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WHAT IS A PUPPY MILL?
URGENT ACTION NEEDED
NOW!
ACTION NEEDED!
As most of you are aware,
HB1258 has passed the House and is on
to the Senate House Courts and
Criminal Code Committee. Senator
Steele is the chairman of this
committee. Last year he was one of the
main fighting opponents of the puppy
mill bill. The year before that he
refused to allow a hearing for a bill
that would have made attending a
dogfighting contest a Class D felony.
He has proven to NOT be an advocate
for the protection of Indiana's
animals and HB1258 is in his hands.
(For a review of HB1258, see below).
He has complete control to deny this
bill a hearing and it will be dead.
Please contact Senator Steele and ask
him to please give HB1258 a hearing.
You can contact him by phone
(1-800-382-9842 or 317-232-9400),
email (S44@in.gov)
or a letter to State Senator Brent
Steele, Indiana State Senate, 200 West
Washington St., Indianapolis, IN
46204. Contacting Sen. Steele is of
the utmost importance right now. If
you are inclined to contact the other
members of the committee, they are
listed below. They can all be reached
at the same phone numbers and mailing
address. The email address will vary,
depending on their districts. (i.e.,
S__@in.gov).
Committee members: Young R.M.
(District 35), Bray (37), Delph
(29), Head (18), Waterman (39),
Waltz (36), Hume R.M.M. (48),
Lanane (25) , Tallian (4), Taylor
(33). It is of particular
importance for you to contact
committee members if you are in
one of the these committee
members' district. If you don't
know your district, go to
www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/.
This
bill will, in short,
-
give consumers at pet stores vital
information to help them know if
they are buying a puppy from a
reputable breeder. Of course, we
all know that the vast majority of
puppies from pet stores are from
puppy mills, but the average
person is not aware of this.
Information that must b provided
includes posting the animal's
medical history, including
congenital disorders, on its cage.
The store would also have to put
the name of the breeder on the
cage and, when requested, disclose
the address and size of the
breeding operation.
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make attending an animal fighting
contest a Class D felony.
-
require that equines be given
adequate shelter
Defend The Dogs
"Committed to eliminating puppy mills
in Indiana through legislation and
education."
www.defendthedogs.com
info@defendthedogs.com
P.O. Box 4256, Carmel, IN 46082
MISSION STATEMENT
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Defend The Dogs
Fighting to Stop Puppy Mills in Indiana
We would like to
increase our mailing list because numbers mean
everything when it comes to state issues. We
know that the number of people in Indiana who
are opposed to puppy mills GREATLY outweighs
those that support them. However, if caring and
compassionate people are not informed of what is
happening in the state, the loudest voice that
will be heard in the Statehouse will be those
who do not want any regulations on puppy mills.
So we are asking you to please
send this email to your friends in Indiana who
might like to help in the fight against puppy
mills. We will do our best to keep everyone
informed about what is happening with
legislation and other attempts on the puppy mill
front and what we can do to help.
If you are receiving this as a forward, please send
an email to info@defendthedogs.com to
be added to our mailing list. All we need your name
and zip code and you will be added as a member of
Defend The Dogs. We would LOVE to have your help in
this battle! The dogs suffering in puppy mills need
your involvement! If you are unfamiliar with the
puppy mill problem in Indiana, please visit our
website: www.defendthedogs.com.There
are many links on the website that detail the
situation, including www.petshoppuppies.org.
Please forward this on to all you know.
Hello Friends!
I hope this email finds you
well and ready to battle for
Indiana’s puppy mill victims.
Please take the time to read
through this email to see how
you can help! Many
of you are new to Defend The
Dogs. We are an organization
whose sole purpose is to fight
puppy mills in Indiana and to
help pull people in the state
together to accomplish this.
Last year we had a sweet
victory with the passing of
the first puppy mill bill ever
in Indiana! The reason it
passed is because people like
you bombarded the offices of
your legislators with emails
and phone calls and visits!
Even though it was not
all that we hoped for, the
bill is a good start. The
bill went into effect Jan. 1,
2010. To see a copy of the
Board of Animal Health’s new
regulations for commercial
breeders, go to
http://www.in.gov/boah/files/Dog_Breeder_Guidance__1-2010__Ver_1_01_.pdf.
Even with the enactment of the
new bill, puppy mills are
completely legal and dogs are
suffering. We need to
continue in our efforts to
fight this huge enterprise on
all levels, which brings me to
the purpose of this email.
A bill was just introduced
in the Indiana House by Rep.
Lawson to regulate pet stores
that sell puppies. (To
read on “Why This Bill Is
Important”, scroll down.)
To see a draft of this bill,
go to
http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2010/IN/IN1258.1.html
. HB 1258’s next stop
will be in the House Courts
and Criminal Code Committee.
The bill can be killed there,
or be accepted and proceed on
to the Senate.
(To read more of the
“Process Of Passing A Bill”,
scroll down.)
Below is a list of the members on
this committee. If anyone is
represented by any of these
legislators, please contact
them and urge them to vote in
support of HB1258. You can
email them by clicking on the link
beside their names or call their
office at 317-232-9600. If you
are in House District 47, it is
particularly important that you
contact Rep. Foley! He was
the main opponent in the House of
the puppy mill bill last year.
You can find out what district you are
in and who your legislators are at
this link:
http://district.iga.in.gov/DistrictLookup/
Members of the Courts & Criminal Code
Committee are:
Rep. Matt Pierce (HD 61)
http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_democrats/pierce_index.html
Rep. Nancy Dembowski (HD 17)
http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_democrats/dembowski_index.html
Rep. Ryan Dvorak (HD 8)
http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_democrats/dvorak_index.html
Rep. Linda Lawson (HD 1) sponsor of
the bill; email her and thank her! http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_democrats/lawson_index.html
Rep. Greg Porter (HD 96)
http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_democrats/porter_index.html
Rep. Vernon Smith (HD 14)
http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_democrats/smith_index.html
Rep. Vern Tincher (HD 46)
http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_democrats/tincher_index.html
Rep. Eric Koch (HD 65)
http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_republicans/homepages/r65/index.html
Rep. Ralph Foley (HD 47)
http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_republicans/homepages/r47/index.html
Rep. Greg Steuerwald (HD 40)
http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_republicans/homepages/r40/index.html
Rep. Randy Truitt (HD 26)
http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_republicans/homepages/r26/index.html
Rep. Jacqueline Clements (HD 38)
http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_republicans/homepages/r38/index.html
Why this bill is important:
Many puppy mills depend on pet stores
to sell their puppies. Others sell
directly through newspaper ads or
websites. If we can crack down on pet
stores, it will directly impact puppy
mills. 99% of puppies sold in pet
stores are from puppy mills. You will
never hear this from a store employee
or manager. They will say that the
puppies are from “local breeders” or
use other vague terms. If this bill
passes, stores will need to post the
breeders’ name, address and how many
litters are produced annually at their
facility. Consumers will not be in
the dark about where these puppies
come from! There are also standards
of care included in the bill, as well
as requiring pet stores to provide
background (including medical)
information on all puppies. As it is,
large percentages of puppies sold in
pet stores are sick or have genetic
problems. Consumers many times spend
thousands of dollars in medical bills
on these dogs. Another huge reason
that this bill is important is that it
will require pet stores to pay $25 to
the BOAH for each puppy or kitten
sold. The BOAH (Board of Animal
Health) is the regulating organization
that oversees commercial breeders and
is to enforce the new puppy mill
bill. In order to do that, they have
to have funds. If this bill passes,
money will come from those who
perpetuate the puppy mill industry
(pet stores) to regulate their supply
(puppy mills).
To read more on the role of the pet
stores in the chain of the puppy mill
cycle, please go to
www.petshoppuppies.org. This is
an excellent site, with exorbitant
amounts of research put into it.
As always, NEVER buy a puppy
from a pet store. Many people still
think that they are “rescuing” a puppy
by buying it. When someone buys that
puppy, they are perpetuating the whole
puppy factory farming operation! It
always comes down to “supply and
demand”. If you put money in their
pockets, they continue to operate.
Pass this information on to everyone
you know!
Process
Of Passing A Bill:
Bill introduced in House of Origin (in
this situation, it is the House of
Representatives)
Bill referred to House Committee; IF
it receives a hearing there, it will
be voted on
Bill is voted on in the House
Bill goes to the Senate; is referred
to a Senate committee, where the same
process applies
Bill goes to the Senate to be voted on
If there is disagreement with any
amendments, the bill goes to a
Conference Committee (4 member
bipartisan committee). Here, if
agreements are made, it will again be
voted on.
The bill goes to the Governor to sign
or veto.
As you can see, it is a long process
and the bill can be killed at any
stage. We will do our best to keep
you informed of the progress of this
bill and what you can do to help with
it’s passage. This year is a short
session for the legislature.
Hopefully things will move along more
quickly.
One more thing:
I am attaching a copy of the BOAH’s
new commercial breeder regulations.
If you know of any breeders who have
20 females or more, this applies to
them. Take the opportunity to stop at
any of these facilities and ask to see
their kennels. Ask if they have
registered with the state BOAH. Give
them a copy of these regulations or
mail it to any breeders that you know
of. Private citizens need to take an
active role in making these breeders
accountable. If we don’t work to
protect these puppy mill dogs, many
breeding operations will “slip through
the cracks”.
THANK YOU
for your desire to help these dogs who
are living in deplorable, inhumane
conditions. They are often a
forgotten group who have no voice of
their own. Many are outside exposed
to the elements. Many are inside in
cramped cages lying in their own urine
and feces. Many live with constant
pain and suffering. Let’s pull
together to free them from their lives
of imprisonment!
Defend The Dogs
"Committed to eliminating puppy
mills in Indiana through
legislation and education."
www.defendthedogs.com
info@defendthedogs.com
P.O. Box 4256, Carmel, IN 46082
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Note: The following
is an account of a long and frustrating campaign to bring
awareness to conditions inside Indiana Amish puppy mills.
Some images are graphic, and therefore we have opted to
provide hyperlinks within the text of the story. If you
choose to click on those links to view videos, images, or
documents, the link will open in a new page and you can simply
close the new page to return to this story.
Several years ago,
before PetShopPuppies.org was even an organization, Kim
Townsend was contacted by someone who had been inside an
Indiana Amish puppy mill. Throughout the years, Kim had
encountered many people who were unaware that puppy mills were
legal and licensed by the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) and she felt this person was likely just an
uninformed citizen that she would try to educate about the
commercial dog industry.
The friendship that
developed between Kim and Lisa* has lasted for five years,
both learning from each other and sadly realizing how cruelty
and abuse is tolerated in the state of Indiana, and even
seemingly encouraged by local, state, and federal officials,
as well as those within the industry that stood to profit from
that cruelty.
It all began with a dog auction in November 2003, reported to
have been held by an Amish dog farmer named John Graber. The
Washington Times-Herald reported on
the troubles with registering dogs, as well as noting that
County Deputies were escorting people off the property for
taking pictures. The American Kennel Club (AKC) was reported
to have withheld papers on all dogs and puppies at the
auction, and shortly after, both John Graber and auctioneer
Mark Graber were suspended for ten years each by the AKC and fined
$2,000 for refusing an AKC inspection.
There was much
outrage, both before and after the auction. A formal
complaint was filed with USDA (who was present at the
auction), but that complaint was ignored...even disputed, and
Mark Graber, the auctioneer, was only given a written
violation for keeping dogs in
pull-out drawers too small to allow the dogs to move about.
For Lisa, enough was
not being done. She began a courageous and difficult journey
into the underbelly of the Amish puppy mill industry -- a
journey that thus far has failed to produce any justice for
the mangled Shih Tzuu
that inspired her in the years that would follow, or the dogs
still in the possession of John Graber and other Amish dog
farmers in and around Daviess County Indiana. These videos
show just some of the incredible courage Lisa displayed in
exposing the puppy mill problem in Indiana.
With the help of
several organizations, Lisa and Kim exhausted all legal
avenues to get the illegal activity in Indiana stopped. Kim
Townsend was already researching puppies sold at Uncle Bills
Pet Stores and Safari Pets, and saw a disturbing pattern of
unlicensed and seemingly illegal breeders from Daviess County
that were supplying the stores. Lisa confirmed this with her
own investigations. The easiest path seemed to file
complaints with the USDA, since they were charged with
enforcing the federal Animal Welfare Act that required most
breeders selling to pet stores to hold a USDA license. The
first step was to request documents from the USDA through the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in order to determine
whether or not USDA was aware of the problems. USDA's
response indicated they were aware that Uncle Bills was buying
from unlicensed sources. Safari pets, though previously
licensed by USDA, no longer held a license and USDA did not
provide any information on Safari Pets when our request was
filled. (Note: Safari Pets is again licensed and we are in the
process of obtaining inspection reports.)
According to the most
recently released list of those licensed to breed and/or
broker puppies in the U.S., Uncle Bills and Safari Pets has
their choice of over 5,000 entities, with over 100 of those
located in Indiana. Why would they repeatedly buy from illegal
and unlicensed Amish sources? The USDA that regulates the
puppy mill industry in America has "minimum standards" set for
the care of the animals. These standards are so low and
abysmal that virtually every pet shop customer would find them
to be nothing short of cruel and inhumane. Our videos better explain the USDA standards and
take you inside a "Blue Ribbon Kennel" or what you could
expect in the "best of the best" USDA kennel.
An estimated 400,000
puppies a year are sold in American pet stores, and an Uncle
Bill's spokesman claims their chain of stores sells 2500
puppies a year. While PetShopPuppies does encounter
unlicensed breeders from pet stores throughout the country, it
is seldom evident that the breeders do not fall under USDA's
exemption for "hobby breeders" that have three or fewer
breeding females. Breeders that supply Uncle Bills and Safari
Pets have repeatedly been documented to have more than three
breeding females dogs, and therefore are not exempt from USDA
licensing.
Once our FOIA request
for records on Uncle Bills was filled, we confirmed what we
already suspected -- that USDA was aware of the problem of
illegal breeders in Indiana and were seemingly doing nothing
about it. To ignore a problem was one thing we had come to
expect from USDA, but to seemingly aid and abet these
violators of a Federal law was quite another! We'll get to
that shortly.
Next, The Animal
Legal Defense Fund, through staff attorneys, presented all
evidence against John Graber to the local Prosecutor. The
Prosecutor declined to bring criminal charges because he did
not think a jury in Daviess County would convict John Graber
of animal cruelty.
Shortly after the video was submitted to the Prosecutor, USDA
published the usual list of licensed breeders in the U.S. and
one significant change was noted on the lists of over 5,000
breeders and brokers -- nearly all of the Daviess County
licensed Amish dog breeders' addresses were replaced with one
common P.O. box in Bloomfield, IN, a town in a different
county, and over 16 miles from where most of the Amish dog
breeders lived. In addition, the paperwork that
PetShopPuppies was receiving on puppies bred by the unlicensed
Amish farmers was now indicating the same P.O. Box. Remember
that the Amish do not drive cars -- were all of these people
now driving their buggies over thirty miles a day to check
their mail? To Kim and Lisa, the message was clear -- the
Amish did not appreciate our intrusion, and USDA was willing
to help them hide their physical addresses from prying eyes!
