February 7, 2015

Puppy Mill Awareness

of SoutheastMichigan

Please join Puppy Mill Awarenesshttp://michiganpuppymills.com/

Large-scale Breeder Registration Fact Sheet

Large-scale Breeder Registration Fact Sheet

� Require a no-fee registration and minimal standards of care at breeding facilities with 15 or more intact female breeding dogs.Establish a limit of 50 intact female breeding dogs at each facility.

� Help to prevent inhumane puppy mills from establishing themselves in Michigan.

� Help to prevent large-scale cruelty or neglect cases like those in Allegan County in 2012 and Missaukee County in 2013.Prohibit selling puppies at less than 8 weeks of age.

� Require vaccinations, parasite treatment and health certificatessigned by a veterinarian, annual reporting, and daily record-keeping.

� Give the MDARD authority to make rules for minimum standards (i.e. housing, sanitary conditions, enclosure space, exercise, and veterinary care of dogs).

Limit the number of animalsKent County breeder relocates to Montcalm County

100 Animals Surrendered 2014

Pending Prosecution

Limit the number of animalsProblem Barry County kennel relocated to Missaukee County

175 Dogs Seized 2013

Limit the number of animalsAllegan County

>350 Dogs Seized 2012

Chien D’or, Oakland County

Prevention

> 50 GoldensActive Kennel

PreventionJean Hansen, Midland County

66 Shelties Seized 2013

Stop Mills from coming to Mich.Noble County Indiana, USDA LicensedShipped puppies to The Family Puppy (Novi, Flint, Troy)

200 Dogs Active Kennel

Missouri USDA Licensed Kennel

Shipped puppies to Petland, Novi

Stop Mills from coming to Mich.

~250 Dogs Active Kennel

Industry Changes – “The Belt”

Puppy Mill Belt

Active in commercial dog breeding

Contain some commercial dog breeders, but show a pattern of growing concern

www.awawatchdog.com/puppybelt

2009 2014

Puppy Mill Belt

Active in commercial dog breeding

Contain between 5-11 commercial dog breeders/dealers.

* Most all states are decreasing the number of USDAlicensed kennels except Indiana an Ohio.

Protect Animals in Large-scale KennelsBranch County Repeat Violator – Animal Welfare Act

~85 DogsUSDA License Cancelled

Protect Animals in Large-scale KennelsCalhoun County, Repeat Violator – Animal Welfare Act

~ 85 DogsUSDA License Revoked

“Backyard Breeder” ExamplesTom Tucker, Midland County

~ 40 DogsActive Kennel

“Backyard Breeder” Examples

>75 Dogs Seized 2010

Roxanne Webster, Livingston County

“Backyard Breeder” Examples

Relocated out of state

Cheri Lane, Genesee County, Mi

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# of Kennels Impacted by County

St. Clair

2009 StudySt. Clair County is our puppy mill

capital in Michigan!

• 37 breeding kennels

• lacks a strong ordinance,

standards, and enforcement.

Questions

?Large Breeder

Registration Bill

Increased Penalties for Cruelty Fact Sheet

Increase PenaltiesFact Sheet

�Add the definition of “companion animals,”“breeder,” and “pet shop” to the animal cruelty statute.

�Add penalties for crimes that cause serious psychological injury to the owner of a companion animal.

�Add a felony-level penalty for chronic violations of Michigan’s “Pet Shops, Dog Pounds, and Animal Shelters” law.

� Increase the penalties for acts of cruelty to more than 25 animals and for knowingly harming a companion animal.

Tucker, who has a lengthy criminal record, pleaded guilty in December to one count of third-offense domestic violence as a second-time habitual offender. As part of a plea agreement in the case, one count of killing/torturing animals was dismissed and Tucker was able to avoid being convicted as a fourth-time habitual offender.

Cause serious psychological injury

REVISED: First Degree killing or torturing animals changed from 4 to 10 yrs max.

ADDED: Second Degree killing or torturing animals = 7 years max

ADDED: Third Degree killing or torturing animals = 4 years max

ADDED: (B) FOR A CONVICTION UNDER <….> SERIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY REQUIRING PROFESSIONAL TREATMENT OCCURRED TO THE OWNER OF A COMPANION ANIMAL....................... 5 POINTS

ADDED: (A) FOR A CONVICTION UNDER <….> THE PROPERTY WAS 25 OR MORE ANIMALS........................................................... 25

POINTS

ADDED: (B) FOR A CONVICTION UNDER <….> THE PROPERTY WAS 10 OR MORE ANIMALS BUT FEWER THAN 25 NIMALS............... 10 POINTS

Increase the penalties knowingly harming a companion animal

Killed 13 Italian

Greyhounds

Andrew Thompson, Lansing Mi

(2012) An ex-Michigan State University medical student accused of killing at least 12 greyhound puppies has been sentenced to five years’ probation.

Andrew Thompson pleaded guilty to three counts of animal killing.

