Thought you should know

dturm wrote:
USDA strengthening federal authority over online pet sales

This is going to make it more difficult for back yard breeder and puppy mills to avoid the regulations in place.

YEA!

IMHO some are missing the point about how great this is, is the fact that licensed puppy mills are USING the INTERNET to skirt the rules, and no one could touch them. Which is why they do it.

Up till know the USDA could do nothing about the 'internet sales'. Which is why the puppy mills that do have a license rushed in mass and been disguising themselves on the internet.

Anyone can find out if a seller is a licensed puppy mill in disguise on the internet with 2 clicks. The USDA has known this and know who they were but their hands were tied, now with this new clarification of the regulations they can legally go in and get them. They will also be able to pursue the un licensed puppy mills selling on the internet too.

THIS is what is the important step in this new regulation that will stop internet sales by puppy mills
....""announced that it has

revised the definition of "retail pet store" within the Animal Welfare Act

to prevent many breeders selling pets online from sidestepping APHIS licensing requirements and inspections.....

This is a VERY GOOD thing. By defining internet sales to be as the same as retail sales gives USDA the powers to regulate the internet sales. This will stop the sales of millions of puppy mill dogs on the internet probably within the first year! Double YEA!

Thanks for posting the info! :C