In a totally
unrelated chain of events, someone who had responded to an
advertisement placed by John Graber filed a complaint against
him with the Daviess County Sheriff's Office. Through a public
records request, a copy was obtained of the original complaint
and follow up report, as well as copies of photos taken by the
detective. According to the report, John Graber initially
falsely stated that the dogs were owned by his son.
Additionally, he refused to let officers enter the facility.
Eleven days after the initial complaint was filed, according
to the report, John Graber allowed a detective from the
Sheriff's Department and a local veterinarian access to at
least some portion of his facility. Since this did not involve
a search warrant and since eleven days had passed, it is
unknown how much of the facility he permitted them to view, if
he made improvements to his facility and/or removed any of his
dogs. Based on the report by Detective Dougherty and the
veterinarian, the Washington Times-Herald reported that the
charges were unfounded and that Graber's kennel got a "clean
bill of health."
How could this
conclusion have been drawn? Considering the resistance already
encountered related to this issue, it was suspected the
Sheriff's Department was simply part of the "good ol' boy
network" that was protecting John Graber. This suspicion was
further supported when a comparison
was made between detective's photos taken in 2007 and Lisa's
photos taken in 2004. The conditions appeared nearly
identical. We have no doubt the same conditions still exist
today. Even though monthly inspections were agreed upon
between the detective and John Graber, an attorney with The
Animal Legal Defense Fund confirmed with Detective Dougherty
in January 2008 that no subsequent inspections had been done
of John Graber's facility.
Setback after
setback, Kim and Lisa still refused to give up. If legal
methods don't work, there's always the media. By now,
PetShopPuppies was no longer Kim's personal efforts to educate
the public about puppy mills; she formed a 501(c)(3) charity
and PetShopPuppies.org was born. When they began working with
WTHR in Indianapolis they hoped for a resolution. While the
coverage did help to bring public awareness to the problem,
and they did an excellent job of explaining "the puppy
pipeline," it seems that interest faded quickly. They would
not stop there.
Knowing the only
reason suffering would continue at John Graber's farm and the
farms of other Amish breeders was that uninformed people in
the Indianapolis area were continuing to patronize Uncle Bills
and Safari Pets, the major outlet for the Indiana Amish dog
breeders, they began protests
in front of Uncle Bills and Safari Pets, with a tremendous
outpouring of support from the public. They started a mailing
list for those interested in the progress of the fight, as
well as upcoming protests. In addition, they erected their
first billboard in Indianapolis!
They won't stop!
They will never give up until John Graber is closed down; USDA
begins a full investigation into the unlicensed dog breeders
in Indiana that are supplying Uncle Bills and Safari Pets;
USDA begins the administrative process of an injunction
against Uncle Bills to stop him from buying from unlicensed
breeders; and consumers in Indiana are aware of the truth
behind pet shop puppies! While they think that the Daviess
County Prosecutor's and Sheriff's offices acted
unprofessionally, Indiana humane laws are so weak that someone
like John Graber can leave a dog to die of injuries and not be
charged with any crime. Additionally, Indiana has no state
law that governs dog breeders -- even those with hundreds or
thousands of dogs. Indiana humane laws must be changed to
eliminate the neglect and cruelty inherent in puppy mills. |
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FOR
IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
New Nationwide
Investigation of
Petland Reveals
Continued
Support of Puppy
Mills
The Humane
Society of the United
States Releases New
6-Month Study Linking
More Than 95% of Petland
Stores to Puppy Mills
(June 29, 2009) -- The
Humane Society of the United
States has released new
evidence against Petland,
the nation’s largest chain
of pet stores that sells
puppy mill dogs. A six-month
intensive search of public
animal transport records in
multiple states has revealed
that more than 95 percent of
the retail chain’s stores
are supporting puppy mills
by purchasing their dogs
from large-scale dog brokers
and/or directly from puppy
mill operations, including
some of the most notorious
and abusive puppy mills in
the country.
The HSUS traced shipments of
more than 15,000 puppies
from massive commercial
puppy brokers to over 95
percent of Petland stores in
the past few months. Some
Petland stores were even
still buying from puppy
mills that The HSUS named
and exposed as part of its
initial 8-month Petland
investigation last year. Two
Petland stores were
documented buying puppies
from the facility of
convicted puppy mill
operator, Kathy Bauck in New
York Mills, Minn. Bauck was
convicted in March of three
counts of animal torture and
one count of animal cruelty.
“When we first pulled back
the curtain on Petland’s
unethical business practices
, the company denied the
allegations, yet provided no
evidence to refute our
claims,” said Stephanie
Shain, senior director of
The HSUS’ puppy mills
campaign. “We’ve now taken a
second look into Petland’s
procurement practices and
confirmed our original
finding: every Petland store
we looked at is getting the
majority of their dogs from
puppy mills. Petland’s claim
that it gets dogs from
reputable small family
breeders is a sham.”
In March, a class action
lawsuit was filed against
Petland and The Hunte Corp.,
one of the country’s largest
broker distributors of
factory-farmed puppies.
Since the original action
was filed, more than 500
individuals came forward
because they also acquired
sick dogs from Petland. The
lawsuit alleges that Petland
and Hunte conspired to sell
unhealthy puppy mill puppies
to unsuspecting consumers in
numerous states, violating
federal law and numerous
state consumer protection
laws.
Puppy Mill Facts
- Dogs at puppy mills
typically receive little to
no medical care, live in
squalid conditions with no
exercise, socialization or
human interaction,
and are confined inside
cramped wire cages for life.
- Breeding dogs at puppy mills
must endure constant
breeding cycles and are
typically confined for years
on end, without ever
becoming part of a family.
There is little regard for
the dogs’ health or any
existing genetic conditions
that may be passed on to the
puppies.
- Dogs from puppy mills are
sold in pet stores, online
and directly to consumers
with little to no regard for
the dog’s health, genetic
history or future welfare.
Consumers should never buy a
puppy from a pet store or
Internet site; instead visit
an animal shelter or screen
a breeder’s facility in
person.
- The
HSUS supports compassionate
breeders who provide for
their dog’s physical and
mental well-being. Quality
breeders don’t sell puppies
through pet stores or over
the Internet.
- The
HSUS has rescued thousands
of dogs from abusive puppy
mills over the past 18
months.
LINKS
Media Contacts:
The Humane Society of
the United States is the
nation’s largest animal
protection organization
—
backed by 11 million
Americans, or one of every
28. For more than a
half-century, The HSUS
has been fighting for the protection
of all animals through
advocacy, education and
hands-on programs.
Celebrating animals and
confronting cruelty
—
On the web at
humanesociety.org.
The Humane Society of the
United States
2100 L Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
Celebrating Animals,
Confronting Cruelty
|
The following message is from our
champion, Rep. Linda Lawson! What an
incredible woman we have in our
corner! She was unwavering
in representing our desires and got the
puppy mill bill through! Most are not
aware of how truly brutal the battle
was. Our gratitude to you, Linda!!!
We love you!
Defend The Dogs
--- On Fri, 6/19/09, State
Representative Linda Lawson <H1@in.gov>
wrote:
From: State Representative Linda
Lawson <H1@in..gov>
Subject: Thank you from Rep Lawson
Dear friends, the "silent" army, and
those I have never even met:
Well, here we are in a special
session and it is giving me the time
to actually sit down and send all of
you wonderful people that coached
me, guided me, encouraged me and
supported me during this wild and
crazy session a love letter,and I do
love you all.
I will not use any names and I will
not call anyone out specifically for
fear of leaving anyone out, but I
was only the "town crier". You were
the Army, Navy, Air Force, and
Marine Corps...and you kicked
butt!!!
This one will go down in history as
the "Puppy Mill" session. It was
just about all anyone spoke about
during our time in Indianapolis and
after. We made a difference in the
lives of hundreds, if not thousands
of our four-legged friends. I can't
and will never be able to thank all
of you for phone calls, emails,
rallies, letters, time, testimony in
committees, and energy. You have
educated me, consoled me, given
advice, and let me cry when I needed
to.
I want you all on my side whatever
the issue, whatever the fight. Your
passion and fearlessness was
contagious and got me through some
pretty tough times.
We didn't get everything we wanted,
but there were many times I didn't
think we were going to get what we
did. We need to be vigilant, keep
up the fight, and stay committed to
the long-term goals.
Dear friends...never, ever, ever
will I be able to thank you
enough...you are the
everyday-in-the- trenches heroes and
heroines, and I am proud, proud,
proud to serve you!!!
Sincerely,
Linda
Rep. Linda Lawson
200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Toll free: 800-382-9842
Indianapolis Office: 317-232-0243
Hammond Office: 219-937-0820
|
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It’s a done
deal! The Governor has signed HB1468,
making Indiana one of the leading states in
puppy mill legislation! You can read a
summary of the bill below. As you can see,
there are many areas that still need
improvement – you can be sure that the
lawmakers in Indiana haven’t seen the last
of us!!
There are two
very important things you can be doing over
the next few months.
1.
Find
out what your local ordinances are regarding
breeders and take steps to improve on
those. After Dec. of this year, any local
ordinances that are stricter than HB1468
will not be allowed in the area of
breeding. This does not apply to animal
abuse and neglect laws. If you would like
help with this, let us know and we’ll point
you in the right direction.
2.
Educate, educate, educate!!!! People are
still out there buying from puppy mills,
making the business very lucrative. HB1468
will not eliminate puppy mills. The
consumer has the most power to do that!
We’ve all got to urge everyone to STOP
BUYING puppies and teach them how to know if
puppies are from puppy mills. For
brochures on this topic, visit
www.petshoppuppies.org
and
www.stoppuppymills.org.
Points that people in Indiana need to keep
in mind are:
If the breeder
is Amish, it is almost certainly a puppy
mill If the seller is hesitant about
answering questions or about allowing you to
see the adult dogs and all of the
facilities, it is a puppy mill. If you are
uncomfortable about ANYTHING, walk away!
The surefire way to know you are NOT
supporting a puppy mill is to ADOPT!
Again, THANK
YOU so much for all of your efforts and
unwaivering support in getting this bill
passed!
Summary of HB1468
(divided into two sections:
one on puppy mills and one on animal abuse
and neglect)
Commercial Dog Breeder Regulations
(applies to those who have more than 20
unspayed female dogs):
-Will have to pay an annual
registration fee ranging from $75 if they
have fewer than 50 unspayed adult female
dogs to $500 if they have more than 250
female dogs able to be bred. Dog brokers who
sell 500 or more dogs a year must also
register and pay a $1,000 fee. (Previously
we have had no way of knowing how many puppy
mills are out there and where they are.)
-The fees will be used to pay for
inspections and enforcement.
-All commercial dog breeders
must comply with USDA standards (currently
only those who sell wholesale – i.e. to pet
stores – are under USDA regulations. USDA
regulations are very bare bone restrictions,
however it is a start.
-In addition to USDA
regulations, the bill includes these three
requirements:
“A commercial dog
breeder:
*may not house a
dog in a cage containing a wire floor unless
the cage contains an accommodation that
allows the dog to be off the wire floor;
*who houses a dog
in a wire cage shall house the dog in a cage
that is large enough to allow for reasonable
movement by the dog; and
*shall provide
every dog with reasonable opportunity for
exercise at least one time per day.” (The
language in these three stipulations has
been watered down greatly from Rep. Lawson’s
original version. These are just things
that we will need to work on next year. It
may take a year for our lawmakers to realize
that an Amish breeder’s idea of “reasonable”
is very different from the majority of
Hoosiers! However, until then, it is
ultimately up to a judge to decide what is
“reasonable”.
In an unfortunate, yet
unavoidable blow to the locals, after 12/09,
local units (cities, towns) may not adopt
any ordinances regulating puppy mills that
are more stringent than what is in the bill.
For those of you who live in communities
without any ordinances regarding puppy
mills, we would highly encourage you to take
a look at this & try to get something on the
books prior to 12/09. Anything on the
books prior to 12/09 will be grandfathered
in. We can direct you to people who can
help you with this.
Animal Abuse and Neglect Additions:
- Cruelty & neglect
(previously Class B misdemeanors) are now
Class A misdemeanors & become a Class D
felony on the second offense.
- Killing a domestic animal
is a Class D felony (currently nothing)
- a dog fighting contest is a
Class D felony if you have a prior unrelated
conviction
The rest is copied and pasted
directly from the bill. The light print is
what was already on the books. The bold
print is what was added this year.
"Neglect"
means: to:
(A) endanger
endangering an animal's health by
failing to provide or arrange to provide
the animal with food or drink, if the
animal is dependent upon the person for the
provision of food or drink; or
(B) restrain
restraining an animal for more than a
brief period in a manner that endangers
the animal's life or health by the use
of a rope, chain, or tether that:
(i) is less than three (3)
times the length of the animal;
(ii) is too heavy to permit
the animal to move freely; or
(iii) causes the animal to
choke;
(C) restraining an animal in a
manner that seriously endangers the animal's
life or health;
(D) failing to:
(i) provide reasonable care
for; or
(ii) seek veterinary care for;
an injury or illness to a dog or
cat that seriously endangers the life or
health of the dog or cat; or
(E) leaving a dog or cat outside and
exposed to:
(i) excessive heat
without providing the animal with a means of
shade from the heat; or
(ii) excessive cold if the
animal is not provided with straw or another
means of protection from the cold;
regardless of whether the animal
is restrained or kept in a kennel.
To read the
bill in it’s entirety, please go to
http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2009/HE/HE1468.1.html
|
Please go to the Indy Star
to read, register and voice your opinions of this
ridiculous situation.
Many of you have emailed
to thank us for our work
on getting this bill
passed. Those notes
have been greatly
appreciated. However,
we must give credit
where credit is due!
If ever a bill has been
“prayed through” each
step of the way, it has
been HB1468!
Yesterday, when things
were looking very bleak
for the bill, our prayer
was, “God, YOU are the
ONLY ONE who can get
this bill passed.” He
came through with flying
colors! So, first and
foremost, we need to
acknowledge His power!
Secondly, it’s YOU, the
people in Indiana who
care about the helpless
and defenseless, who
have been relentless in
contacting your
legislators and
attending rallies and
writing in to newspapers
and on and on. YOU got
this bill through! YOU
have made a difference!
Because of YOU, changes
will be made to protect
abused and neglected
animals – and in due
time, puppy mills WILL
be shut down!
