More and more states are working on legislation to try to regulate the commercial breeding industry which in far too many instances are just houses of horrors, puppy mills, masquerading as reputable breeders.
Louisiana is now working on legislation that would limit the number of dogs that breeders would be allowed to own, instituting a cap at a maximum of 75 dogs. This doesn’t sound like much of a move but when you look at many of the puppy mills, some have hundreds of dogs, often crammed two, three or more to a cage that is barely large enough for one.
No, it’s not the answer. The answer would be to close them all down! But as anyone who is part of the fight against puppy mills knows, it’s not going to happen anytime in the near future but each and every little step in the right direction is something to be lauded.
The bill aims to limit the number of dogs held in abusive puppy mills – mills that churn out thousands of dogs for sale in pet stores and over the internet.
The Humane Society of the United States testified in support of the legislation. The organization says many puppy mill operators deceive consumers into believing the dogs came from reputable breeders.
“Limiting the number of animals at a puppy mill is an important first step to ensure that dogs used for breeding are treated humanely, and also addresses one source of pet overpopulation,” said Julia Breaux , HSUS’ Louisiana state director.
According to the HSUS, 76,000 dogs are handled by Louisiana’s shelters each year and 50,000 of those dogs are eventually euthanized. Sheltering the unwanted dogs costs Louisiana citizens more than $10 million a year, the organization adds.
The HSUS is also working to try and ban internet sales that escape regulation through a loophole in current law, as well as banning the imports of young dogs from foreign puppy mills. (WWLTV)
This is great news! They are paying attention to puppy mills!
Please review Harold Ritchie's House Bill #1193, which has serious flaws – HERE
News articles are commenting that this bill "targets operators of puppy mills" but it certainly appears to do exactly the opposite.
It appears to encourage puppy mills in our state and does very little in the way of providing for animal control and humane care, which Louisiana sorely lacks. At some of our animal shelters the adoption rate is only three percent. The other 97% of animals are put to death. We have too few shelters and they are notoriously under-funded, under-staffed and over-populated. Huge discounts in licensing for bulk breeding is certainly not going to help this situation, and will most certainly make it worse.
If this bill becomes law, people who adopt multiple spayed and neutered rescue dogs will actually be penalized, while those who run large scale wholesale breeding facilities will be rewarded. A person with six spayed/neutered rescue dogs will be paying $60 in licensing fees while a wholesale breeder with eleven to SEVENTY-FIVE adult breeding dogs will only pay a paltry $30. Louisiana already lags behind the rest of the nation in pet spay and neuter rates–the passage of this bill will encourage that trend which contributes to our stray and unwanted animal problem, while doing little to fund animal control efforts.
We should not be encouraging people to breed more dogs when we have a sore lack of resources in this state to deal with the homeless dogs we already have. And responsible pet owners who spay and neuter their animals (or adopt spayed and neutered rescues) be NOT penalized, while puppy mill breeders are encouraged. The animals languishing in our shelters deserve a level playing field and this bill puts them at a worse disadvantage than they already are.
Mr. Ritchie's HB 1193 encourages dog hoarding and mass breeding while doing nothing to improve the poor state of our animal control and humane animal services in Louisiana. It actually appears to discourage people from adopting rescues while encouraging puppy mill operations.
Bouvier des Flandres Mom, what people are supporting regarding this bill is that puppy millers will no longer be able to keep hundreds of breeding dogs as they do now. It's the limiting of the number which is an improvement.
I agree that it is more costly for dog owners compared to breeders when it comes to licensing but looking at the bill, it doesn't change licensing laws for dog owners, just increases the fees a few dollars. I'm not saying it's right.
Right now there are many puppy mills operating that probably are not even licensed and this targets them and well as limits the number of dogs. No, it doesn't address the conditions but it is just one step. It's aimed at the large operations, to try to make things better to some degree.
I don't disagree that much more needs to be done but I don't think that this bill encourages hoarding and breeding. Do I think it could be better? Of course!
I think licensing fees for breeders should be much higher, I think that conditions should be addressed but sadly legislators are in a major fight when it comes to any kind of legislation that tries to limit or control 'commercial breeding" operations. Sometimes they have to take what they can get, even if it's just a small step, or face a fight they will never be able to win.
Hopefully the next bill will come soon and take things even further.
I'm pushing our legislators now to either fix HB 1193 or come up with a better one that is actually enforceable, which this one is not…and will continue to do so. Rep. Ritchie's office has said he's willing to reduce the number of dogs allowed to 50 if there's enough public pressure, so I'm sure if people show their concern and demand a better bill it will happen.
THESE LEGISLATORS SHOULD BE FORCED TO RESEARCH WHAT THEY ARE VOTING FOR WHICH MEANS GET OFF OF THEIR ASS AND GO SEE A FEW PUPPY MILLS. IF ANY SENSIBLE, CARING HUMAN BEING SEES THE HORRID CONDITIONS THESE SICKLY DOGS ARE FORCED TO LIVE IN FOR YEARS IN SMALL CAGES, NEVER TO RUN IN THE GRASS. JUST POP OUT ONE LITTER AFTER ANOTHER. THE GRAVEYARD IS FULL OF DEFORMED AND SICK PUPPIES THAT DID NOT MAKE IT AND MOTHERS WHO GOT TOO OLD TO KEEP PRODCING OR THOSE THAT DID NOT PROFUCE ENOUGH PUPS. THE STENCH AND FILTH OUTDOORS IN THE ELMENTS IS JUST SICKENING AND THESE POOR LITTLE DOGS DON'T HAVE AVOICE. THESE REDNECK HILLBILLIES LIVE ON THE BACKS OF THESE DOGS LIVING IN SQUALOR AND MISERY. I WONDER WHAT LAWS THE JUDGES WOULD PASS IF THEY ACTUALLY SAW A PUPPY MILL? BE THE VOICE FOR THESE POOR ANIMALS AND PUT THESE PUPPY MILS OUT OF BUSINESS. WRITE LETTERS TO YOUR EDITORS, YOUR SENAORS, ANYONE THAT HAS THE POWER TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AS TO THE REAL TRUTH OF WHERE THE "DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW" COMES FROM!!
@Bouvier des Flandres Mom – Bouvier des Flandres Mom, I'll be happy to help you to get the word out! I agree that much more needs to be done and maybe if enough people 'yell' loud enough, maybe he'll listen and make some changes!
@Nancy Vernand – Nancy, you've got the idea! Maybe if they actually went to some of these hellholes and saw the reality, they might be more willing to do something that would make a difference. Doubt that will ever happen though. Most of these people live in their own little insulated worlds, far above us mortals!
@Bouvier des Flandres Mom – This one's for you! Louisiana "Puppy Mill" Bill Doesn't Fit the Bill! PETITION</strong