The state of Missouri is starting to crack down on 'Puppy Mills". And that's good news.
For years, Missouri has been known as one of the largest puppy mill states in the country -- where licensed breeding operations allowed to keep animals in substandard conditions and countless unlicensed breeders were allowed to operate with little threat of being shut down. One estimate put the number of unlicensed commercial breeders in the state at around 4,000. The lack of overall inspectors in the state, along with the hilly, rocky terain (particularly in the southern part of the state) that allows for breeding facilities to go unnoticed are commonly given reasons why so many breeding operations are allowed to operate under substandard conditions.
"Most people think puppies were born in a box next to a fireplace in somebody's living room," said activist Kim Townsend. "If they walked into these places, they'd be appalled."
The state department of agriculture said that getting all of licensed breeding operations inspected even once a year is not even a possibility. In 2008, 1100 licensed Missouri facilities were not inspected. But with only 11 inspectors, and over 3,200 licensed breeders - plus animal rescues, shelters and dog pounds, he says it is impossible for them to make all the inspections. He said that 120 facilities per inspector is "Fully loaded", and his budget currently allows him to be staffed with over 300 facilities per inspector. "We can't get there." he said. He said that the "tremendous demand" for puppies has led to more people wanting a piece of the pie.
However, the state has stepped up it prosecution of unlicensed breeders and substandard breeding operatoins. That is a first step in making some substantial changes. Let's get the non-licensed commercial breeders out of the equation....or at least substantially trimmed down. Let's increase licensing rates for the current licensed breeders - to get more funding for inspectors. Having only reputable breeding operations would benefit everyone who runs one greatly. Increasing an anual license by only $50 would afford three more enforcement officers for the department of agriculture and help save the reputations of the commercial breeders that are actually trying to do things the right way.
Most of our problems have little to do with creating new laws -- it's about providing the resources to properly enforce the laws we currently have that restrict the neglectful harboring of animals.
For the rescue's part, we need to continue to fight the demand issue by creating MORE demand for our products -- rescued dogs and cats. It's all about market share, and we can help their battle by winning ours. This isn't about bashing them, it's about promoting us.
We ALL, (reputable breeders, state, rescues, shelters) need to work together to solve this issue of milled dogs in Missouri. The continued in-fighting between the groups has made inroads impossible to make at the state level. Let's get it done, and make substantial improvement in the lives and health of our dogs. I don't think anything I've proposed is anything that everyone can't get on board with.
For more:
My earlier blog posting on the subject.
AP article in the Columbia Tribune and the NW Arkansas News.
A good radio news story from KMOX radio in St. Louis that is worth the short listen (the blue buttons at the bottom of the story play it, it's not terribly intuitive).
That is so good that they are attempting to crack down on this. I personally have rescued 2 dogs from local shelters because people give up on dogs too fast.
Posted by: Debbie Loves Dogs | May 19, 2009 at 12:42 PM