Our true HERO and
CHAMPION in this is
Representative Linda
Lawson. Hands
down. She never gave
up. In the face of
threats, underhanded
opposition and
injustice, she strongly
held her position and
pushed this bill
through! She is one
strong, courageous
woman! Her
philosophy as a state
legislator is guided by
something said by First
Lady Eleanor Roosevelt:
“It is better to light a
candle than to curse the
darkness”. She just lit
one huge candle
and got burned many
times along the way!
Letters to
her can be emailed to
h1@in.gov
or sent by mail to:
Rep. Linda Lawson
Indiana House of
Representatives
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN
46204-2786
Anne Sterling, of the
HSUS, has also been a
strong force and
backbone in this
process. We have
learned so much from
her. She has taken
tremendous opposition
from many groups all
across the state - and
their accusations have
all been based on lies
and untruths. Send Anne
an email of thanks to
asterling@hsus.org.
There were only 4
legislators who voted
“no” on the final
passage of this bill.
They are Sen.
Jean Leising – R,
Oldenburgh / Sen. Lindel
Hume – D, Princeton /
Sen. Earline Rogers – D,
Gary / and Sen. Richard
Young – D, Milltown. If
these are not
your legislators, please
contact your senator and
representative today to
thank them for voting
for this bill. We have
sent them many requests
– a note of
appreciation will go
a long way in efforts to
improve the bill next
year.
Number for the House:
317-232-9600
Number for the Senate:
317-232-9400
Lastly, you might also
contact the Attorney
General’s Office and
thank them for their
support and efforts to
help get this
legislation through.
Number for the Attorney
General’s Office:
317-232-6201
Again,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
THANK YOU
for all of your hard
work! You are the
champions! This bill is
not perfect, but it is a
very good start. We
need to continue to
bring awareness to the
issue of puppy mills,
but for now, let’s
rejoice in this victory!
Terri Scott and Kim
Evans, co-founders of
Defend The Dogs
|
PUPPY MILLS
ARE IN THE
HOT SEAT!
Two
excellent
articles
came out
today
regarding
puppy mills
that you
might be
interested
in. In the
Indianapolis
Star,
Matthew
Tully gives
an excellent
synopsis of
what is
happening to
the Puppy
Mill bill.
That link is
http://www.indystar.com/article/20090426/NEWS08/904260361/1101/NEWS08
Then, in the
Bedford
paper and
the
Bloomington
paper, Sarah
Hayes wrote
a brilliant
Op-ed on the
puppy mill
situation..
(Bedford is
Sen.
Steele’s
district)
You can read
this at
http://www.tmnews.com/stories/2009/04/26/columns.nw-716531.tms
Both
articles
express
perfectly
the
sentiments
of Defend
The Dogs.
Each has
just a few
comments
that have
been left
(at the time
of this
writing).
It would be
great if
some of you
would add
your
comments.
It never
ceases to
amaze me
that, even
with all the
exposure
that this
bill has
brought to
the puppy
mill
situation,
we have
legislators
who don’t
“get it”.
Leave your
comments for
them to see,
as well as
those who
have been
misled about
the bill.
On a
different
note, there
will be two
nationally
broadcasts
television
shows on
puppy mills
coming
soon.
In addition
to an
episode of
Animal Cops
Philadelphia
called
"Puppy
Mills:
Exposed"
airing
Monday April
27 @ 10
EST/9c,
a Cesar
Millan
Dog
Whisperer
episode
exposes the
scourge of
puppy mills
on May 8 at
9 p.m. EST
on the
National
Geographic
channel.
Ultimately,
this
travesty of
abuse and
injustice to
mill dogs
WILL END due
to public
outcry.
Remember the
words of
Martin
Luther
King's
fervent,
"Our lives
begin to end
the day we
become
silent about
the things
that
matter."
Together,
our powerful
voices will
rise to
conquer this
issue in our
lifetime.
Together we
will save
our friends
from the
hellish
existence in
the more
than 10,000
puppy mills
operating
across the
country.
Please
continue to
remain
strong and
steady in
our goal to
eliminate
them one by
one...until
there are
none.
|
Rep. Lawson’s News
Conference yesterday
was a fantastic
success! You can
view coverage at the
following links:
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=10237022
http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/politics/Dog_lovers_urge_puppy_mill_crack_down_20090423
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/19265171/detail.html
http://www.indystar.com/article/20090424/NEWS0501/904240357
The conference
committee met for a
short time yesterday
afternoon to begin
discussions on
HB1468 and SB238.
We are down to the
wire now. The
committee will meet
again on Monday,
then the agreed upon
legislation will
need to be approved
by both houses and
the governor by
Wednesday, the 29th,
which is the
deadline.
We are so encouraged
by many of you who
are still asking,
“What do we do
now?” Your phone
calls and emails are
desperately needed
at this last hour.
We are asking you to
contact each
legislator involved
with this committee
(members and
advisors) and let
them know that you
are disheartened
that Senator Steele
has changed the bill
so drastically.
Tell them that you
still want to see
Rep. Lawson’s
version of the bill
passed.
Also, very important
- please contact
your Senator and
Representative. Ask
them to urge the
committee members to
support Rep.
Lawson’s version of
HB1468.
You all have been
the fighting force
for these puppy mill
dogs. The fight -
for this year
- will be over in a
few days. Let those
in the statehouse
know that this issue
is of huge
importance to
Hoosiers and it is
not going to go
away! Thank you for
all that you have
done this session.
You are true
FREEDOM FIGHTERS!
Contact Information:
Governor Mitch
Daniels
317-232-4567
mdaniels@gov.in.gov
Conference
Committee:
Representative Linda
Lawson (THANK HER
for her tireless
work on this issue!)
317-232-9600
R1@in.gov
Representative
Jackie Walorski
317-232-9600
R21@in.gov
Senator Brent Steele
317-232-9400
S44@in.gov
Senator Tim Lanane
317-232-9400
S25@in.gov
Advisors:
Senator Teresa
Lubbers
317-232-9400
S30@in.gov
Representative
Wesley Culver
317-232-9600
R49@in.gov
Representative Trent
Van Haaften
317-232-9600
R76@in.gov
To find out who your
Senator and
Representative are
and to get contact
information for
them, please go to
“Who Are Your
Legislators?” at
http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/index.jsp?currentPage=gotoIndex
|
|
|
On Mon, 4/20/09, State
Representative Linda Lawson <H1@in.gov>
wrote:
Please call the following
organizations
and agencies to let them know your feelings
on the following issues:
Indiana Farm Bureau:
Bob Kraft
:
317-692–7776
317-692–7750
317–692–7846
1-800-FARM-BUR (327-6287)
TALKING POINT:
Why did Bob Kraft of the
Indiana Farm Bureau say publicly in his
editorial in the Indpls Star on Sunday,
April 12th that Indiana Farm Bureau does not
condone the mistreatment of any animal of
any sort at any time, and yet, the Farm
Bureau continues to fight this legislation
behind the scenes? If they were worried
about the mistreatment of dogs, they
wouldn't hinge their argument against puppy
legislation on the single word "reasonable."
(See
http://www.indystar.com/article/20090412/OPINION01/904120329/1031
for the complete editorial). Mr. Kraft's
argument is a weak one, at best.
Indiana Department
of Agriculture:
Anne
Hazlett / Elisha Modisett
317.232.8770
Lt. Governor Becky
Skillman is also the Secretary of
Agriculture and as such is a staff member of
the Indiana Department of Agriculture. Her
email address is:
bskillman@lg.in.gov
You can also email the Ag
Department Director, Anne Hazlett at
ahazlett@isda.in.gov.
TALKING POINTS:
·
State
agencies are supposed to be neutral
on legislation that does not affect
them.
·
Why is the
Dept of Ag asking Farm Bureau to
lobby against the bill?
·
Stop
supporting puppy mills and animal
cruelty
This bill does
not even affect the IN Dept. of
Agriculture, so why are they
involved?
It is VERY unusual for a
state agency to get involved with
legislation and we don’t appreciate our tax
dollars supporting those who oppose these
bills.
Governor Mitch
Daniels’ Office:
317-232-4567
·
Very
disappointed with the way they have
handled this whole issue
·
Unhappy
that the Governor’s Office supports
animal cruelty & puppy mills
·
YOU WANT
TO SEE HB 1468 and SB 238 PASS
THROUGH CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AS THEY
PASSED THE HOUSE
·
We NEED a
CAP on the total number of dogs
breeders can own.
The mason-dixon poll
showed that 83% of IN voters support puppy
mill legislation – We are in the majority
and we expect the Governor’s office to
support HB 1468 and SB 238 as they passed
the House. If you voted for Governor
Daniels, tell him that. Tell him we expect
him to support residents of the state of
Indiana and not the Republicans who are
opposed to these bills.
Of course, they're going
make excuses and/or assure you that they are
in support. Be persistent in your above
messages and do not allow them to distract
you with any excuses! Just get your message
across & that’s all.
Here are some more
talking points if they try to engage in
debate:
1) HSUS - this is not
about HSUS - this is about puppy mills. The
Farm Bureau and others are trying to shift
the focus to the HSUS b/c they know they
can't defend puppy mills. Do not let them
take the focus off of puppy mills & animal
cruelty! We, as Indiana voters support puppy
mill and anti-cruelty legislation
3) the mason-dixon poll
showed that 83% of IN voters support puppy
mill legislation -
that puts HSUS & all of us on the side of
mainstream IN & the Farm Bureau is in the
extreme minority!
Please get your family,
friends and co-workers to call as well.
We’ve come so far, we cannot lose this
battle now. We KNOW we are on the side of
right and just.
From: State Representative Linda Lawson
<H1@in.gov>
Subject: HB 1468 needs your help
To:
defendthedogs@yahoo.com
Date: Monday, April 20, 2009, 6:26 PM
Dear Friends,
I cannot thank you enough for supporting
House Bill 1468, the animal cruelty
and puppy mill bill. Your help and
support have been crucial in this
process.
I could not have gotten this far without
you.
For all of you who love your animals and
care about the treatment of dogs and
cats in Indiana, I ask for your
assistance in this final stretch. I
cannot do
this alone and we have very little time
to accomplish our goals.
On April 16, I set up a meeting with
Governor Daniels' staff to discuss
House Bill 1468. It was quickly
apparent that the opposition is strong
and
determined to kill the bill. The amended
Senate language has removed the
necessary tools to protect dogs in
Indiana.
Less than a week remains to save this
legislation and those dogs who need our
protection. We need you, your friends,
your family, and everyone you know to
contact the individuals listed below.
Please tell them, "Support the HB
1468 version as it passed out of the
House."
Governor Mitch Daniels
200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-4567
mdaniels@gov.in.gov
Senator Brent Steele
317-232-9400
S44@in.gov
Senator Teresa Lubbers
317-232-9400
S30@in.gov
Senator Joe Zakas
317-232-9400
S11@in.gov
Senator Jim Merritt
317-232-9400
S31@in.gov
Senator Tim Lanane
317-232-9400
S25@in.gov
We also need your attendance at
a public news conference at noon at the
Statehouse (eastside - Capital St.) on
Thursday, April 23. The purpose
will be
to update the media about the status of
the bill in conference committee and
send a message to the governor and
legislators that this is an issue of
critical
concern to the citizens of Indiana.
I sincerely appreciate your support.
Together we can succeed.
Sincerely,
Rep. Linda Lawson
1-317-232-0243
1-800-382-9842
|
FYI -
Just wanted to
let you all know
about a Petland
rally that is
coming up in
May:
The HSUS's
eight-month
investigation
revealed that
many
Petland stores
across the
country are
marketing
puppy mill
puppies to
unsuspecting
consumers. For
more than four
decades, The
Humane Society
of the United
States
has been working
to stop
puppy mills.
Puppy mills are
large scale
operations that
force “breeder
dogs” to produce
litter after
litter to
support consumer
demand for
purebred pets.
For years, these
dogs are
continually
bred—without
human
companionship or
hope of ever
becoming part of
a family.
A nationwide
demonstration is
taking place at
Petland stores
on Saturday, May
9 (this is a
peaceful
demonstration) .
The rally at the
Carmel Indiana
Petland is from
10am to 12pm.
(Signs & flyers
will be
provided). If
you are
interested in
attending the
Carmel Indiana
rally please
contact Fonda at
fpoland@yahoo.com
(so she can get
a head count).
Please forward
this on to
anyone you think
might be
interested in
attending...the
more the better.
May 9th was
chosen because
the mothers of
these puppies
aren't going to
have a good
Mother's Day.
You can go to
the following
link to find out
if there is a
Petland
demonstration
near you:
|
|
PLEASE BE A VOICE FOR THE
VOICELESS PUPPY MILL DOGS,
LIKE OUR OWN KACIE, BONNIE &
HER PUPS, LOUIE & JACKSON
(feel free to use any of
these pictures below for this
event). THEY ALL CAME FROM A
PUPPY MILL THAT HAD 200
OTHER DOGS just 6 wks ago!
BONNIE STILL HAS TO BE
TREATED FOR HER HEARTWORMS.
SHE ALSO HAD HOOKWORMS AND
WHIPWORMS. SHE WAS VERY
THIN AND IN BAD SHAPE (see
her scars).
 
 
--- On Mon, 4/20/09,
State Representative Linda
Lawson <H1@in.gov>
wrote:
From: State Representative
Linda Lawson <H1@in.gov>
Subject: HB 1468 needs your
help
To:
defendthedogs@yahoo.com
Date: Monday, April 20,
2009, 6:26 PM
Dear Friends,
I cannot thank you enough
for supporting House Bill
1468, the animal cruelty
and puppy mill bill. Your
help and support have been
crucial in this process.
I could not have gotten this
far without you.
For all of you who love your
animals and care about the
treatment of dogs and
cats in Indiana, I ask for
your assistance in this
final stretch. I cannot do
this alone and we have very
little time to accomplish
our goals.
On April 16, I set up a
meeting with Governor
Daniels' staff to discuss
House Bill 1468. It was
quickly apparent that the
opposition is strong and
determined to kill the bill.
The amended Senate language
has removed the
necessary tools to protect
dogs in Indiana.
Less than a week remains to
save this legislation and
those dogs who need our
protection. We need you,
your friends, your family,
and everyone you know to
contact the individuals
listed below. Please tell
them, "Support the HB
1468 version as it passed
out of the House."
Governor Mitch Daniels
200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-4567
mdaniels@gov.in.gov
Senator Brent Steele
317-232-9400
S44@in.gov
Senator Teresa Lubbers
317-232-9400
S30@in.gov
Senator Joe Zakas
317-232-9400
S11@in.gov
Senator Jim Merritt
317-232-9400
S31@in.gov
Senator Tim Lanane
317-232-9400
S25@in.gov
I sincerely appreciate your
support. Together we can
succeed.
