Missouri: A Dangerous Place for Animals

There's bad news for animals and animal lovers in Missouri.  According to the Missouri Alliance for Animal Welfare, the Missouri House of Representatives has a message for voters:  Don't even think about voting to protect animals.

Missouri House members overwhelmingly passed a resolution to amend the state's constitution to prohibit future ballot initiatives on animal welfare issues.

Named the "Right to Farm,"  HJR 11 was originally intended to repeal the recently passed Canine Cruelty Prevention Act (CCPA) which improved standards of care for dogs house in commercial breeding operations. The CCPA has been responsible for closing down close to 1,000 puppy mills.

Here's what the Missouri Alliance for Animal Welfare had to say:

"While most people are excited about our accomplishments to protect animals from abuse and neglect, too many in the Missouri House are determined, once again, to place Missouri in the forefront of animal cruelty.

"After weeks of intensive lobbying on the part of the Alliance, an amendment was instered into HJR 11 just seconds before the House voted on it.  This amendment fortunately preserved the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act.

"This was a huge victory as it ensured that the new regulations on dog breeders mandating veterinary care, increased living space, no wire flooring, and access to the outdoors will remain in effect.

"Unfortunately, HJR 11, as passed in the House, while preserving current laws to protect dogs, would prevent future citizens' initiatives to improve conditions for dogs, cats, and farm animals.  It would also eliminate current local restrictions on factory farms.

"Regrettably, over 100 state representatives voted to prohibit future ballot initiatives.

"While we are thankful that current laws for companion animals are preserved, the need for future ballot initiatives to improve animal welfare in the state is of critical importance. Our current cockfighting prohibition was enacted into law only by a ballot initiative after years of the legislature failing to pass a law criminalizing this barbaric activity. Our recently passed Canine Cruelty Prevention Act, which dramatically improved standards of care for breeding dogs, only came about as a result of the Prop B ballot initiative which raised the issue of puppy mill cruelty and pressured the legislature to finally act on this important issue."

Meanwhile, the fight continues in the  Missouri House of Representative,  where there are serious efforts underway to weaken our current cruelty statutes and even eliminate the position of Director of Agriculture in retribution for Dr. Jon Hagler's efforts to enforce the Animal Care Facilities Act and the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act.  Unfortunately, the House of Representatives has become a dangerous place for animals as many legislators are determined to seek retribution for the closing down of so many Missouri puppy mills.

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Missouri Puppy Mills: Dog Breeders Ordered to Provide Humane Care

A judge has denied the request presented by a group of Missouri dog breeders for a preliminary injunction and has ruled that dog breeders must continue to provide humane care.

I just received this news from the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation.  Some of the assertions by the dog breeders in this lawsuit were pretty unbelievable.  So, I'm re-printing straight from MAAL.  I've used bold and red to call your attention to some of the most shocking court statements.

"A group representing 83 dog breeders in the state of Missouri has brought a lawsuit in an effort to thwart the new regulations promulgating humane standards of care for dogs confined in puppy mills. These new regulations are the result of the passage of the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act in 2011. The breeders' group sought a temporary restraining order against the regulations and when that failed, they sought a hearing to argue for a preliminary injunction against the regulations. After the hearing on January 11, Judge Jon Beetem, of the Circuit Court of Cole County, dismissed the request for preliminary injunction but will allow the dog breeders to argue their case at trial later this year.

The rejection of the injunction is an important victory as it means that dog breeders will have to continue to comply with the regulations--some of which are due for enforcement at the end of January. An injunction would have permitted dog breeders to flaunt the new regulations and continue to deny breeding dogs access to the outdoors until the case is resolved later in the year. 

The hearing was quite telling about the commercial dog breeding industry in Missouri.

One breeder testified that when she was told she had to provide her dogs with access to the outdoors, she chose to kill them rather than comply with the new rule. She had her veterinarian euthanize 72 of them and proudly presented a photo of 25 dead dogs to the judge as evidence of how her business has been hurt since passage of the new law.

Another breeder in the courtroom audience stated that she also destroyed her dogs rather than comply with new rules and bragged that she only had to pay her vet $7 per dog to have them euthanized.

