Puppy Mills Produced by Acacia Meehan Commercial Dog Breeding in NZ.
Puppy Mills
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Transcript of Puppy Mills
Animal AdvocacyAnimal Advocacy
Puppy Mil lsPuppy Mil ls
Valerie A. Lang, J.D., M.L.S.Valerie A. Lang, J.D., M.L.S.
What is a What is a “Puppy Mill”“Puppy Mill”
??
Merriam Webster defines as:Merriam Webster defines as:
Main Entry: Main Entry: puppy mil lpuppy mil l Function: Function: nounnoun Date: 1973 Date: 1973 a commercial farming operation in which a commercial farming operation in which
purebred dogs are raised in large purebred dogs are raised in large numbers numbers
So what is this all about…So what is this all about…
Each year American consumers purchase dogs from unregulated dealers who sell animals from their premises. Many of the animals are sold through newspaper advertisements and via the Internet, which means the purchaser can't see the conditions in which the dogs live.
U.S. animal shelters U.S. animal shelters euthanize 3 million to 4 euthanize 3 million to 4 million cats and dogs million cats and dogs every year, and yet pet every year, and yet pet industry statistics show industry statistics show that about one third of that about one third of the nation's 11,000 pet the nation's 11,000 pet stores continue to sell stores continue to sell puppies. puppies.
Puppy Mill HistoryPuppy Mill History
Decades-old industryDecades-old industry Pet store original sales channelPet store original sales channel Pet store decline and reboundPet store decline and rebound
Common problems with puppy mill Common problems with puppy mill dogsdogs
ParasitesParasites URI/pneumonia (puppies)URI/pneumonia (puppies) GiardiaGiardia ParvoParvo EarsEars TeethTeeth SkinSkin Kidney and liver problems (puppies)Kidney and liver problems (puppies)
Animal Welfare ActAnimal Welfare Act
In 1966, Congress passed the AWA to, in part, ensure that breeders provide humane treatment to animals in their care. AWA requirements include adequate housing,
ample food and water, reasonable handling, basic disease prevention, decent sanitation, and sufficient ventilation.
The Animal Welfare Act…The Animal Welfare Act…
……which includes puppy mill-related which includes puppy mill-related standards and rules, is an administrative standards and rules, is an administrative law—distinct from animal cruelty laws- law—distinct from animal cruelty laws- which are criminal laws. which are criminal laws. Commercial kennels that violate these kennel Commercial kennels that violate these kennel
standards can be cited, similar to how standards can be cited, similar to how restaurants that violate health codes can be restaurants that violate health codes can be cited.cited.
But it’s against the law!??But it’s against the law!??
Typically, commercial kennel owners that Typically, commercial kennel owners that violate the cruelty laws of a state are violate the cruelty laws of a state are subject to criminal charges, but law subject to criminal charges, but law enforcement cannot always obtain enforcement cannot always obtain probable cause probable cause to enter a kennel to to enter a kennel to identify cruelty violations.identify cruelty violations. Source: ASPCASource: ASPCA
So, the United States Department of Agriculture regulates (through licensing and inspection) "commercial" breeding kennels. A "commercial" breeder is an operation with
more than three breeding females that sells dogs or cats to wholesale dealers (middleman).
Puppy Mil ls
Dealers (Brokers)(Exempt from USDA (federal)
l icensing and inspections if sell ing
to the public)
It is the USDA’s posit ionthat these dealers are
retail pet stores (unless sell ingto research, a dealer, or an
exhibitor).
Can also bePuppy Mil ls
Pet Store (Retail Dealer)
(Excluded from AWA (federal) minimum humane
handling requirements)
Large ScaleCommercial Breeders
“Wholesalers”and
“InternetPuppy Mil ls”Regulated by USDA
Licenses and Inspections
Public
Puppy Mill ChainPuppy Mill Chain Broker
WholesalerResearch Facil i tyOther Pet Dealer
Class B Dealer(Subject to USDA
Licensing and Inspections)
C.C. Baird
Dealing Dogs ChainDealing Dogs Chain
LaboratoriesInstitut ions
Other Dealers for ResearchTesting
Education
Bunchers
Flea MarketsAuct ions
Individuals
PoundsShelters
Other Dealers
The "Retail Pet Store" Exemption The "Retail Pet Store" Exemption ProblemProblem
The USDA has never required dealers who sell their animals directly to the public to apply for licenses, regardless of the size of the operation.
It is the USDA's position that these dealers are retail pet stores.
Why is this significant?Why is this significant?
The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) excludes "retail pet stores" from its minimum humane care and handling requirements!
Many think that a person breeding animals on his own premises and selling them directly to consumers is not a "retail pet store.“
Puppy mills can get around USDA licensing requirements by selling directly to consumers, and many simply rely on the limited reach of the law—with so few inspectors and only minor fines in place, it's often easy for puppy mills to stay in business.
Pet Lemon Laws – some states make pet stores financially responsible for sick animals purchased from them
A good breeding facility law: A good breeding facility law:
applies to applies to all breeding operationsall breeding operations with animals or animal with animals or animal
sales numbering over a specified threshold. sales numbering over a specified threshold. requires a requires a licensing fee and pre-inspectionlicensing fee and pre-inspection. . includes includes routine, unannounced inspectionsroutine, unannounced inspections at least twice at least twice
yearly. yearly. is enforced by an agency with is enforced by an agency with adequate fundingadequate funding and and
properly trainedproperly trained and tested staff. and tested staff. rotates inspectorsrotates inspectors to cover different areas of the state. to cover different areas of the state. is equipped with is equipped with strong penaltiesstrong penalties when facilities are in when facilities are in
repeated non-compliance, including but not limited to repeated non-compliance, including but not limited to cease and desist orders.cease and desist orders.
EducationEducation
Warning SignalsWarning Signals
Wants cash paymentWants cash payment Won’t let you visit the kennel and meet Won’t let you visit the kennel and meet
mom and dadmom and dad Meets you somewhere else for Meets you somewhere else for
“convenience”“convenience” No AKC papersNo AKC papers Stops answering phone or emailsStops answering phone or emails
Puppy Mill SolutionsPuppy Mill Solutions
Apply care standards to both licensed and Apply care standards to both licensed and unlicensed facilitiesunlicensed facilities
Authorize Ag. & Mkts. to enter premises to Authorize Ag. & Mkts. to enter premises to assure complianceassure compliance
Put inspection reports onlinePut inspection reports online Require advertisements to include name Require advertisements to include name
and addressand address Require Ag. & Mkts. to report cruelty and Require Ag. & Mkts. to report cruelty and
neglect to local authorities for follow-upneglect to local authorities for follow-up
Toronto Takes Charge.Toronto Takes Charge.