Sincerely,
Rep. Linda Lawson
1-317-232-0243
1-800-382-9842
|
|
OUR PUPPIES FROM OUR PUPPY MILL DOG
**UPDATE 4/20/09**
|
Some pictures of
Bonnie's (we pulled from a puppy mill) babies.....we have
2 BEAUTIFUL little black
boys left. 5 wks old and so cute...we only have 1 choco left
with a little white on his chest.
 
**UPDATE 3/20/09**
Please send special
prayers and good thoughts to Bonnie, we just found out
that she is Heartworm positive, needs a couple of
teeth pulled and the vet doesn't think she's even 2 yet!
She must have been crated 24/7, as that is why her teeth
need pulled, she tried to chew through the wires over
and over and over thus permanently damaging 3 or 4 of
her teeth.
Bonnie's adoption will
be several months away now. She will also
need a new foster home, soon, too. DAMNED puppy
millers! Bonnie is really a wonderful dog, but
will cost us lots of $$ when all she needed was a
Heartworm preventative each month (less than $10.00)......
yet another sign of the infamous puppy mill dogs, the
millers just do NOT care.... they could care less
about the parent dogs, they just want to sell their
puppies! This shows how truly disposable even their breeding
dogs are, it cost less to just breed more Mommas,
than to give them a simple HW preventative....
UPDATE
3/17/09**
Bonnie Sue is being a
wonderful Momma to the new pups. She'll be ready
for adoption in about 6 weeks, so please consider her
also. Here is a recent picture of the poor thing
(she is truly a beautiful English Lab, stockier,
blockier head, shorter snout.....she will be beautiful
when we get her completely healthy and she is already
eating PREMIUM dog food.
Bonnie is a purebred
Labrador without papers, she is a former puppy
mill dog. She is also a dark chocolate lab and
has the sweetest and most loving personality. The
black spot on her tongue is called (ask your vet) a 'birth
mark', she has NO CHOW in her...... or the puppy
mill wouldn't have used her over and over. She
probably has AKC papers somewhere, but that is the last
thing we worry about.
**UPDATE 3/8/09**
OUR DOGS FROM THE PUPPY MILL BUST IN S. INDIANA
PLEASE HELP US
We have taken in some puppy mill
Labs (2 are pregnant) on the 8th of March. We
DESPERATELY need Fosters & DONATIONS to get these
dogs spayed or neutered & vet checked ASAP.
JUST IMAGINE HOW
MANY HUNDREDS OF PUPPIES that WILL
NOT
BE BORN like below!!!
"The day
the state police (about 10 cars) went in, there were Lab puppies in a dirt hole that were only a
few hours old. their mother was
covering them by laying
over them to protect them from the male that
was put in the pen so that the Momma Lab could be bred back as soon as
possible." per the ACO that
accompanied the 10 state police that did the
'raid'.
**UPDATE 3/9/09**
We barely got
1 of the pregnant girl Labs settled in her
foster home from that horrid puppy mill, when she started 'nesting' quiet
seriously. Our Foster Coordinator
thought this dog would deliver her pups
within 24 hours and she was right on!
These babies were probably this Momma's
only litter NOT born in a
dirt hole!
This is a very lucky puppy mill litter that
was born in a loving, WARM, SAFE home, with
a wonderful doggy Momma that doesn't have to
fight the male dogs over the puppies safety
(not to mention also having a loving Foster Mom,
too)! We have 7 puppies, 4 are
Bittersweet Chocolate (just like Bonnie, the
Momma) and 3 are Light Chocolate, all males except
1 of the dark pups.
The 3 lighter chocos & 1
dark have
been spoken for. I think a couple more
may be the 'Bitter Sweet Choco' (A very
deep dark Chocolate) like Bonnie, the
Mother.
This is the entire purpose of puppy mills,
keeping all dogs impregnated as much as
possible to turn these poor puppies into a 'cash crop' or a commodity.
UNLIKE in the puppy mills, these puppies will
be up-to-date on shots, dewormed and
neutered/spayed before going to their
heavily screened forever home!! These are
the LUCKY puppy mill puppies.
Thank you
so much Mandy & Karen, Kathy, Mary Ann, Jill
& Mark, Donna & family, Tanya & husband,
Steve & Peggy, Tom and family, Sharon &
Baxter, Kris & family, Lawson Flooring, Tami
B., Holly and Carly W., Russ C., Carole R. and all of our wonderful, caring Love of Lab's'
volunteers.
Due the
actions of the below agencies/organization,
we are in serious danger of losing our
battle to get puppy mill and animal cruelty
legislation passed this year. We REALLY need
your immediate help to get these bills back
on the right track. The puppy mill bill was
drastically weakened by Senator Steele when
it was in his committee. We need to let
Senator Steele's office and the following
organizations know that this is not
acceptable to Indiana voters. (There are
more talking points below)
Please call the following
organizations
and agencies to let them know your feelings
on the following issues:
Indiana Farm Bureau:
Bob Kraft
:
317-692–7776
317-692–7750
317–692–7846
1-800-FARM-BUR (327-6287)
TALKING POINT:
Why did Bob Kraft of the
Indiana Farm Bureau say publicly in his
editorial in the Indpls Star on Sunday,
April 12th that Indiana Farm Bureau does not
condone the mistreatment of any animal of
any sort at any time, and yet, the Farm
Bureau continues to fight this legislation
behind the scenes? If they were worried
about the mistreatment of dogs, they
wouldn't hinge their argument against puppy
legislation on the single word "reasonable."
(See
http://www.indystar.com/article/20090412/OPINION01/904120329/1031
for the complete editorial). Mr. Kraft's
argument is a weak one, at best.
Indiana Department
of Agriculture:
Anne
Hazlett / Elisha Modisett
317.232.8770
Lt. Governor Becky
Skillman is also the Secretary of
Agriculture and as such is a staff member of
the Indiana Department of Agriculture. Her
email address is:
bskillman@lg.in.gov
You can also email the Ag
Department Director, Anne Hazlett at
ahazlett@isda.in.gov.
TALKING POINTS:
·
State
agencies are supposed to be neutral
on legislation that does not affect
them.
·
Why is the
Dept of Ag asking Farm Bureau to
lobby against the bill?
·
Stop
supporting puppy mills and animal
cruelty
This bill does
not even affect the IN Dept. of
Agriculture, so why are they
involved?
It is VERY unusual for a
state agency to get involved with
legislation and we don’t appreciate our tax
dollars supporting those who oppose these
bills.
Governor Mitch
Daniels’ Office:
317-232-4567
·
Very
disappointed with the way they have
handled this whole issue
·
Unhappy
that the Governor’s Office supports
animal cruelty & puppy mills
·
YOU WANT
TO SEE HB 1468 and SB 238 PASS
THROUGH CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AS THEY
PASSED THE HOUSE
·
We NEED a
CAP on the total number of dogs
breeders can own.
The mason-dixon poll
showed that 83% of IN voters support puppy
mill legislation – We are in the majority
and we expect the Governor’s office to
support HB 1468 and SB 238 as they passed
the House. If you voted for Governor
Daniels, tell him that. Tell him we expect
him to support residents of the state of
Indiana and not the Republicans who are
opposed to these bills.
Of course, they're going
make excuses and/or assure you that they are
in support. Be persistent in your above
messages and do not allow them to distract
you with any excuses! Just get your message
across & that’s all.
Here are some more
talking points if they try to engage in
debate:
1) HSUS - this is not
about HSUS - this is about puppy mills. The
Farm Bureau and others are trying to shift
the focus to the HSUS b/c they know they
can't defend puppy mills. Do not let them
take the focus off of puppy mills & animal
cruelty! We, as Indiana voters support puppy
mill and anti-cruelty legislation
3) the mason-dixon poll
showed that 83% of IN voters support puppy
mill legislation -
that puts HSUS & all of us on the side of
mainstream IN & the Farm Bureau is in the
extreme minority!
Please get your family,
friends and co-workers to call as well.
We’ve come so far, we cannot lose this
battle now. We KNOW we are on the side of
right and just.
|
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil
is for good men to do nothing."
~
Edmund Burke
|
FYI -
Just wanted to let you all know about a
Petland rally that is coming up in May:
The HSUS's eight-month investigation
revealed that many
Petland stores across the
country are marketing
puppy mill puppies to
unsuspecting consumers. For more than
four decades, The
Humane Society of the United States
has been working to stop
puppy mills. Puppy mills
are large scale operations that force
“breeder dogs” to produce litter after
litter to support consumer demand for
purebred pets. For years, these dogs are
continually bred—without human
companionship or hope of ever becoming
part of a family.
A nationwide demonstration is taking
place at Petland stores on Saturday, May
9 (this is a peaceful demonstration) .
The rally at the Carmel Indiana Petland
is from 10am to 12pm. (Signs & flyers
will be provided). If you are interested
in attending the Carmel Indiana rally
please contact Fonda at
fpoland@yahoo.com (so she can
get a head count). Please forward this
on to anyone you think might be
interested in attending...the more the
better.
May 9th was chosen because the mothers
of these puppies aren't going to have a
good
Mother's Day.
You can go to the following link to find
out if there is a Petland demonstration
near you:
Kim Hale
To Err Is Human, To Forgive....Canine
"Saving
one animal won't change the world, but
will surely change the world for that
one animal."
|
PLEASE DON'T BREED OR BUY, WHILE SHELTER ANIMALS STILL
DIE!
|
We received this in the email, and felt we
should share it with the public. This is a
daily reality, not something to make
you sad or angry, it's about REAL animals
EVERY DAY!
I
looked at the caged animals in the
shelter...the cast-offs of human society. I
saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and
dread, sadness and betrayal. And I was
angry.
"God,"
I said, "this is terrible! Why don't
You do
something?"
God was silent for a moment, and
then He
spoke softly. "I
have done something,"
He
replied, "I
created
you."
~Jim Willis 1999
A
Letter from a Shelter Manager:
I think our society needs a huge "
Wake-up" call.
As a shelter manager, I am going to
share a little insight with you all. ..a
view from the inside if you will.
First off, all of you breeders/sellers
should be made to work in the "back" of
an animal shelter for just one day.
Maybe if you saw the life drain from a
few sad, lost, confused eyes, you
would change your mind about
breeding and selling to people you don't
even
know. That puppy you just sold
will most likely end up in my shelter
when
it's not a cute little puppy
anymore.
So how would you feel if you knew that
there's about a 90% chance that
dog will never walk out of the
shelter it is going to be dumped at?
Purebred or not! About 50% of all
of the dogs that are "owner surrenders"
or "strays" that come into my
shelter are purebred dogs.
The most common excuses I hear are;
"We are moving and we can't take our dog
(or cat)." Really? Where are you moving
to that doesn't allow pets and WHY did
you
choose that place instead of a
pet friendly home?
Or they say "The dog got bigger than we
thought it would".
How big did you think a German
Shepherd would get?
"We don't have time for her".
Really? I work a 10- 12 hour day
and still have time for my 6 dogs!
"She' s tearing up our yard".
How about making her a part of
your family INSIDE?
They always tell me: "We just don't want
to have to stress about finding a
place for her we know she'll get
adopted, she's a good dog."
Odds are your pet won't get adopted &
how stressful do you think being in
a shelter is? Well, let me tell
you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new
family from the moment you drop
it off. Sometimes a little longer if the
shelter isn't full and your dog
manages to stay completely healthy. If
it
sniffles, it dies.
Your pet will be confined to a small
run/kennel in a room with about 25
other barking or crying animals.
It will have to relieve itself where it
eats and sleeps.
It will be depressed and it will cry
constantly for the family that
abandoned it.
If your pet is lucky, I will have enough
volunteers in that day to take
him/her for a walk. If I don't,
your pet won't get any attention besides
having a bowl of food slid under
the kennel door and the waste sprayed
out
of its pen with a high-powered
hose.
If your dog is big, black or any of the
"Bully" breeds (pit bull, RETRIEVER,
mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead
when you walked it through the
front door. Those dogs just don't
get adopted.
It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well
behaved' they are.
If your dog doesn't get adopted
within its 72 hours and the shelter is
full, it will be destroyed.
If the shelter isn't full and your dog
is good enough, and of a desirable
enough breed it may get a stay of
execution, but not for long.
Most dogs get very kennel protective
after about a week and are destroyed
for showing aggression. Even the
sweetest dogs will turn in this
environment.
If your pet makes it over all of those
hurdles chances are it will get
kennel cough or an upper
respiratory infection and will be
destroyed
because shelters just don't have
the funds to pay for even a $100
treatment.
Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those
of you that have never witnessed
a perfectly healthy, scared
animal being "put-down"....
First, your pet will be taken from its
kennel on a leash.
They always look like they think
they are going for a walk
-
happy, wagging
their tails.
Until, they
get to "The Room", every one of them
freak out and put the
brakes on when we get to the
door. It must smell like death or they
can
feel the sad souls that are left
in there, it's strange, but it happens
with every one of them.
Your dog or cat will be restrained, held
down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending
on the size and how freaked out
they are.
Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will
start the process.
They will find a vein in the
front leg and inject a
lethal dose of the "pink stuff".
Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from
being restrained and jerk.
I've seen the needles tear out of
a leg and been covered with the
resulting blood and been deafened
by the yelps and screams.
They all don't just "go to sleep",
sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp
for air and defecate on
themselves.
When it all ends, your pet's
corpse will be stacked
like firewood in a large freezer
in the back with all of the other
animals
that were killed waiting to be
picked up like garbage.
What happens next?
Cremated? Taken to the dump?
Rendered into pet food? You'll never
know and
it probably won't even cross your
mind.
It was just an animal and you can
always buy another one, right?
I hope
that those of you that have read
this are bawling your eyes out and can't
get the pictures out of your head
I deal with everyday on the way home
from work.
I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I
hate
that it will always be there
unless you people make some changes and
realize that the lives you are
affecting go much further than the pets
you
dump at a shelter.
Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die
every year in shelters and only
you can stop it. I do my best to
save every life I can but rescues are
always full, and there are more
animals coming in everyday than there
are
homes.
My point to all of this: DON'T BREED OR
BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!
Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts
and reality is what it is.
I just hope I maybe changed one person's
mind about breeding their dog,
taking their loving pet to a
shelter, or buying a dog.
I hope that someone will walk into my
shelter and say "I saw this and it
made me want to adopt." THAT
WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT!
PLEASE FORWARD, CROSS POST, CIRCULATE TO
YOUR CONTACTS!!!!
Education people, EDUCATION!!
Let's pray that 2009 spares more lives
than the 11 million killed this year...
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil
is for good men to do nothing."
~
Edmund Burke
|
"All
that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for
good men to do nothing."
~
Edmund Burke
If not you, then who?
If not now, then when?
| |
The Crisis of Pet Overpopulation
|
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Every day in the United States, thousands upon thousands of puppies and kittens are born because of the uncontrolled breeding of pets. Add to that number the offspring of stray and abandoned companion animals, and the total becomes even more staggering. Every year, between six and eight million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters; some three to four million of these animals are euthanized because there are not enough homes for them.
