Ban Puppy Mills

THANK YOU!!

Illinois advocates please support this!

Thursday, September 18, 2008

[Washington, DC] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act, which closes a loophole in current law that allows some dog breeders to escape acceptable care and exercise standards by selling directly to the public – a practice especially prevalent over the internet.

The sale of dogs and puppies online has increased dramatically in recent years. While many of the dog breeders online are very responsible business people, the internet has become a haven for puppy mill operators because they can bypass laws governing the safe and humane treatment of animals.

“Sadly, finding your puppy online may well increase the chance that you’ll be buying from a puppy mill,” said Durbin. “Our bill simply requires that breeders obtain a license from the USDA if they raise more than 50 dogs in a 12-month period and sell directly to the public and sets forth reasonable standards of care for commercial breeders. Responsible dog breeders are not the target of this legislation, but hopefully it will put the puppy mills out of business.”

Recent media reports have focused increased scrutiny on large commercial dog breeding facilities that house hundreds of dogs in cramped, unsanitary, and inhumane conditions. Facilities operated by the most negligent breeders are often referred to as puppy mills, because they churn out dogs the way a factory would -- with little or no respect for the animals’ quality of life. Breeding females in puppy mills often spend their entire lives in cages and virtually all animals raised in these facilities are at greater risk for serious health problems.

Durbin’s legislation would ensure more humane treatment of dogs by requiring the following changes to the Animal Welfare Act:

All dog breeders who sell directly to the public and who sell more than 50 dogs per year will be federally licensed and inspected;
Dogs at commercial breeding facilities must be given the opportunity to walk and exercise for 60 minutes a day

Senators Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) are original cosponsors of the legislation. The bill is also supported by the Humane Society of the United States.