While some of the testimony was a tragic exposure of how dogs are exploited in the commercial dog breeding industry, some of the testimony proved farcical as the breeders and their representatives argued that they did not know what "constant" and "unfettered" access to the outdoors meant. They claimed that since the regulations did not define the terms, the breeders were left in the dark. One witness under cross examination by the attorney general's office was asked to read the definition of "constant" and "unfettered" from the dictionary. After reading the definition, the witness claimed that nowhere in the regulations did it say to refer to the dictionary for meaning of the words. He claimed not to know to use a dictionary for words he did not understand. He argued that "even words with defined meaning need further clarification from the Department of Agriculture."  

Another breeder testified that her dogs cannot be outside as they are too excitable and the excitement of being outside could kill them. She said she could not risk them being outside as a car might backfire or children might walk by her yard. Any excitement could cause them to die. This, of course, raises the question as to whether she informs her customers that the puppies she is selling are restricted to indoor use only for their entire life and can never go outside even to relieve themselves. This breeder testified that "outside air causes loss of ventilation" for dogs. She alleged that six dogs died of heatstroke and excitability when she tried an outdoor exercise plan. 

The breeders argued that dogs do not need access to sunlight and even expressed objection to providing extra bedding to dogs housed outside in winter weather claiming they did not know what "extra bedding" meant. The breeders also argued against the requirement for heavy duty tarps for windbreaks for dogs housed outside.

An Assistant Attorney General summed it up well for the judge when he asserted that dogs are simply commodities to commercial dog breeders."

I guess I could have used bold and red throughout the article since almost all of the above has me banging my head against my desk.  So goes the fight in Missouri about puppy mills / commercial dog breeding.

Blog the Change: Puppy Mills vs Responsible Dog Breeders

Every time I've looked at the calendar this week, I've wondered what to write about for Blog the Change.  Frankly, there are so may dog causes that I am passionate about that I've even thought about skipping this time around.  Too hard to focus my thoughts.

At least that's how I felt until I read a comment on my blog.  In response to my post Puppy Mill Industry Fights New Missouri Law, good old Anonymous left the following comment:

"What a skewed and misleading article. "Puppy Mill' is a term used to slur any breeder and leaves the impression of a cruel operation. There is nothing basic about the regulations and they are designed to make it hard to raise puppies in a healthy socialized environment. Most breeders are not going to do this to their dogs and that is why they stop. They are experts in care, unlike the people behind these rules, and they care too much and know too well the ill effects on their dogs to raise them in sterile environments designed for lab animals."

I've been yelled at corrected before about my use of the term "puppy mill." 

Here's the definition of "puppy mill" as defined by the Humane Society of the United States:

"Puppy mills are breeding facilities that produce purebred puppies in large numbers.  The puppies are sold either directly to the public via the Internet, newspaper ads, at the mill itself, or are sold to brokers and pet shops across the country."

There are documented problems with puppy mills:

• Over breeding
• Inbreeding
• Minimal veterinary care
• Poor quality of food and shelter
• Lack of socialization with humans
• Overcrowded cages
• Killing of unwanted animals

These are some of the problems the Missouri Canine Cruelty Prevention Act was designed to prevent.  In fact, new regulations in Missouri are putting some commercial dog breeders out of business.  Do I know, for a fact, that these are "puppy mills?"  No, but I suspect many, if not all, are.

Do I want to see them put out of business?

You betcha, I do.   I'm against factory farming and confinement farming.  Yes, of all animals.  Most definitely dogs.  


To my way of thinking, there are puppy mills, commercial dog breeders, and simply dog breeders.

One of my best friends is a dog breeder - a responsible dog breeder, in my opinion.  At any given time she owns or co-owns up to two dozen Swiss Mountain Dogs and is responsible for the puppy placements.  I've known Brigitte for well over twenty years and have watched her passion for these dogs grow.  She's active in several Swissy clubs and is currently the 1st Vice President of the GSMDCA, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America, the breed's AKC recognized parent club.

Brigitte is a native of Switzerland and her first Swissy came from there and her venture has grown.  The goal of her kennel, Brush Creek Farm, is to breed and raise healthy and temperamentally sound Swissys as family companions, as active working dogs for activities such as obedience, tracking, herding, weight pulling, draft and pack dog and other events, as therapy dogs, and for conformation shows and breeding.