Too many companion animals competing for too few good homes is the most obvious consequence of uncontrolled breeding. However, there are other equally tragic problems that result from pet overpopulation: the transformation of some animal shelters into "warehouses," the acceptance of cruelty to animals as a way of life in our society, and the stress that caring shelter workers suffer when they are forced to euthanize one animal after another. Living creatures have become throwaway items to be cuddled when cute and abandoned when inconvenient. Such disregard for animal life pervades and erodes our culture.
Abandoned and stray companion animals who survive in the streets and alleys of cities and suburbs pose a health threat to humans and other animals. Homeless companion animals get into trash containers, defecate in public areas or on private lawns, and anger citizens who have no understanding of their misery or their needs. Some of these animals scare away or prey upon wildlife—such as birds—or frighten small children.
The public health epidemic of dog bites—which number more than 4.5 million each year—is due in part to uncontrolled breeding of pets. Bites by so-called dangerous dogs have drawn an enormous amount of media attention, and fatalities caused by dangerous dogs are a serious concern. Often, the vicious tendencies found in some dog breeds can be attributed to irresponsible breeding without regard for temperament. Neutering can help reduce this aggressive behavior.
Clearly, pet overpopulation is not just a problem for the animals or for the shelters involved. Each year communities are forced to spend millions of taxpayer dollars trying to cope with the consequences of this surplus of pets. These public costs include services such as investigating animal cruelty, humanely capturing stray animals, and sheltering lost and homeless animals
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"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil
is for good men to do nothing."
~
Edmund Burke
MORE PUPPY MILL
INFORMATION
|
Today
HB1468
passed
the
Senate
and
SB238
passed
the
House.
Both
bills
will now
go to
conference
committees,
where
additional
changes
can be
made.
Below
are
links to
recent
newspaper
articles.
Most of
Indiana's
large
city
newspapers seem
to
be behind
puppy
mill
legislation.
This
is just
the
beginning
of an
awakening
to
Indiana's
residents
that
this is
serious
- and
the
issue is
not
going to
go
away.
The
more
people
that are
becoming
educated
about
the
puppy
mill
problem,
the more
outrage
there
is. Use
this
opportunity!
Get this
information
out
there as
much as
you can!
From the
Ft.
Wayne
Journal
Gazette
-
From the
South
Bend
Tribune
-
Editorial
from
Indianapolis
Star,
two days
after
their
cover
story on
Sunday -
(MORE
PUPPY
MILL
NEWS on
WEDNESDAY,
APRIL
8th FROM
BILL
RUTHHART,
THE
JOURNALIST
THAT
WROTE
SUNDAY'S
ARTICLE)
|
|
|
"Kim Evans" <defendthedogs@yahoo.com>
|
|
Today HB1468 passed the
Senate and SB238 passed the
House. Both bills will now
go to conference committees,
where additional changes can
be made.
Below are links to recent
newspaper articles. Most of
Indiana's large city
newspapers seem to be behind
puppy mill legislation.
This is just the beginning
of an awakening to Indiana's
residents that this is
serious - and the issue is
not going to go away. The
more people that are
becoming educated about the
puppy mill problem, the more
outrage there is. Use this
opportunity! Get this
information out there as
much as you can!
From the Ft. Wayne Journal
Gazette -
From the South Bend Tribune
-
Editorial from Indianapolis
Star, two days after their
cover story on Sunday -
|
INDIANA'S ATTEMPT TO HELP
THE PUPPY MILL DOGS (BILL BELOW)
DIGEST OF HB 1468
(Updated March 31, 2009 1:33 pm - DI
106)
Animal cruelty and commercial dog breeders.
Authorizes the board of animal health to
establish a registry of commercial dog
brokers and commercial dog breeders in
Indiana. Exempts animal shelters, humane
societies, certain animal rescue operations,
hobby breeders, people who breed hunting
dogs for sport, and people who breed dogs
for use by police or the military from the
requirements imposed on commercial dog
breeders.
Defines "hobby
breeder" as a person who maintains 20 or
fewer unaltered female dogs at least 12
months of age, and defines "commercial dog
breeder" as a person who maintains more than
20 unaltered female dogs at least 12 months
of age. Specifies that a
"commercial dog broker" as a person who is
licensed under federal law and sells at
least 500 dogs in a calendar year. Requires
commercial breeders and brokers to register
with the board of animal health, and
specifies that failure to register is a
Class A misdemeanor. Provides that a
commercial dog breeder must register
annually with the board and pay a fee based
on the number of unaltered female dogs the
breeder owns. Specifies that a person who
fails to register is liable for double
unpaid fees, which the attorney general may
collect. Requires a commercial dog broker to
register and pay a $1,000 annual fee.
Provides that a breeder or broker who
knowingly or intentionally makes a material
misstatement in registering commits a Class
A misdemeanor. Requires a commercial breeder
to comply with the standards of care
established by the United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA). Requires a commercial
breeder to provide a consumer with certain
veterinary records, and to keep its own
records for at least five years. Prohibits a
unit from adopting more stringent
requirements concerning commercial dog
breeders. Authorizes the board of animal
health to enforce the USDA standards when
sufficient fees have been deposited in the
breeder and broker fund to permit
enforcement, and grants the board of animal
health the authority to enforce the
commercial breeder provisions by seeking
injunctive relief or a civil penalty of $500
for a knowing violation, $1,000 for an
intentional violation, and $5,000 for the
knowing or intentional violation of an
injunction. Permits the board to seek an
injunction to prohibit a commercial dog
breeder from registering for not more than 3
years. Amends the definition of "neglect" in
the animal cruelty law to include: (1)
restraining an animal by a rope or tether in
a manner that endangers the animal's life or
health, or that physically harms the animal;
or (2) failing to provide reasonable care
for a dog's injury or illness if the injury
or illness seriously endangers the life or
health of the dog. Exempts from animal
cruelty laws the destruction of an animal by
an animal control program, or destruction of
an injured or ill animal by an individual to
prevent the animal from prolonged suffering.
Increases the penalty for a second or
subsequent offense of animal neglect to a
Class A misdemeanor. |
Current Status:
| |
Out of Committee 2nd House |
|
ENGROSSED
HOUSE BILL No. 1468
_____
DIGEST OF HB 1468
(Updated March 31, 2009 1:33 pm - DI 106)
Citations Affected: IC 4-6; IC 15-17; IC 15-21;
IC 25-38.1; IC 35-46; noncode.
Synopsis: Animal cruelty and commercial dog breeders. Authorizes
the board of animal health to establish a registry of commercial dog
brokers and commercial dog breeders in Indiana. Exempts animal
shelters, humane societies, certain animal rescue operations, hobby
breeders, people who breed hunting dogs for sport, and people who
breed dogs for use by police or the military from the requirements
imposed on commercial dog breeders. Defines "hobby breeder" as a
person who maintains 20 or fewer unaltered female dogs at least 12
months of age, and defines "commercial dog breeder" as a person who
maintains more than 20 unaltered female dogs at least 12 months of
age. Specifies that a "commercial dog broker" as a person who is
licensed under federal law and sells at least 500 dogs in a calendar
year. Requires commercial breeders and brokers to register with the
board of animal health, and specifies that failure to register is a
Class A misdemeanor. Provides that a commercial dog breeder must
register annually with the board and pay a fee based on the number
of unaltered
(Continued next page)
Effective: July 1, 2009.
Lawson L, Van Haaften, Walorski,
Torr
(SENATE SPONSORS _ LUBBERS, ZAKAS, SIMPSON, LANANE)
January 14, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee
on Courts and Criminal Code.
February 12, 2009, amended, reported _ Do Pass.
February 17, 2009, read second time, amended, ordered
engrossed.
February 18, 2009, engrossed.
February 19, 2009, read third time, passed. Yeas 81, nays
14.
SENATE ACTION
February 23, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee
on Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters.
April 2, 2009, amended, reported favorably _ Do Pass.
Digest Continued
female dogs the breeder owns. Specifies that a person
who fails to register is liable for double unpaid fees, which
the attorney general may collect. Requires a commercial dog
broker to register and pay a $1,000 annual fee. Provides that a
breeder or broker who knowingly or intentionally makes a
material misstatement in registering commits a Class A
misdemeanor. Requires a commercial breeder to comply with the
standards of care established by the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA). Requires a commercial breeder to provide a
consumer with certain veterinary records, and to keep its own
records for at least five years. Prohibits a unit from adopting
more stringent requirements concerning commercial dog breeders.
Authorizes the board of animal health to enforce the USDA
standards when sufficient fees have been deposited in the
breeder and broker fund to permit enforcement, and grants the
board of animal health the authority to enforce the commercial
breeder provisions by seeking injunctive relief or a civil
penalty of $500 for a knowing violation, $1,000 for an
intentional violation, and $5,000 for the knowing or intentional
violation of an injunction. Permits the board to seek an
injunction to prohibit a commercial dog breeder from registering
for not more than 3 years. Amends the definition of "neglect" in
the animal cruelty law to include: (1) restraining an animal by
a rope or tether in a manner that endangers the animal's life or
health, or that physically harms the animal; or (2) failing to
provide reasonable care for a dog's injury or illness if the
injury or illness seriously endangers the life or health of the
dog. Exempts from animal cruelty laws the destruction of an
animal by an animal control program, or destruction of an
injured or ill animal by an individual to prevent the animal
from prolonged suffering. Increases the penalty for a second or
subsequent offense of animal neglect to a Class A misdemeanor.
April 3, 2009
First Regular Session 116th General Assembly (2009)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a
section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text
of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions
will appear in this style
type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted
(or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new
provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word
NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory
clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana
Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type
or this style type
reconciles conflicts between statutes enacted by the 2008
Regular Session of the General Assembly.
ENGROSSED
HOUSE BILL No. 1468
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
animals and to make an appropriation.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of
Indiana:
SOURCE: IC 4-6-3-2; (09)EH1468.1.1. --> SECTION 1.
IC 4-6-3-2, AS AMENDED BY P.L.222-2005, SECTION 15, IS AMENDED
TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2009]: Sec. 2. (a) The
attorney general shall have charge of and direct the prosecution
of all civil actions that are brought in the name of the state
of Indiana or any state agency.
(b) In no instance under this section shall the state or a
state agency be required to file a bond.
(c) This section does not affect the authority of
prosecuting attorneys to prosecute civil actions.
(d) This section does not affect the authority of the
inspector general to prosecute a civil action under IC 4-2-7-6
for the recovery of funds misappropriated, diverted, missing, or
unlawfully gained.
(e) The attorney general may bring an action to collect
unpaid registration fees owed by a commercial dog broker or a
commercial dog breeder under IC 15-21.
SOURCE: IC 15-17-3-13; (09)EH1468.1.2. --> SECTION 2.
IC 15-17-3-13, AS ADDED BY P.L.2-2008, SECTION 8, IS AMENDED TO
READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2009]: Sec. 13. In addition to the powers and duties
given the board in this article and by law, the board has the
powers and duties reasonable and necessary to do the following:
(1) Provide for the quarantine of animals and objects to
prevent, control, and eradicate diseases and pests of animals.
(2) Develop, adopt, and implement programs and
procedures for establishing and maintaining accredited,
certified, validated, or designated disease or pest free or
disease or pest monitored animals, herds, flocks, or areas,
including the following:
(A) The establishment and maintenance of herds that
are monitored for disease or pest syndromes.
(B) The establishment and maintenance of certified
or validated brucellosis free herds, animals, and areas.
(C) The establishment and maintenance of accredited
tuberculosis free herds, animals, and areas.
(3) Develop, adopt, and implement programs and plans for
the prevention, detection, control, and eradication of diseases
and pests of animals.
(4) Control or prohibit, by permit or other means, the
movement and transportation into, out of, or within Indiana of
animals and objects in order to prevent, detect, control, or
eradicate diseases and pests of animals. When implementing
controls or prohibitions the board may consider whether animals
or objects are diseased, suspected to be diseased, or under
quarantine, or whether the animals or objects originated from a
country, a state, an area, or a premises that is known or
suspected to harbor animals or objects infected with or exposed
to a disease or pest of animals.
(5) Control or prohibit the public and private sale of
animals and objects in order to prevent the spread of disease
and pests of animals.
(6) Control the use, sanitation, and disinfection of:
(A) public stockyards; and
(B) vehicles used to transport animals and objects
into and within Indiana;
to accomplish the objectives of this article.
(7) Control the use, sanitation, and disinfection of
premises, facilities, and equipment to accomplish the objectives
of this article.
(8) Control the movement of animals and objects to,
from, and within premises where diseases or pests of animals may
exist.
(9) Control the movement and disposal of carcasses of
animals and objects.
(10) Control the manufacture, sale, storage,
distribution, handling, and use of serums, vaccines, and other
biologics and veterinary drugs, except those drugs for human
consumption regulated under IC 16-42-19, to be used for the
prevention, detection, control, and eradication of disease and
pests of animals.
(11) Control and prescribe the means, methods, and
procedures for the vaccination or other treatment of animals and
objects and the conduct of tests for diseases and pests of
animals.
(12) Develop, adopt, and implement plans and programs
for the identification of animals, objects, premises, and means
of conveyances. Plans and programs may include identification:
(A) of animals or objects that have been condemned
under this article; and
(B) related to classification as to disease,
testing, vaccination, or treatment status.
(13) Establish the terms and method of appraisal or
other determination of value of animals and objects condemned
under this article, the payment of any indemnities that may be
provided for the animals and objects, and the regulation of the
sale or other disposition of the animals or objects.
(14) Control the sale of baby chicks.
(15) Cooperate and enter into agreements with the
appropriate departments and agencies of this state, any other
state, or the federal government to prevent, detect, control,
and eradicate diseases and pests of animals.
(16) Control or prohibit the movement and transportation
into, out of, or within Indiana of wild animals, including
birds, that might carry or disseminate diseases or pests of
animals.
(17) Provide for condemning or abating conditions that
cause, aggravate, spread, or harbor diseases or pests of
animals.
(18) Establish and designate, in addition to the animal
disease diagnostic laboratory under IC 21-46-3-1, other
laboratories necessary to make tests of any nature for diseases
and pests of animals.
(19) Investigate, develop, and implement the best
methods for the prevention, detection, control, suppression, or
eradication of diseases and pests of animals.
(20) Investigate, gather, and compile information
concerning the organization, business conduct, practices, and
management of any registrant, licensee, permittee, applicant for
a license, or applicant for a permit.
(21) Investigate allegations of unregistered,
unlicensed, and
unpermitted activities.
(22) Institute legal action in the name of the state of
Indiana necessary to enforce:
(A) the board's orders and rules; and
(B) this article.
(23) Control the collection, transportation, and cooking
of garbage to be fed to swine or other animals and all matters
of sanitation relating to the collection, transportation, and
cooking of garbage affecting the health of swine or other
animals and affecting public health and comfort.
