Federal Government Works to Fight Puppy Mills

Breeders could not sell dogs sight-unseen

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By Heather Hintze
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Story Created: May 14, 2012 at 8:18 PM AKDT

Story Updated: May 15, 2012 at 8:10 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE -The U.S. Department of Agriculture is working to crack down on so-called “puppy mills” with a proposed change to the way animals are sold online.

The change would affect dog owners who breed four or more females, and means they would face the same oversight as wholesale dealers as part of the Animal Welfare Act.

It means breeders could not sell dogs sight-unseen. They would either have to open their doors to the public so people could see the dogs before they’re bought, or they’d have to get a license and face inspections by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

“If a breeder says, 'you can't come over and see the animals, we don't want you at our house,' that's a red flag and do not buy from that person,” said Michele Girault, the board president of Friends of Pets, an organization that rescues animals.

It’s an effort to cut down on people who commercially breed dogs for profit, usually in horrible living conditions.

“It's tragic. That's why we need to take these steps and change these rules. They can't protect themselves. They don't have a voice. They can't vote. They can't step up and say, 'I need help,'” said Maureen O’Nell, the Alaska Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' executive director.

The bottom line when it comes to adopting a pet: Do your research and know where your dog comes from. And remember dogs from Animal Control or Friends of Pets are always waiting for a family.
 

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Maria said on Monday, May 14 at 8:50 PM

Just because you dont want someone to come to your house that you dont know doesnt mean you dont take care of your animals. It means your smart and read the news and realize that it is dangerouse to open your home to strangers. Sounds to me that this is another way for the goverment to get involved and tax there way into another part of the Ameircan peoples life. I think our goverment has forgoten why people moved here and it wasnt to be governed in every aspect of daily living.

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AK_Hounds said on Monday, May 14 at 10:12 PM

The USDA is closing 259 field offices including a very well regarded research station and various offices connected with food safety. They're doing this for budgetary reasons: Does it make ANY sense to do that while planning to do more inspections of pet breeding? While those few inspectors that are left are busy busting some little 4 dog breeder, what's happening at all those processing plants? Where's the next salmonella or e-coli outbreak coming from? WE CAN'T AFFORD enough inspectors to do it all! *I* don't want to pay for them to inspect some small-time (and yes, 4 female dogs is SMALL, that's small even for hobby-breeder size) dog breeder while the nation's food supply (for humans and animals) goes a-wantin'! This has far less to do with so-called 'puppy mills' than it has to do with nanny government, forcing their way into ever possible aspect of our personal lives and private business.

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savedapuppymilldog said on Tuesday, May 15 at 8:11 AM

A reputable breeder will allow you to come to their home to see the puppies. often times they have both parents there so you can see what the puppy will possibly look like. Not being allowed to see at least one parent should raise a red flag. I rescued a female after her owner discarded her because her puppies died after being over bred and kept in a dark garage.

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AK_Hounds said on Tuesday, May 15 at 4:44 PM

"Not being allowed to see at least one parent" is a far cry from giving total strangers full access to your home. This regulation does NOT require anyone to see 'at least one parent,' but it DOES require strangers access to your home. I just read through a list of at least two dozen incidents where partial and even whole litters of puppies were stolen by strangers claiming to want a puppy, all the way up to a breeder being murdered and her almost full-term baby cut from her womb and stolen by a stranger answering an ad for her puppies. Not only will this type of thing increase, so will burglaries resulting from total strangers eyeballing everything you own. How is this supposed to help the animals??? It's not, it's only going to dramatically cut down on the number of hobby breeders, increase the numbers of black-market and imported puppies from who knows what conditions? It's about money and control, NOT about animals at all. P.S. BTW, 'Rescue' is NOT exempt.

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