Her dogs are farm and family raised.  They are not confined or kenneled.  They have access to approximately 6 acreas of fenced house yard.  And, yes, they are in the house, playing with stuffies or lounging on a sofa.  

Puppies come into this world inside the house, in a well equipped area of her laundry room.  Friends - especially those with children - are encouraged to come and play with those puppies, so that socialization can begin as early as possible.

Copious records are kept on the health of each dog.  Any dog that does not "measure up" is spayed or neutered and a home is found for that dog.  Potential adopters of both show and pet quality dogs are screened very carefully.  Even the health of the pet quality dogs is followed throughout their lives.

Is Brush Creek Kennel a puppy mill?  Hardly.  In fact, Brigitte is just as opposed to puppy mills as I am.

If a dog breeder is afraid of regulations like those imposed by Missouri's Canine Cruelty Prevention Act, then I cannot believe they are responsible dog breeders.  If they cannot comply with those very basic regulations - and they are very basic, then I believe they are most probably puppy mills.

Responsible dog breeders, like my friend, do not keep their puppies and dogs in inhumane conditions.  They never sell to pet stores or directly over the internet.  They do not place profit over the health, wellness and socialization of their dogs.

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About Blog the Change at BtC4animals.com - Each 15th of January, April, July and Octobers, Bloggers write about a cause near and dear to their hearts.  If you have a blog, blog.  Or comment, tweet, share on Facebook or other social media.  Blog the Change is a fantastic opportunity to champion a cause and make a difference in the lives of animals.

Missouri Puppy Mills Decline in Number | Fight Ahead

New report from Bob Baker, Executive Director of the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation (MAAL) has good news and bad news.  The good news: Missouri puppy mills have declined dramatically in number.  The bad news:  the puppy mill industry is fighting back.

Since the passage of the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act and with the cooperation from the Missouri Attonrney General's office, standards of care for dogs at commercial breeding facilities have improved.  Dogs now have increased living space, receive an annual veterinarian examination, no longer have to live on wire flooring, and have unfettered access to the outdoors.

In the past three years the number if inspectors of breeding facilities has increased from nine to twenty, including three veterinarians and two investigators.  

The number of inspections conducted by the Missouri Department of Agriculture per year has more than tripled.  

There are at least 50% less dogs in puppy mills in Missouri today than as recently as 2009.  The average number of dogs per mill has also declined as many dog breeders are downsizing due to the new regulations.

Unfortunately, the dog breeders and agricultural interests are fighting back and atenpting to repeal laws not only protecting puppy mill dogs, but all animals.

The Missouri House Appropriations - Agriculture Committee called a special hearing this past September to address the complaints from dog breeders about the new regulations and concerns over the recent closing of over 900 commercial breeders.  

It became clear during this hearing that some legislators are planning to introduce legislation to repeal or seriously weaken the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act in the upcoming legislative session.  Members of the Committee even threaten to weaken the original Animal Care Facilities Act passed in 1992.

On Representative went so far as to vow to eliminate all curre4nt regulations protecting farm animals in retribution for the closure of so many commercial dog breeders.  Meanwhile, another legislator has indicated that he will introduce legislation to eliminate the disposition process for abused and neglected animals.

The upcoming legislative session will be critical as MAAL and other animal advocates fight to continue efforts to protect animals in Missouri.

Adopt a Puppy Mill Survivor: Australian Shepherd Dog

In honor of Puppy Mill Awareness Day, we're featuring a puppy mill survivor who's looking for love and a forever home.

Breezy is a purebred mini Australian Shepherd female dog who is 4 years old.  She weighs about 30 pounds and is reported to be a real sweetheart.  Breezy is a little timid, so she'll need a patient home with a securely fenced yard. 

This beautiful girl is currently with the National Mill Dog Rescue (NMDR) in Colorado.  Adopting a retired mill dog can be a challenging, but very rewarding experience.  If you believe Breezy is the dog for you, please contact NMDR.  

National Mill Dog Rescue was established in February 2007, in honor of a forgiving little Italian Greyhound named Lily.  Theresa Strader, NMDR's Founder and Executive Director, rescued Lily from a dog auction in Missouri.  Prior to that day, Lily had spent the first seven years of her life as a commercial breeding dog, a puppy mill mom.  Determined that her years of living in misery would not be in vain, Strader started NMDR, giving a voice to mill dogs across the country.

