puppy mills - overview
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Animal Law IAnimal Law I
What is a What is a “Puppy Mill”“Puppy Mill”
??
Merriam Webster defines as:Merriam Webster defines as:
Main Entry: Main Entry: puppy millpuppy mill
Function: Function: nounnoun
Date: 1973 Date: 1973
a commercial farming operation in a commercial farming operation in which purebred dogs are raised in which purebred dogs are raised in large numbers large numbers
So what is this all about…So what is this all about…
Each year American consumers purchase dogs from unregulated dealers who sell animals from their premises. Many of the animals are sold through newspaper advertisements and via the Internet, which means the purchaser can't see the conditions in which the dogs live.
U.S. animal shelters U.S. animal shelters euthanize 3 million euthanize 3 million to 4 million cats to 4 million cats and dogs every and dogs every year, and yet pet year, and yet pet industry statistics industry statistics show that about show that about one third of the one third of the nation's 11,000 pet nation's 11,000 pet stores continue to stores continue to sell puppies. sell puppies.
Puppy Mill HistoryPuppy Mill History
Decades-old industryDecades-old industry Pet store original sales channelPet store original sales channel Pet store decline and reboundPet store decline and rebound
Aren’t puppy mills illegal?Aren’t puppy mills illegal?
““Why don’t you just outlaw them?”Why don’t you just outlaw them?” Bad business practice = failed Bad business practice = failed
businesses (right?)businesses (right?) Do dogs = corn? (or cows?)Do dogs = corn? (or cows?) ““But I’m in [state x] and we don’t But I’m in [state x] and we don’t
have puppy mills here.”have puppy mills here.”
Common problems with puppy mill Common problems with puppy mill dogsdogs
ParasitesParasites URI/pneumonia (puppies)URI/pneumonia (puppies) GiardiaGiardia ParvoParvo EarsEars TeethTeeth SkinSkin Kidney and liver problems (puppies)Kidney and liver problems (puppies)
Animal Welfare ActAnimal Welfare Act
About thirty-five years ago, Congress passed the AWA to, in part, ensure that breeders provide humane treatment to animals in their care. AWA requirements include adequate
housing, ample food and water, reasonable handling, basic disease prevention, decent sanitation, and sufficient ventilation.
So, the United States Department of Agriculture regulates (through licensing and inspection) "commercial" breeding kennels. A "commercial" breeder is an operation
with more than three breeding females that sells dogs or cats to wholesale dealers (middleman).
Puppy Mills
Dealers(Exempt from USDA
Licensing and Inspections)
Can also bePuppy Mills
Pet Store (Retail Dealer)
Commercial Breeder
Regulated by USDA
Licenses and Inspections
Public
Puppy Mill ChainPuppy Mill Chain Broker
WholesalerResearch FacilityOther Pet Dealer
Class B Dealer(Subject to USDA
Licensing and Inspections)
C.C. Baird
Dealing Dogs ChainDealing Dogs Chain
LaboratoriesInstitutions
Other Dealers for ResearchTesting
Education
Bunchers
Flea MarketsAuctions
Individuals
PoundsShelters
Other Dealers
The "Retail Pet Store" Exemption The "Retail Pet Store" Exemption ProblemProblem
The USDA has never required dealers who sell their animals directly to the public to apply for licenses, regardless of the size of the operation.
It is the USDA's position that these dealers are retail pet stores.
Why is this significant?Why is this significant?
The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) excludes "retail pet stores" from its minimum humane care and handling requirements!
Many think that a person breeding animals on his own premises and selling them directly to consumers is not a "retail pet store.“
Puppy mills can get around USDA licensing requirements by selling directly to consumers, and many simply rely on the limited reach of the law—with so few inspectors and only minor fines in place, it's often easy for puppy mills to stay in business.
Who is (or should be) looking at Who is (or should be) looking at puppy mills?puppy mills?
USDA vs. StateUSDA vs. State Difference in state laws and Difference in state laws and
enforcementenforcement State inspections vital for all State inspections vital for all
operationsoperations Imports Imports
New YorkNew York
Growing problemGrowing problem Migration from PennsylvaniaMigration from Pennsylvania
Solving ItSolving It
EducationEducation Legislation/EnforcementLegislation/Enforcement
A good breeding facility law: A good breeding facility law:
applies to applies to all breeding operationsall breeding operations with animals or with animals or
animal sales numbering over a specified threshold. animal sales numbering over a specified threshold. requires a requires a licensing fee and pre-inspectionlicensing fee and pre-inspection. . includes includes routine, unannounced inspectionsroutine, unannounced inspections at least at least
twice yearly. twice yearly. is enforced by an agency with is enforced by an agency with adequate fundingadequate funding and and
properly trainedproperly trained and tested staff. and tested staff. rotates inspectorsrotates inspectors to cover different areas of the to cover different areas of the
state. state. is equipped with is equipped with strong penaltiesstrong penalties when facilities are when facilities are
in repeated non-compliance, including but not limited in repeated non-compliance, including but not limited to cease and desist orders.to cease and desist orders.
EducationEducation
Warning SignalsWarning Signals
Wants cash paymentWants cash payment Won’t let you visit the kennel and Won’t let you visit the kennel and
meet mom and dadmeet mom and dad Meets you somewhere else for Meets you somewhere else for
“convenience”“convenience” No AKC papersNo AKC papers Stops answering phone or emailsStops answering phone or emails
Puppy Mill SolutionsPuppy Mill Solutions
Apply care standards to both licensed Apply care standards to both licensed and unlicensed facilitiesand unlicensed facilities
Authorize Ag. & Mkts. to enter Authorize Ag. & Mkts. to enter premises to assure compliancepremises to assure compliance
Put inspection reports onlinePut inspection reports online Require advertisements to include Require advertisements to include
name and addressname and address Require Ag. & Mkts. to report cruelty Require Ag. & Mkts. to report cruelty
and neglect to local authorities for and neglect to local authorities for follow-upfollow-up