Thought you should know

Generally speaking the VAST majority of the worst puppy mills are off the beaten path, in the back woods, so to speak. Enforcing any new regulations or laws will be hard but something MUST be started. We learn by doing even when it comes to laws, legislation, and making changes.

I will still celebrate the efforts and hope for more changes on the horizon.

Count me in! It may take some editing and time to enforce but something is much better than nothing.

Not always. If implemented incorrectly it can cause more harm than good. Must be interpreted and enforced properly. And by itself can cause unintended consequences. An example: Mass passed a "no texting while driving" law which carries a $100 fine if caught. Accidents due to texting while driving went UP after the law was passed. Why? Instead of holding their phones at the top of the steering wheel, people (teens especially) started holding their phones on the bottom of the steering wheel or their laps, so they were constantly looking down and taking MORE of their attention off the grounds. Just makes me wonder how devious the puppy mills will get to avoid the rules, and if it will turn a non-criminal into a criminal by default. Hopefully it will work as intended and not make a bad situation worse.

I think generally speaking, a breeding animal would be one that is intact. Pets would have to be spayed/neutered.

Unless that's spelled out in the law, it's unenforceable. I don't mean to be a Negative Nellie but I have co-written a number of pieces of legislation and have learned how people can weasel their way out of trouble through unintended loopholes. My overall concern is that law enforcement (or whoever handles this) will spend too much time prosecuting the ones with minor infringements rather than concentrate on the big mills. It's kind of like taking drug dealers of the street but not stopping the supply.

doxiemom11 wrote:
I applaud any effort to stop/control puppy mills.

Count me in! It may take some editing and time to enforce but something is much better than nothing.

I applaud any effort to stop/control puppy mills.

I think generally speaking, a breeding animal would be one that is intact. Pets would have to be spayed/neutered.

Unfortunately really easy to sidestep. One might have 5 or 6 females, but claim only 2 are used for breeding and the others are pets. Do all the animals need to be "working" animals to be exempt or just one or two? Legislation like this always make me nervous. I understand it's intent and applaud it but the big abusers will still get away with it and the little person who's truly not intending to break the law may inadvertently do so.

There will always be some who try to skirt the laws.

However, in theory, you should have paperwork showing origin of the dogs. Rescues generally get more adult dogs than puppies. You have a paper trail of where the dog came from. Either release paperwork from a shelter, or release of ownership signed by the owner surrendering the dog. And a copy of the adoption contract of where teh dog goes.

Puppy mills are not going to keep puppies until they are older - the longer they have to feed them, the more it cuts into their profit margin.

Also, at least in PA, dogs coming out of shelters and rescues have to be spayed or neutered. Puppy mills aren't going to spend the bucks to have every animal sterilized.

Finding a reputable rescue is just like finding a reputable breeder. The consumer needs to do their homework and look into anyone they are going to get a dog from. There are laws... there are people who do their best to circumvent the laws.... and people have some responsibility in looking out for themselves in any transaction.

While this sure sounds hopeful, what will prevent a puppy mill from declaring themselves a "rescue"???

Go Dogs wrote:
Thanks for posting this link. However, this sentence: "The rule change specifies that people who maintain four or fewer breeding females will not be subject to federal regulation. Those with more than four breeding females - dogs, cats, or small exotic/wild pocket pets - will need to be licensed and inspected by APHIS, the USDA said. " tells me it won't be very hard to skirt the regulations. Four dogs here, four dogs there.

I agree with you, but this is better than having no control or regulation at all. There has always been a conflict between those wanting total regulation and those wanting none. If you remember we had a thread last year about the laws that were passed then the attempted repeal in Missouri attempting to regulate the puppy mill industry in that state. Similar arguments and by extension trying to say that housing requirements would impact farmers with cattle, horses, pigs, chickens, etc. where the law really didn't intend to impact that.

This should impact those who have large numbers of breeding animals and make it easier for authorities to deal with the problem. Not eliminate it, but at least some improvement.

Thanks for sharing. Doing rescue, I was amazed at the number of ppl who buy a dog on the internet, sight unseen. I never quite understood the mentality behind it - it's not like you're buying a coffee pot. I want to see the personality of the dog I'm getting.

Hopefully this will be good for both the animals and the consumers.