The mission of NMDR is to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome discarded breeding dogs and to educate the general public about the cruel realities of the commercial dog breeding industry.  To date NMDR has saved 6,792 dogs... and counting.

Puppy Mill Awareness Day 2012: Austin Texas

What are your plans for this weekend!  If you live anywhere near Austin, Texas, you should head to this big event for Puppy Mill Awareness Day 2012!

Activists, actors and musicians are joining forces to put an end to puppy mills on Saturday and Sunday September 29 and 30, 2012. There's quite a line up!  

Poison drummer Rikki Rockett, actress Shannon Elizabeth, dog trainer Victoria Stilwell, and Animal Cops Houston's Randy Farm will be joining Last Chance for Animals (LCA) president and founder Chris DeRose and rescue group Paws of Austin to host a free educational public event and a VIP reception to raise awareness and put an end to puppy mills.

Take in the VIP reception on Saturday from 7 pm to 10pm at the Urban Grill at The Westin.  For $30 you'll enjoy food, wine, a silent auction and a live art auction featuring puppy mill survivors and their stories.

On Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm celebrate Puppy Mill Awareness Day at Fiesta Garden (West End) with live music, food and drink, the Puppy Mill Survivor Parade, Frisbee show by Karma the Flying Pit Bull and special guest speakers.

Last Chance for Animals (LCA), known as "The FBI of Animal Rights," is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting animal cruelty through education, grassroots outreach and working to enact legislation that protects animal.  Founded in 1984 by Hollywood actor Chris DeRose, LCA began by exposing the inherent cruelty of vivisection (the live dissection of animals).  Over the years, LCA has grown and broadened its focus to include all areas in which animals are abused in our society - including animals in entertainment, stolen companion animals, Class "B" animal dealers, factory farming, puppy mills and the fur industry.

Looking for a Puppy Mill Awareness Day event in your neck of the woods?  Fetch the Puppy Mill Awareness Day site.

Puppy Mill News

In Missouri...  Attorney General Chris Koster recently pledged to close down abusive puppy mills in Missouri.  Koster stated:

"I'm sick of hearing people refer to our state as the puppy mill capital of the nation.  These mills are notorious for viciously abusing their dogs.  And these breeders are known for putting their own profit above proper dog care."

Shortly after making this announcement his office shut down a Carter County, Missouri, dog breeder for violations of the MO Animal Care Facilities Act. We applaud Koster's aggressive efforts against abusive puppy mills and wish him well in the November elections.

First Quantitative Evidence:  Puppy Mills Injurious to Mental Health and Welfare of Dogs
According to the Missouri Alliance for Animal Welfare (MAAL):

Abbreviated Study Abstract:
Canine commercial breeding establishments (CBEs) are kennel facilities where puppies are produced in large numbers for commercial sale. In the popular media, CBEs are commonly referred to as "puppy mills" or "puppy farms." Conditions in CBEs vary widely in quality. Dogs in these facilities are routinely housed for their entire reproductive lives in cages or runs, and provided with minimal to no positive human interaction or other forms of environmental enrichment. Numerous anecdotal reports have suggested that after removal from CBEs many of the former breeding dogs display persistent behavioural and psychological abnormalities when compared with the general pet dog population. The purpose of this study was to determine if this anecdotal evidence could be confirmed empirically.

By demonstrating that dogs maintained in these environments develop extreme and persistent fears and phobias, possible learning deficits as evidenced by lower trainability, and often show difficulty in coping successfully with normal existence, this study provides the first quantitative evidence that the conditions prevailing in CBEs are injurious to the mental health and welfare of dogs.

Read the entire study by  Franklin D. McMillan, Deborah L. Duffy, and James A. Serpell.

Largest Dog Brokers in the US Goes Out of Business
Mahaska, Kansas based Lambriar Kennels blames the poor economy, increased rules and regulations, and animal welfare activists for their closure.  Many puppies brokered through this facility over the years were purchased from Missouri dog breeders.  In business for 44 years, Lambriar Kennels made their last shipment of puppies in June.

USDA Plan to Regulate Dog Breeders Internet Sales

Is this where that puppy came from?