(24) Adopt an appropriate seal.
(25) Issue orders as an aid to enforcement of the powers
granted by this article, IC 15-18-1, and IC 15-19-6.
(26) Control disposal plants and byproducts collection
services and all matters connected to disposal plants and
byproducts collection services.
(27) Abate biological or chemical substances that:
(A) remain in or on any animal before or at the time
of slaughter as a result of treatment or exposure; and
(B) are found by the board to be or have the
potential of being injurious to the health of animals or humans.
(28) Regulate the production, manufacture, processing,
and distribution of products derived from animals to control
health hazards that may threaten:
(A) animal health;
(B) the public health and welfare of the citizens of
Indiana; and
(C) the trade in animals and animal products in and
from Indiana.
(29) Cooperate and coordinate with local, state, and
federal emergency management agencies to plan and implement
disaster emergency plans and programs as the plans and programs
relate to animals in Indiana.
(30) Assist law enforcement agencies investigating
allegations of cruelty and neglect of animals.
(31) Assist organizations that represent livestock
producers with issues and programs related to the care of
livestock.
(32) Establish a registry of commercial dog brokers
and commercial dog breeders in Indiana.
SOURCE: IC 15-21; (09)EH1468.1.3. --> SECTION 3. IC 15-21 IS
ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW ARTICLE TO READ AS
FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2009]:
ARTICLE 21. COMMERCIAL
DOG BREEDER REGULATION
Chapter 1. Application and Definitions
Sec. 1. (a) This article does not apply to:
(1) an animal shelter;
(2) a humane society;
(3) an animal rescue operation that complies with the
standards of care set forth in 9 CFR 3.1 through 9 CFR 3.12;
(4) a hobby breeder;
(5) a person who breeds sport dogs for hunting purposes;
or
(6) a person who breeds dogs for use by the police or
the armed forces.
(b) As used in this section, "animal rescue operation" means
a person or organization:
(1) that accepts within one (1) year:
(A) more than twelve (12) dogs; or
(B) more than nine (9) dogs and more than three (3)
unweaned litters of puppies;
that are available for adoption for human companionship
as pets or as companion animals in permanent adoptive homes and
that are maintained in a private residential dwelling; or
(2) that uses a system of private residential dwellings
as foster homes for the dogs.
The term does not include a person or organization that breeds
dogs.
(c) As used in this section, "hobby breeder" means a person
who maintains fewer than twenty (20) unaltered female dogs that
are at least twelve (12) months of age.
Sec. 2. The definitions in sections 3 through 8 of this
chapter apply throughout this article.
Sec. 3. "Board" refers to the Indiana state board of animal
health established by IC 15-17-3-1.
Sec. 4. "Commercial dog breeder" means a person who
maintains more than twenty (20) unaltered female dogs that are
at least twelve (12) months of age.
Sec. 5. "Commercial dog broker" means a person:
(1) who is a Class "B" licensee under 9 CFR 1.1; and
(2) who sells at least five hundred (500) dogs in a
calendar year.
Sec. 6. "Person" means an individual, corporation, limited
liability company, partnership, or other business entity.
Sec. 7. "Pest" means a pest, pathogen, or parasite that may
cause illness to a dog.
Sec. 8. "Veterinarian" means an individual licensed as a
veterinarian under IC 25-38.1.
Chapter 2. Commercial Dog Broker and Commercial Dog Breeder
Registration
Sec. 1. A person may not operate:
(1) a commercial dog breeder operation; or
(2) as a commercial dog broker;
without being registered with the board in accordance with this
chapter.
Sec. 2. A person who:
(1) is registered as a commercial dog breeder; and
(2) operates a commercial dog breeder operation;
shall indicate that the person is registered as a commercial dog
breeder in a place clearly visible to the public.
Sec. 3. (a) A commercial dog breeder who knowingly or
intentionally fails to register with the board as a commercial
dog breeder commits a Class A misdemeanor.
(b) A commercial dog broker who knowingly or intentionally
fails to register with the board as a commercial dog broker
commits a Class A misdemeanor.
(c) A commercial dog breeder or a commercial dog broker
who fails to register with the board is liable to the state
for two (2) times the amount of registration fees that the
commercial dog breeder or commercial dog broker failed to pay.
The attorney general may bring an action to collect unpaid
commercial dog breeder or commercial dog broker registration
fees. Funds collected under this subsection shall be deposited
in the commercial dog breeder and broker fund established by
IC 15-21-3-3.
Chapter 3. Registration Requirements
Sec. 1. (a) A commercial dog breeder shall register annually
with the board.
(b) The board shall provide for notice of the upcoming
expiration of registration to each registrant at least thirty
(30) days before the expiration of the one (1) year period.
(c) The fee to register or renew a registration as a
commercial dog breeder is:
(1) seventy-five dollars ($75) if the person has not
more than fifty (50) unaltered female dogs at least twelve (12)
months of age;
(2) two hundred dollars ($200) if the person has more
than fifty (50) but not more than one hundred (100) unaltered
female dogs at least twelve (12)
months of age;
(3) three hundred dollars ($300) if the person has more
than one hundred (100) but not more than one hundred fifty (150)
unaltered female dogs at least twelve (12) months of age;
(4) four hundred dollars ($400) if the person has more
than one hundred fifty (150) but not more than two hundred fifty
(250) unaltered female dogs at least twelve (12) months of age;
and
(5) five hundred dollars ($500) if the person has more
than two hundred fifty (250) unaltered female dogs at least
twelve (12) months of age.
The fee shall be deposited in the commercial dog breeder and
broker fund established by section 3 of this chapter.
(d) A person who registers or renews a registration as a
commercial dog breeder must include the following:
(1) The name and address of the person's commercial dog
breeding operation.
(2) The name and address of the registrant.
(3) A statement that the person's commercial dog
breeding operation complies with the requirements of IC 15-21-4.
(4) Any other information related to taxation that is
required by the board.
(e) A person who knowingly or intentionally makes a material
misstatement in a commercial dog breeder registration statement
commits false registration as a commercial dog breeder, a Class
A misdemeanor.
Sec. 2. (a) A commercial dog broker shall register annually
with the board.
(b) The board shall provide for notice of the upcoming
expiration of registration to each registrant at least thirty
(30) days before the expiration of the one (1) year period.
(c) The fee to register or renew a registration as a
commercial dog broker is one thousand dollars ($1,000). The fee
shall be deposited in the commercial dog breeder and broker fund
established by section 3 of this chapter.
(d) A person who registers or renews a registration as a
commercial dog broker must include the following:
(1) The name and address of the person acting as a
commercial dog broker.
(2) The name and location of the person's commercial dog
broker business.
(3) Any other information related to taxation that is
required by the board.
(e) A person who knowingly or intentionally makes a material
misstatement in a commercial dog broker registration statement
commits false registration as a commercial dog broker, a Class A
misdemeanor.
Sec. 3. (a) The commercial dog breeder and broker fund
is established for the purpose of funding:
(1) the inspection of commercial dog breeding operations
by the board; and
(2) the enforcement by the board of laws concerning
commercial dog breeders and commercial dog brokers.
The fund shall be administered by the board.
(b) The fund consists of:
(1) commercial dog breeder and commercial dog broker
fees; and
(2) donations to the fund.
(c) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid
from money in the fund.
(d) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the
fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in
the same manner as other public money may be invested. Interest
that accrues from these investments shall be deposited in the
fund.
(e) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does
not revert to the state general fund.
(f) Money in the fund is continually appropriated to carry
out the purposes of the fund.
(g) The board may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement
this chapter.
Chapter 4. Duties of Commercial Dog Breeders
Sec. 1. A commercial dog breeder shall comply with the
standards of care set forth in 9 CFR 3.1 through 9 CFR 3.12.
Chapter 5. Records
Sec. 1. A commercial dog breeder shall provide a consumer
with a copy of a dog's vaccination, medication, and treatment
records at the time a consumer purchases, exchanges, or adopts
the dog.
Sec. 2. A commercial dog breeder shall maintain its records
for at least five (5) years.
Chapter 6. Units
Sec. 1. (a) As used in this section, "unit" has the meaning
set forth in IC 36-1-2-23.
(b) A unit may not adopt an ordinance concerning regulation
of commercial dog breeders that imposes more stringent or
detailed requirements than the requirements under this article.
(c) A unit may not adopt or enforce an ordinance concerning
the regulation of commercial dog breeders that contains
requirements less stringent or detailed than the requirements
under this article.
Chapter 7. Enforcement
Sec. 1. (a) The board may enforce this article when the
board determines that sufficient funds have been deposited in
the commercial dog breeder and broker fund to permit
enforcement.
(b) In enforcing this article, the board may:
(1) seek injunctive relief;
(2) issue an order of compliance notifying the
commercial dog breeder or commercial dog broker of a violation
and requiring corrective action by a certain date; and
(3) impose a civil penalty of not more than:
(A) five hundred dollars ($500) for a knowing
violation;
(B) one thousand dollars ($1,000) for an intentional
violation; and
(C) five thousand dollars ($5,000) for knowingly or
intentionally violating an injunction.
(c) The board may seek an injunction to prohibit a
commercial dog breeder from registering with the board for not
more than three (3) years.
(d) Subsection (a) does not prohibit the board from
assisting a law enforcement agency in a criminal investigation.
SOURCE: IC 25-38.1-4-8.3;
(09)EH1468.1.4. --> SECTION 4. IC 25-38.1-4-8.3 IS ADDED TO
THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
[EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2009]: Sec. 8.3. A veterinarian may report
a suspected incident of animal cruelty under IC 35-46-3 to a law
enforcement officer.
SOURCE: IC 25-38.1-4-8.5;
(09)EH1468.1.5. --> SECTION 5. IC 25-38.1-4-8.5, AS ADDED BY
P.L.58-2008, SECTION 44, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
[EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2009]: Sec. 8.5. A veterinarian or registered
veterinary technician who reports in good faith and in the
normal course of business a suspected incident of animal cruelty
under IC 35-46-3-12
IC 35-46-3 to a law enforcement officer is immune from
liability in any civil or criminal action brought for reporting
the incident.
SOURCE: IC 35-46-3-0.5;
(09)EH1468.1.6. --> SECTION 6. IC 35-46-3-0.5, AS ADDED BY
P.L.171-2007, SECTION 5, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
[EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2009]: Sec. 0.5. The following definitions
apply throughout this chapter:
(1) "Abandon" means to desert an animal or to leave the
animal permanently in a place without making provision for
adequate
long term care of the animal. The
term does not include leaving an animal in a place that is
temporarily vacated for the protection of human life during a
disaster.
(2) "Beat" means to unnecessarily or cruelly strike an
animal, or to throw the animal against an object causing the
animal to suffer severe pain or injury. The term does not
include reasonable training or disciplinary techniques.
(3) "Mutilate" means to wound, injure, maim, or
disfigure an animal by irreparably damaging the animal's body
parts or to render any part of the animal's body useless. The
term includes bodily injury involving:
(A) serious permanent disfigurement;
(B) serious temporary disfigurement;
(C) permanent or protracted loss or impairment of
the function of a bodily part or organ; or
(D) a fracture.
(4) "Neglect" means to:
(A) endanger an animal's health by failing to
provide the animal with food or drink, if the animal is
dependent upon the person for the provision of food or drink;
or
(B) restrain an animal for more than a brief period
by the use of a rope, chain, or tether that:
(i) is less than three (3) times the length of
the animal;
(ii) is too heavy to permit the animal to move
freely; or
(iii) causes the animal to choke; or
(iv) restrains the animal in a manner that
physically harms the animal;
(D) fail to provide reasonable care for a dog's
injury or illness if the injury or illness seriously endangers
the life or health of the dog.
(5) "Torture" means:
(A) to inflict extreme physical pain or injury on an
animal with the sole intent of increasing or
prolonging the animal's pain; or
(B) to administer poison to a cat or dog, or expose
a cat or dog to a poisonous substance with the intent that the
cat or dog ingest the substance and suffer harm, pain, or
physical injury.
SOURCE: IC 35-46-3-5;
(09)EH1468.1.7. --> SECTION 7. IC 35-46-3-5, AS AMENDED BY
P.L.2-2008, SECTION 79, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2009]: Sec. 5. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b)
through (c), this chapter does not apply to the following:
(1) Fishing, hunting, trapping, or other conduct
authorized under IC 14-22.
(2) Conduct authorized under IC 15-20-2.
(3) Veterinary practices authorized by standards adopted
under IC 25-38.1-2-14.
(4) Conduct authorized by a local ordinance.
(5) Acceptable farm management practices.
(6) Conduct authorized by IC 15-17-5,
IC 15-17, and rules adopted under IC 15-17-5
IC 15-17 for state or federally inspected livestock
slaughtering facilities and state or federal animal disease
control programs.
(7) A research facility registered with the United
States Department of Agriculture under the federal Animal
Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.).
(8) Destruction of a vertebrate defined as a pest under
IC 15-16-5-24.
(9) Destruction of or injury to a fish.
(10) Destruction of a vertebrate animal that is:
(A) endangering, harassing, or threatening livestock
or a domestic animal; or
(B) destroying or damaging a person's property.
(11) Destruction of an animal by an animal control
program, including an animal control facility, an animal
shelter, or a humane society.
(12) Destruction of an injured or ill animal by an
individual to prevent the animal from prolonged suffering.
(b) Section 1 of this chapter applies to conduct described
in subsection (a).
(c) Destruction of an animal by electrocution is authorized
under this section only if it is conducted by a person who is
engaged in an acceptable farm management practice, by a research
facility registered with the United States Department of
Agriculture under the Animal Welfare Act, or for the animal
disease diagnostic laboratory established under IC 21-46-3-1, a
research facility licensed by the United States Department of
Agriculture, a college, or a university.
SOURCE: IC 35-46-3-7;
(09)EH1468.1.8. --> SECTION 8. IC 35-46-3-7, AS AMENDED BY
P.L.171-2007, SECTION 8, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
[EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2009]: Sec. 7. (a) A person who owns a
vertebrate animal and who recklessly, knowingly, or
intentionally abandons or neglects the animal commits cruelty to
an animal, a Class B misdemeanor. However, except for a
conviction under section 1 of this chapter, the offense is a
Class A misdemeanor if the person has a prior unrelated
conviction under this chapter.
(b) It is a defense to a prosecution under this section that
the owner
reasonably believed that the
vertebrate animal was capable of surviving on its own.
SOURCE: ; (09)EH1468.1.9. -->
SECTION 9. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2009] IC 35-46-3-0.5 and
IC 35-46-3-7, both as amended by this act, apply only to crimes
committed after June 30, 2009.
