that dogs are not bred to produce more than two litters in any 18 month period. Breeders should make this decision in conference with their vet/reproductive specialist. This is not something that should be decided by the government or laws passed by people with no knowledge of breeding health issues.( 8) ”Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, corporation, estate, trust, receiver, or syndicate. What about co-owned dogs? Do co-owned dogs count in your total of 50 dogs? It certainly looks like it. (9) ”Pet” means any domesticated animal normally maintained in or near the household of the owner thereof.