  Time is running out for you to make your voice heard regarding the USDA's plan to regulate dog breeders who sell over the internet.  All comments must be received by August 15, 2012. 

You can submit your comments electronically by going to the federal rule making portal here.

These new USDA rules would require breeders who sell multiple puppies over the Internet to be federally licensed and regulated by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Currently, Internet sellers are exempt from the Animal Welfare Act which only covers breeders for the wholesale market such as those who breed dogs for pet stores. 

 

The new rules would require large scale dog breeders that sell their puppies sight unseen over the Internet, by phone, or by mail, to be licensed and regulated to ensure they are providing their dogs with humane standards of care. These new rules would also apply to cat breeders who sell kittens over the Internet.

If you've followed the various legislation in several states that has been aimed at tightening dog breeding regulations and establishing humane care standards, it should come as no surprise that agriculture groups are very vocally opposed to the proposed USDA plan.  

As explained by the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation:

Pigs, cows, and sheep are coming soon to your local pet store if you listen to some agricultural interests. Believe it or not, some farm groups are alleging that USDA's plan to redefine the term "retail pet store" could adversely affect farmers. The Animal Agriculture Alliance (AAA) issued an alert on July 24, 2012 entitled "Proposed APHIS Rule Could Impact Farmers."

In reality, the proposed USDA rule merely extends the definition of a pet store to include large scale dog breeders who sell puppies over the Internet sight unseen. The AAA maintains, however, that if a farmer sells even one farm animal for a pet or sells a farm animal "for purposes such as a 4-H project" that they "could potentially come under the impact of the proposed new rule."

Never mind the fact that "farm animals" are specifically exempted from the Animal Welfare Act, the AAA states that this new proposed rule could cost a farmer "up to $10,000 per day" in penalties and that USDA may "seize animals or work with state and local authorities to seize animals." Later in their alert, the AAA concedes that "livestock used for food production are not included in this rule." The AAA continues to argue, however, that the new rule "potentially does present an opportunity for APHIS inspectors to gain access to agricultural operations, which is unprecedented."

What is not without precedence is the paranoia of agricultural groups and their claims that dogs are farm animals. We heard the same preposterous claims during the Prop B campaign when farm groups argued that Prop B covered all domestic animals and would lead to the closure of Missouri farms. While one might be tempted to laugh at such outlandish claims, the AAA alert encourages farmers to "take action" and provides the link for submitting comments to USDA on the new rule.  Unfortunately, pork and cattle industry publications have reprinted this same message urging farmers to submit comments in opposition to USDA's proposed rule.

Thousands of dogs desperately need your help to counteract the campaigns being waged by farming interests.   In addition to submitting your comments to the USDA, you should contact your US Senators and Representatives to let them know of your position on this issue.  Take action now!

Missouri Puppy Mill Shut Down in Verona

Photo: KMOX CBS St.Louis

According to KMOX news in St Louis and the Humane Society of Missouri, another puppy mill has been shut down.  Animal care inspectors from the Missouri Department of Agriculture removed 18 dogs from Charles Etenburn's commercial dog breeding facility, C E Kennel on Monday, April 16

Etenburn had repeatedly failed recent inspections by the MDA and was unable to meet the requirements of the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act for kennel space, flooring and unfettered access to the outside.

The dogs included Pekingese, Poodles, Havanese/Shih Tzu, Labradoodle and French Bulldogs. One of the dogs is blind.  Several of the dogs appeared to have eye problems and matted coats.  The HSMO also reported that some of the dogs had severe skin infections.  As soon as they are healthy, as many of the dogs as possible will be made available for adoption.

Debbie Hill, HSMO VP Operations with matted Labradoodle. Photo: KMOX CBS St.Louis

This is a commercial dog breeder who has had problems with state officials previously.  In March he entered into a settlement agreement with MDA and the Missouri Attorney General's Office and agreed to close his facility after not renewing is license in 2012.  On April 13, Etenburn agreed to surrender his animals.

Etenburn must now refrain from owning or operating any business subject to the Animal Care Facilities Act and the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act for 10 years and pay a $500 fine.  He is also subject to an additional $2,850 fine if he violates those terms.

Since January 2009, similar action taken by the Missouri Department of Agriculture have resulted in more than 5,600 dogs being removed from substandard conditions and placed with licensed animal shelters and rescue organizations..