As part of his probation, Thompson must perform 400 hours of community service, maintain a minimum of 30 hours per week employment, continue to receive psychological treatment, submit to random drug testing, have no contact with animals and pay more than $5,000 in court fines and restitution.

Timothy Tucker, Kalamazoo, MI

(2014) Tucker, who has a lengthy criminal record, pleaded guilty in December to one count of third-offense domestic violence as a second-time habitual offender.

As part of a plea agreement in the case, one count of killing/torturing animals was Dismissed.

Cause serious psychological injury

Under Current Law:

Commit a reckless act knowing or having reason to know that the act will cause an animal to be killed, tortured, mutilated, maimed, or disfigured.

• Imprisonment for not more than 4 years.

• A fine of not more than $5,000.00

• Community service for not more than 500 hours.

Tucker, who has a lengthy criminal record, pleaded guilty in December to one count of third-offense domestic violence as a second-time habitual offender. As part of a plea agreement in the case, one count of killing/torturing animals was dismissed and Tucker was able to avoid being convicted as a fourth-time habitual offender.

Cause serious psychological injury

(2) A person shall not do any of the following without just cause:

(a) Knowingly kill, torture, mutilate, maim, or disfigure an animal.

(b) Commit a reckless act knowing or having reason to know that the act will cause an animal to be killed, tortured, mutilated, maimed, or disfigured.

(c) Knowingly administer poison to an animal, or knowingly

ADDED: (d) Violate or threaten to violate subdivision (a) or (c) with the intent to cause mental suffering or distress to a person or to exert control over a

person.

ADDED: (3) A person who if the animal is a companion animal and if a person violates subsection (2) (d) and intentionally violates subsection (2) (2)

(a) or (c) the person is guilty of killing or torturing animals in the first degree.

Pet Stores Impacted

Greenwood Pets, Warren, MI

(2013) In an agreement reached with the judge, Jones pleaded no-contest to two counts of abandoning/cruelty of four to 10 animals — a felony offense punishable by up to two years in jail and a $2,000 fine — in exchange for a sentence of one year probation.

Judge Brookover, who received letters from animal welfare advocates, doubled the length at the sentencing hearing.

Animals

Seized~250 animals

Seized 2013

~250 animalsSeized 2013

Pet Station, Dearborn, MI

(2012) Charged with felony animal cruelty, carrying a four-year maximum penalty, and dozens more misdemeanor counts for violations of the state’s pet shop laws.

Placed on five years' probation and ordered to stay out of the pet business.

Add a felony-level penalty for chronic violations of Michigan’s “Pet Shops, Dog Pounds, and Animal Shelters” law.

>250 Animals Seized 2012

Pet Station, Dearborn, MI

Charged with felony animal cruelty, carrying a four-year maximum penalty, and dozens more misdemeanor counts for violations of the state’s pet shop laws.

Placed on five years' probation and ordered to stay out of the pet business.

Add a felony-level penalty for chronic violations of Michigan’s “Pet Shops, Dog Pounds, and Animal Shelters” law.

>250 Animals Seized 2012

ADDED: (F) If the person is a breeder, or if the person is an operator of a pet shop and he or she has had a 5 or more prior convictions for violation the Michigan Pet Shop Laws the person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 2 years or a fine of not more than $5,000 or both.

Hoarders & Breeders Impacted Elaine Komorny, Fowlerville, MI

~ 30 dogs rescued

14 dogs seized off-property

90 dogs seized 2014

Kim Koss, Davison Mi

70 AnimalsSeized 2010

(2009) Koss was charged with a felony for abandonment and cruelty of approximately 70 animals. Koss’ charges were reduced to a misdemeanor and she was under court supervision for 3 years.

Increase the penalties for acts of cruelty to more than 25 animals

Pet Station, Dearborn, MI

Charged with felony animal cruelty, carrying a four-year maximum penalty, and dozens more misdemeanor counts for violations of the state’s pet shop laws.

Placed on five years' probation and ordered to stay out of the pet business.

Add a felony-level penalty for chronic violations of Michigan’s “Pet Shops, Dog Pounds, and Animal Shelters” law.

>250 Animals Seized 2012

ADDED: (E) If the violation involved 25 or more animals or the person has had 3 or more prior convictions for violation subsection (2), the person is guilty of a felony punishable by 1 or more of the following and my be ordered to pay the cost of prosecution.

(i) Imprisonment for not more than 7 years. (ii) A fine of not more than $10,000.000(iii) Community service for not more than 500 hours.

Questions

?SB 28/29 Increased

Penalties

http://votesmart.org/

Links to Presentations & Materials on Facebook Event

Lobby Day2015

Save the Date

Tuesday, May 5, 20159:00 AMAnderson House Office Building124 North Capitol AvenueLansing, MI5th Floor - Mackinac Room

Utica Ballot Question

Committee

Next Meeting

Sunday, March 1, 20153:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Shelby Senior Center51670 Van Dyke AveShelby Twp, Mi

Local Pet Store

Campaigns

Spring Protests