Petland Faces Class Action
Lawsuit for Peddling Unhealthy
Puppy Mill Dogs in at Least 20
States
PHOENIX (March 17, 2009)
— Members of The Humane Society
of the United States and other
consumers filed a class action
lawsuit alleging that Petland,
Inc. and the Hunte Corporation
are conspiring to sell unhealthy
puppy mill puppies to
unsuspecting consumers in
numerous states. Petland is the
nation’s largest chain of pet
stores that sells puppy mill
dogs and Hunte is one of the
country’s largest distributors
of factory-produced puppies.
The lawsuit, filed in federal district
court in Phoenix late Monday, alleges
that Petland and Hunte violated federal
law and numerous state consumer
protection laws by misleading thousands
of consumers across the country into
believing that the puppies sold in
Petland stores are healthy and come from
high-quality breeders. Many of the
puppies sold by Petland come either
directly from puppy mills or puppy
brokers such as Hunte, which operates as
a middleman between the mills and
Petland’s retail stores.
“Unscrupulous dog dealers like Petland
and Hunte reap massive profits by
pushing unhealthy puppies on
well-intentioned dog-lovers who would
never knowingly buy a puppy mill dog,”
said Jonathan Lovvorn, vice president &
chief counsel for Animal Protection
Litigation at The HSUS. “Families often
bear the great expense of veterinary
treatment for sick and unhealthy dogs,
or the terrible anguish of losing a
beloved family pet. This industry has
been systematically lying to consumers
for years about the source of the dogs
they sell, and it’s long past time for a
reckoning.”
The class action lawsuit is the result
of many months of investigative and
legal research, and comes after an
eight-month investigation into Petland
stores by The HSUS that demonstrated a
direct link between multiple Petland
stores and unscrupulous puppy mills.
Numerous other reports have also
surfaced of Petland’s allegedly
deceptive sales practices, including the
marketing and sale of puppies with
life-threatening genetic defects and
highly contagious parasitic and viral
infections.
The
34-page complaint
includes numerous examples of sick or
dying puppies that Petland sold,
including:
-
Mainerd, a Boston terrier, was diagnosed
with a congenital spinal condition. Some
of her vertebrae have not formed
completely while others have fused
together causing tissue to grow
underneath along with possible nerve
damage. Mainerd is now receiving steroid
treatments for her ailments and may
require expensive surgery.
-
Minchy, a miniature pinscher, was sold
by Petland at 10 weeks old. He was
immediately diagnosed with coccidian, an
intestinal parasite that causes diarrhea
and weight loss. Minchy was also
diagnosed with an inherited disorder,
Progressive Retinal Atrophy, which will
ultimately lead to permanent blindness.
-
Tucker was sold at four months old. The
bloodhound puppy experienced severe
separation anxiety and various health
problems before developing orbital
cancer at only 7 months of age.
-
Patrick, a Pomeranian puppy, was sold at
three months old. He suffered from
diarrhea and vomiting shortly after
arriving at his new home. At 11 months
old, Patrick was diagnosed with a
genetic disorder, dual luxating patellas,
which will require expensive surgery on
both of his knees to correct.
Puppy mills are mass breeding operations
where the health of dogs is disregarded
in order to maintain a low overhead and
maximize profits. The dogs are often
kept in wire cages, stacked on top of
each other, with no exercise,
socialization, veterinary care, or
loving human interaction. They are
treated not like family pets, but like a
cash crop. Petland denies it supports
these substandard breeding facilities,
and claims to follow “Humane Care
Guidelines” developed in conjunction
with the USDA. However, USDA recently
informed HSUS in writing that it has no
record of any such guidelines.
The
class plaintiffs are being represented
in the case by Saltz Mongeluzzi Barrett
& Bendesky, PC; Hagens Berman Sobol
Shapiro, LLC; Garen Meguerian, Esq. and
lawyers in The HSUS’s Animal Protection
Litigation section. The suit requests a
jury trial on behalf of the consumer
class plaintiffs, and seeks
reimbursement of the puppies’ purchase
price along with compensation for all
related monetary damages for the class
members.
Media Contacts:
Loraine
Miscavage: 301-258-1483;
lmiscavage@humanesociety.org
Heather
Sullivan: 301-548-7778;
hsullivan@humanesociety.org
The Humane Society of the United States
is the nation’s largest animal
protection organization
— backed by 11 million Americans,
or one of every 28. For more than a
half-century, The HSUS has been fighting
for the protection
of all animals through advocacy,
education and hands-on programs.
Celebrating animals and confronting
cruelty
— On the web at
humanesociety.org.
The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
Celebrating Animals, Confronting Cruelty
|
You all made a big difference by the comments that you
left on the newspaper article by Rep. Foley! Thank
you! They definitely know how the supporters of this
bill feel! Below is a link to another article published
in a northwest IN paper. It is very favorable about the
bill - actually a great article! Feel free to go there
and post your comments commending them for the article
and urging people to contact their Senators to support
HB1468.
Special Note:
please, please - always be
polite in writing comments or in
writing letters to your legislators!! We do not want to
appear to be a rude, obnoxious group of radicals. Some
people who support the bill have actually hurt the
progress of the bill because of their harsh and hurtful
words. Please know that if you respond that way, you
are hurting our chances of getting this bill passed. I
know that this is an emotional issue, but please keep
all correspondence respectful and professional.
Another note, as you continue to keep in touch with your
legislators: some people may feel intimidated to make a
phone call to their senators. It would be very rare if
you would actually speak with your senator, but instead
you will either get an automated reply or speak to an
aide. All that you have to say is that you urge your
senator to vote for HB1468. It's the number of
phone calls they receive that gets their attention. So
please continue to call in.
Senate lines - 317-232-9400 or 1-800-382-9467.
As of yet, we do not know when this bill will be heard
in committee. We'll keep you posted!
Defend The Dogs
Determining the future of Indiana's puppy mills
BY JEAN STARR
Times Correspondent
| Wednesday, March 11, 2009
When the wirehaired Fox terrier arrived at Honey Creek
Animal Hospital in Terre Haute, Ind., the staff had no
idea she was pregnant.
"She was so emaciated that we had no idea," said
practice manager Candice Staub. "She was term and gave
birth four days later to seven puppies."
After the dog's wounds were healed, she went to a rescue
organization. She was treated for Sarcoptic Mange, open
wounds, and eye abrasions. She had been debarked, a
procedure in which vocal cords are severed either with
scissors or by ramming a metal pipe down their throat to
prevent them from barking. Some puppy millers who have
hundreds of dogs on their property don't want neighbors
to know so many of them will perform this procedure,
often without anesthetic.
Photos of a French bulldog Staub is fostering tell the
story of what happens to a dog used for breeding year
after year. She has a nasty case of pneumonia and
corneal abrasions. Her legs on both side are totally
broken down; her feet flat and her toes broken from
being caught in the wire bottom of her enclosure. She is
totally emaciated with a body scale of 2 out of 10. She
has only two canine teeth left and those are nubs. The
rest have fallen out from decalcification from the
constant nursing. Her vulva is swollen almost beyond
recognition from being bred at each heat cycle and
whelping so many puppies. She is still learning to walk
on hard ground, having no idea how to plant her feet on
a hard surface.
These are signs of the typical existence of a puppy mill
dog rescued from a lifetime of suffering. Usually, they
are either disposed of by drowning, skull crushing or
shooting. Sometimes they are sold to the highest bidder
for whatever they can get to try to have one more litter
before the dog dies or their productivity slows
"The public needs to be aware that this dirty secret is
being hidden in the state of Indiana with more and more
millers being attracted to the state due to the very lax
laws," Staub said.
There is a bill in the Indiana Senate that will either
pass or fail in the next several days. Indiana House
Bill 1468 (Animal Cruelty and Commercial Dog Breeders)
passed the House with a vote of 81-14 on Feb. 23 and is
now in the Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal and
Civil Matters for consideration. Sen. Karen Tallian,
D-Portage, is on that committee.
"We have no statewide regulations on commercial breeding
of dogs," said Anne Sterling, the Indiana state director
for the Humane Society of the United States. There are
34 states working on passing regulations similar to HB
1468.
"If this continues, we will become very attractive to
puppy millers throughout the country."
Sterling has seen examples of breeding operations moving
from states that have passed legislation to other states
with no laws governing standards of care for dogs used
to churn out hundreds of puppies in their lifetimes.
"The people who are targeted are those who breed 10 or
more litters of puppies a year," she said. "The USDA
inspects only licensed breeders that sell to pet
stores."
Breeders that fall through the gap are those who breed
without a license and who sell over the Internet and
through other means.
Online purchasers see only cute online puppy photos --
never their true birthplace.
It costs the lives of countless dogs, but it also costs
the taxpayer.
In December 2008 the Indiana Attorney General's removed
78 animals from a Cloverdale, Ind., breeder who sold
puppies on the Internet by using more than a dozen
aliases. Tammy Gilchrist was served with a search
warrant for business and tax records dating back to 1998
and was served with a jeopardy levy when she was unable
to produce payment of $192,960.28 in state sales tax.
Add to that the cost of treating the dogs and four
horses for open sores, severe skin conditions,
parasites, mammary tumors and malnutrition and the costs
rise even further.
WHERE IT NOW STANDS
H.B. 1468 has been referred to the Committee on
Corrections, Criminal & Civil Matters. The 11-member
committee, chaired by Republican Sen. Brent Steele, will
do the initial review of the bill and decide if it is
worthy of further consideration. According to Matt
Doerr, Sen. Steele's legislative assistant, Steele is
still considering the bill. Opinions have been coming in
from both sides of the issue, with many objections from
the Nappanee and Warsaw areas. "A lot of breeders are
concerned the bill will be detrimental to their
business," Doerr said. "The response that favors the
bill has been limited but we do expect that to change."
FOR MORE INFORMATION
A link to the bill can be found at
in.gov/legislative/bills/2009/PDF/HB/HB1468.2.pdf
Indiana Senate general phone number: (800) 382-9467.
Copyright © 2009 nwi.com
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Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~
I wanted to share with you some important
updates on efforts taking place across our
country to raise awareness of puppy mills, dog
auctions, pet stores and the entities that
support and keep them in business.
Also, we invite you to join supporters of the WI
Puppy Mill Project in their peaceful protest of
the Thorp Dog Auction on Wednesday, March 11,
2009 in Thorp Wisconsin.
ü
General information on the WI Puppy Mill Project
-
http://www.nowisconsinpuppymills.com/thorp-protest-alert.html
ü
Times and
Directions -
http://petshelter.bizland.com/nodogauctions/index.html
ü
The Auction
Catalog -
http://petshelter.bizland.com/nodogauctions/index.html
From the
desk of Eilene Ribbens, Founder of the WI Puppy
Mill Project:
"Dog auctions are a tragic embarrassment to
Wisconsin and it's humane-minded citizens. We
have been asked if people should "buy" or
rescue" these dogs.
We are
asking for an all-out boycott of this event.
We have studied the numbers from past
auctions and believe that the dogs being offered
at this auction are not mill cast-offs but were,
in many cases, purposely
bred to supply AUCTION BUYERS, including
rescue groups."
"Buying at
the auction will simply mean that it will be
profitable. If it is profitable it will continue
and MORE dogs will be bred for sale at future
Thorp Dog Auctions. That said, we do understand
compassion for the dogs being sold on March 11,
2009 and know that there will be some who will
buy. We understand both sides of the situation,
and hope that in the long run,
not
buying will produce the best outcome to end
these auctions altogether."
1. COLORADO. Legislation
introduced on January 21 in Colorado that would
have limited the number of dogs breeders could
keep and mandate veterinary certification exams
for commercially bred dogs
has been set aside indefinitely.
The Colorado House Agriculture Committee voted
on January 28 to table H.B. 1172, and no further
hearings are scheduled at this time.
The
puppy mill bill, if passed in its
proposed form, would:
ü
Limit the number of adult, unaltered dogs a
breeder can maintain
ü
Mandate annual veterinary exams
ü
Prohibit individuals convicted of animal cruelty
of obtaining a breeder license
2. CONNECTICUT. Lawmakers
this year will decide whether pet owners should
get double their money back from stores that
sell them puppies, kittens and other animals
with chronic disease or disabilities. Groups
such as the Westport Coalition Against Puppy
Mills, whose members include G. Kenneth
Bernhard, a lawyer and former state
representative from Westport, believe that
wronged pet owners need more recourse. They
want to be able to claim back twice the purchase
price of defective animals. Bernhard said that
coalition members reviewing records, traced many
puppies for sale in Connecticut pet stores to
so-called puppy mills in Pennsylvania and points
west. "Some had some horrific violations,"
Bernhard said, adding that owners have been
stuck with huge veterinary bills.
For more information, we invite you to view the
article, "Pet 'Lemon Law' unleashed at hearing:
- > http://www.connpost.com/ci_11707072.
3. IDAHO.
On February 17, announcement was made that an
animal cruelty bill that teamed the agricultural
community and a local animal welfare group
together
is dead for the 2009 session because of
infighting between two animal welfare groups.
For more information, we invite you to view the
article, "Animal Cruelty bill fails to enter
legislature" - > http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?S=9861033.
4. ILLINOIS. On
January 19, announcement of a Puppy Mill bill,
sponsored by state Senators John Fritchey
(D-Chicago) and Dan Kotowski (D-Mt. Prospect),
was introduced into the Illinois state
legislature.
Named after
a sole survivor of a puppy mill in Downstate
Macon County, Chloe's Bill (H.B.
198) would have a positive impact on
ending puppy mills in Illinois.
The legislation, if passed in its proposed form,
would:
ü
Create a Dog Breeder License Act, which would
prevent breeders from having more than 20
unaltered dogs.
ü
Prohibit individuals from obtaining a
dog-breeding license if they have been convicted
of a felony animal-cruelty crime, including dog
fighting.
ü
Require dog breeders to keep dogs in buildings
without wire flooring and with sufficient
heating, cooling and ventilation.
ü
Require pet stores and breeders to provide
potential pet buyers with the dog's full medical
history, information of spaying and neutering
and information about any prior medical care.
ü
Establish penalties starting with fines and
escalating to having animals seized and breeding
operations shut down.
5. INDIANA. H.B.
1468 passed the Indiana House on February 18,
and has now been
assigned to the Senate Committee on Corrections,
Criminal and Civil Matters (hearing to be
announced).
The proposed legislation is hitting some
significant barriers from stakeholders tied to
the commercial breeding industry.
They are recommending:
ü
Either changing the number of unaltered dogs
that a breeder can have from 30 to 50 or
completely eliminating the cap altogether
ü
Removing the sections on requiring a breeding
dog to be retired from breeding at eight years
of age and limiting the number of litters a dog
can produce to one per year.
ü Removing
the exercise requirement
ü
Remove the requirement for illumination
If adopted, H.B. 1468 would:
Define a commercial breeder as someone who
whelps more than 10 litters of puppies in a 12
month period.
Limit 30 breeding dogs per location. (A
breeding dog is defined as an unaltered dog
over one year of age.)
Require commercial breeders to register
with the state, and then renew their
registration every four years.
Require commercial breeders to maintain
sanitary conditions.
Require commercial breeders to have a
method in place in which to dispose of animal
waste.
Require commercial breeders to
protect animals from parasites and vermin.
Require breeding facilities to have either
artificial or natural light available in areas
where
dogs are kept and ventilation.
Require commercial breeding dogs have
access to an exercise area at least one hour per
day.
Require commercial breeders to hire
employees that have not been convicted of animal
fighting or variations of Indiana Codes
pertaining to animal abuse, neglect and torture.
Require commercial breeders to offer a
"Guarantee" for each dog and puppy, which would
include a 15 day guarantee against disease and
a one year guarantee against genetic defects.
The guarantee would require a veterinary
certification; the opportunity for the dog to be
returned or exchanged; and limits reimbursement
for veterinary bills to the cost of the puppy.
Require breeding dogs be between the ages
of 18 months and eight years and be checked by a
vet annually. The bill limits the number of
litters a breeding female can whelp to one every
12 months.
Prohibit cities and counties from passing
laws less stringent than the state law.
**THIS IS WAY TOO LENIENT EVEN THOUGH THE
COMMERCIAL BREEDERS AND THEIR 'FRIENDS' THINK
THIS IS TOO TOUGH?? RIDICULOUS!!
(** COMMENT BY LINDA ACUP)
For more details concerning this legislation, we
invite you to read the article, "IN Lawmakers
Crack Down on Animal Cruelty and Puppy Mills" -
> http://tristatehomepage.com/content/fulltext/?cid=57361.
The proposed bill can be read here - > http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2009/HB/HB1468.2.html
6. IOWA.
A
proposed puppy mill bill, which will allow
inspectors from the state Department of
Agriculture into a USDA facility upon receipt of
a complaint,
is moving to a vote on the floors of both the
House and Senate within the next two weeks! A
HUGE thanks to
BanOhioDogAuctions.com
supporter, Mary Lahay, for her tireless efforts
to help draft this legislation!
Click here to view a copy of the House version -
>
http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=BillInfo&Service=Billbook&ga=83&menu=text&hbill=HF30.
For more information on Mary's efforts, we
invite you to view the article, "wants puppy
mill bill changed" -
http://www.messengernews.net/page/content.detail/id/513194.html?nav=5010.
7. MONTANA. A
Ballantine woman's animal cruelty case caught
the attention of Montana lawmakers and has
prompted several bills aimed at regulating dog
breeders and animal hoarders.
In December, authorities seized 189 living dogs
and numerous dead dogs from Linda Kapsa's Shady
Lane Kennels, triggering an animal cruelty case
that prosecutors believe was the largest seizure
of animals in the state. Animal rescue
officials, on the scene during the seizure,
described Kapsa as an animal hoarder and said
her operation could be described as a puppy
mill.
Sen. Mitch Tropila (D-Great Falls) introduced a
bill that would add hoarding to the state's list
of animal cruelty offenses, and Rep. Dave
McAlpin, D-Missoula, is introducing a bill that
would require commercial breeders - those with
20 or more adult dogs - to register with the
state and submit to annual surprise inspections.
Registration would come with a $415 biannual fee
to cover the cost of inspections.
For more information, we invite you to view the
article, "Proposed legislation would place
stricter regulations on breeders" - > http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/02/16/news/local/18-proposed.txt.
8. MARYLAND. The
Maryland Legislature is currently considering
two identical bills, S.B. 318 and H.B. 495,
which would address the commercial dog breeding
industry. If passed, the proposed
legislation would cap the number of breeding
dogs who can be kept at a single facility at 50
adult dogs.
Click here
to view a copy of the bills - > http://www.mlis.state.md.us/PDF-documents/2000rs/bills/sb/sb0318f.pdf.
9. NEBRASKA. Legislation
introduced on February 2 in Nebraska that would
have limited the number of dogs breeders could
keep and mandate veterinary certification exams
for commercially bred dogs has been set aside
indefinitely.
Senator Ken Haar introduced
LB
677, a bill that aims to strictly
regulate commercial dog breeders in Nebraska
by establishing ownership limits and dog
breeding restrictions. If adopted, LB 677
would:
ü
By April 1, 2010, restrict all those defined as
"commercial breeders" under existing Nebraska
law to owning no more than 75 dogs over the age
of four months.
ü
Limit the breeding of purebred dogs only to dogs
between the ages of 18 months and eight years of
age.
ü
Mandate the implementation of kennel
requirements, including but not limited to,
climate conditions, enclosures, building
materials, and construction.
For more information, we invite you to view the
article, "Farm Bureau wary of
potential pet, livestock linkage" -
http://journalstar.com/articles/2009/02/21/news/politics/doc499c98ab9fd84027587156.txt#blogcomments.
10. NEW YORK.
A new puppy mill bill is expected to be
introduced in 2009.
To educate citizens about the horrific
abuse taking place in those "beautiful white
barns", Puppy mill Rescue Inc. invites animal
advocates from across the country to participate
in the second annual "Bark Heard around the
World" to be held at the
New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, NY from
10AM - 4PM on Sat., May 30th, 2009.
To learn more about this event, we invite you to
visit the website - > http://www.barkaroundtheworld.com/.
11. OHIO. A
new puppy mill bill is expected to be introduced
by Rep. Cheryl Grossman this week which would be
similar to legislation currently being
introduced in Indiana (see above). The bill,
which is being supported by HSUS, will focus on
capping the number of breeding dogs (unaltered
dogs over the age of four months) allowed at a
facility and shelter standards - flooring,
kennel size, exercise provisions, feeding,
cleaning and veterinarian care.
Also, Ohio's constitution does allow for ballot
initiatives and as many of you are aware, Ohio
voters and taxpayers aren't bashful about
putting initiatives on the ballot. Since the
passage of Proposition 2 in California, there
has been a lot of speculation as to what state
might be next, Ohio has been one of the states
mentioned.
It is our hope that a ballot initiative to ban
dog auctions may be a very real possibility for
2009.
For more details concerning this initiative, we
invite you to read the article, "Animal
advocates may push for a ban on dog auctions" -
http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/02/28/new_puppy.html?sid=101.
12. OKLAHOMA. The Oklahoma
Pet Quality Assurance and Protection Act, H.B.
1332, passed the House committee vote on March 4
with
a wide margin of 74 to 26 in favor of the bill.
and
will be voted on in the full House in the very
near future.
The proposed legislation would mandate USDA
standards as a minimum for all facilities
selling, trading or adopting out over 25 dogs,
cats, kittens or puppies in a year. This means
that if your dogs are housed in cages instead of
your home, the cages must be at least six inches
longer than the dog and must have six inches of
headroom.
For more details concerning this legislation, we
invite you to read the article, "OK House to
Vote on Puppy Mill Bill" - > http://newsok.com/house-to-vote-on-puppy-mill-bill/article/3344976.
13. OREGON.
The Oregon legislature is considering a bill, H.
B. 2470, to provide protection for breeding dogs
in commercial kennels. The first hearings on
the bill were held February 23 by the House
Committee on Consumer Protection.
In addition to mandating minimum living
conditions, the bill restricts the size of
commercial breeding kennels to a maximum of 25
unaltered dogs four months or older. It also
protects consumers with a tracking system which
give buyers of sick or deformed animals a way to
recover damages if the seller did not disclose
congenital defects at the time of purchase.
Click here to view a link to the bill - >
http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measures/hb2400.dir/hb2470.intro.html.
For more details concerning this legislation, we
invite you to read the article, "Oregon puppy
mill hearing draws huge crowd" - >
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/401220_puppymill25.html.
14. PENNSYLVANIA. With
a vote of 192 for and 0 against,
House Bill 39, amending
Pennsylvania's Crimes Code for animal cruelty
and introduced by
Representative Tom Caltagirone(D-Berks),
passed in today's session. The proposed
legislation will impose criminal penalties for
specific medical procedures if not performed by
a licensed veterinarian including debarking,
c-section births and tail docking. The act of
ear cropping by anyone other than a vet is
already prohibited in Pennsylvania.
The legislation now heads for the Senate.
15. TENNESSEE. State
lawmakers are trying diligently to curb bad
breeding operations by regulating breeders and
creating an inspection process. H.B. 386
(Sontany & Maggart)/S.B. 258 (Jackson) are bills
intended to put an end to what many call puppy
mills. The proposed legislation would require
any breeder with more than 20 animals to pay a
$500 licensing fee to the state. If you have
more than 40, it goes up to $1,000. Commercial
breeders would be required to comply with a
mandatory inspection and licensing program
administered by the Dept of Agriculture and meet
a minimum standard of care and housing.
For more information, we invite you to view the
article, "Senator Hopes Legislation Ends Puppy
Mills" - > http://www.wsmv.com/video/18661052/index.html.
Also, H.B.
1433 (Sontany)/S.B. 1322 (Berke) would prohibit
public animal sales (parking lots and roadside
sales) and provide restrictions on companion
animals sold at flea markets. The proposed
legislation would also prohibit the use of any
live animal as a prize in a contest, raffle, or
promotion.
16. WASHINGTON.
In the wake of the recent seizures of hundreds
of sick or neglected dogs from alleged puppy
mill operations in Skagit and Snohomish
counties, state lawmakers are considering a bill
that would regulate breeders who own a large
number of dogs. A Senate committee on Monday
discussed the bill, which would provide
"humanitarian requirements for certain dog
breeding practices" by limiting breeders to
keeping a maximum of 25 dogs at any one location
and also by setting strict guidelines for the
housing and care of the animals.
For more details concerning this legislation, we
invite you to read the article, "Lawmakers
Consider Bill Targeting Puppy Mills - > http://www.komonews.com/news/39342082.html.
17. WISCONSIN.
We invite
you to read the following article in this past
weekend's issue of The Isthmus regarding
the growing problem of commercial breeding
kennels in Wisconsin -
http://www.isthmus.com/isthmus/article.php?article=25284.
Your feedback to the reporter - http://www.isthmus.com/utility/emailAuthor.php?author=41
- is encouraged and welcomed!
Also, don't forget that
the next scheduled Buckeye Dog Auction is
expected to take place on Saturday, March 21,
2009.
Additional details regarding this event (as they
become available) will be posted to the Home
page of
www.BanOhioDogAuctions.com.
Let's hope these small but important steps will
help set the tone as a model for other states,
causing a ripple effect of positive change
benefiting companion animals.
Mary
O'Connor-Shaver
Cell:
614-271-8248
Columbus Top
Dogs
P.S. You or
someone you know has requested you be added
to the Columbus Top Dogs email list. If you
do not want to receive emails from
columbustopdogs.com, please reply and put
"remove from list" in subject. Thank you!
HB1468 (also known as Tiko and Daisy’s Bill)
HB1468 is hitting some
real barriers. Some changes are being made that we are
o.k. with (removing the pet dealer language, removing
the micro-chipping requirement). Other changes could
take everything in this bill and turn it into mush.
Some very negative
changes that are being contemplated are:
1) either changing the
number of un-spayed dogs that a breeder can have from 30
to 50 or completely eliminating the number count all
together.
2) removing the
sections on requiring a breeding dog to be retired from
breeding at 8 yrs. of age and limiting the number of
litters a dog can produce to one per year. If this is
removed, breeders will continue to breed their dogs as
often as they come into heat and as many years as they
can conceive. So the 12 yr. old female will get no
relief. Female breeding dogs will continue to develop
brittle bones from lack of calcium from always being
pregnant or lactating.
3) removing the
exercise requirement. All that the bill is asking is for
a dog to be taken out of it’s cage once a day for an
hour and allowed to be in a space twice the size of it’s
primary enclosure. That is not asking much.
4) remove the
requirement for illumination. Dogs were rescued during a
puppy mill raid recently in southern IN and these dogs
were kept in closed boxes, totally in the dark. Other
puppy mills keep them shut in dark barns or buildings.
Lighting is a barebones requirement and those who are
breeding responsibly should have no qualms with this.
This bill is quite
controversial and many groups that oppose it are
bombarding our legislators. The Amish are showing up in
large numbers to lobby. The Farm Bureau have their high
paid lobbyists, plus they are holding town meetings in
communities. The AKC and the National Federation of
Independent Businesses are fight it. We need letters
written THIS WEEKEND to all of the Senators, especially
those on the Senate Committee on Correction, Criminal
and Civil Matters. These need to be emails since time is
short. Phone calls are also a good avenue to communicate
to our Senators. (We are hoping that HB1468 bill be
heard before the committee by as early as Tuesday).
Ask them to -
**Not change the number of breeding
dogs that a breeder can have.
**Not change the bill’s language on
how many years a dog can be bred and how many times per
year.
**Not change the exercise requirement.
**Not change the requirement to allow
the dogs to have lighting
Contact information at the bottom of this
email.
One other item of importance:
The Farm Bureau is very aggressively
opposing this bill. They don’t want any legislation on
any animals. They are afraid that if we put regulations
on dog breeding, next we’ll add laws about raising cows
and hogs and other farm animals. In fact, they consider
dogs to be agricultural animals! You can express your
disapproval by cancelling any insurance that you might
have with the Farm Bureau and cancelling any
memberships. Pass this information on to others.
Thank you so much for
your continuing help in this battle to help puppy mill
dogs.
You would think that
the things in this bill would just be common sense
things that don’t even need regulation. But that’s not
the real world, so we must press on for better living
conditions for Indiana’s voiceless puppy mill dogs.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Sponsors of HB1468
Senator Teresa Lubbers
(S30@in.gov)
Senator Joe Zakas
(S11@in.gov)
Senator Tim Lanane
(S25@in.gov)
Senator Vi Simpson (S40@in.gov)
Senate Committee on Correction, Criminal and Civil
Matters
Chair: Brent Steele (S44@in.gov)
Members:
Mike Young, R.M. (S35@in.gov)
Richard Bray (S37@in.gov)
Mike Delph (S29@in.gov)
Randy Head (S18@in.gov)
Brent Waltz (S36@in.gov)
John Waterman (S39@in.gov)
Lindel Hume R.M.M. (S48@in.gov)
Tim Lanane (S25@in.gov)
Karen Tallian (S4@in.gov)
Greg Taylor (S33@in.gov)
To find out who your Senator is, go to:
This will give you your district number and your
senator’s name. If you click on his/her name, you will
be able to email him/her from there.
All Senators can be reached by phone at 317-232-9400 or
1-800-382-9467.. All mail to Senators can be sent to
Indiana State Senate, 200 West Washington St.,
Indianapolis, IN 46204.
If you want an additional way to communicate to your
Senator, you can contact his/her legislative assistant.
If you go to
Some Senators’ home phone numbers available on their
Home Page -
Click on name of senator - will take you to home page -
click on “About Sen. -----” on the left hand side list
(first option). It may be on this page.
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lolin@lolin.org
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