AR-News: Puppy Protection Act

[Kathy Bauch]

> PLEASE CROSS POST
>  
> November 2003
> 
> Dear Concerned Dog Lover:
> 
> We understand there has been misinformation circulating about the Puppy Protection Act and hope to address whatever concerns you have about it by reaching out to you directly.  
> 
> The Misinformation Effort
> 
> It is distressing to see attack pieces and misleading efforts made in an attempt to pull individuals concerned about the welfare of dogs apart when there is such a great need for reform of puppy mills.  At The Humane Society of the United States, we get calls constantly about puppies who have died or are near death due to conditions they had when purchased.  The suffering of these puppies and their new, now devastated, family is often found to be a result of their life beginning at a massive puppy mill instead of in the safe and loving home of a small, responsible breeder.  It is heartbreaking to hear the stories and we wish we could do more about it.  We know you feel the same way.
> 
> We know that reputable breeders love their dogs.  You may all have watched helplessly as your breed has been nearly ruined by a sudden surge in demand, and the resulting surge in supply.  In the most inhumane mills, dogs are stacked in wire cages with poor sanitation, denied adequate veterinary care, and subjected to constant breeding> -> all to yield a large number of puppies at the cheapest cost.  These practices pass on both financial loss and genuine heartbreak to consumers uneducated about the genetic and behavioral problems associated with dogs who are bred in such operations.  The burden of caring for these poor animals often falls on local shelters and breed assistance groups, whose resources, as you know, are already severely taxed.
> 
> The Legislation
> 
> The HSUS started legislative work a few years ago with the guidance of reputable breeders and developed some ideas for ways to curb abuses at puppy mills.  We needed to be sure was that this legislation would in no way affect small, responsible breeders -- the legislation will only affect USDA licensed facilities.  The legislation included very modest breeding frequency standards, at the urging of veterinarians we consulted -- something we knew any responsible breeder would yearn to see enacted.  
> 
> Originally, the legislation included language requiring USDA to develop socialization standards based on the advice of dog behaviorists, veterinarians, and other experts that licensed facilities would need to comply with.  While good breeders are socializing their puppies from day one, puppies bred in commercial facilities simply do not enjoy such benefits. Unfortunately, this section, designed to help puppies prepare for life as a family pet, became a significant concern to some groups.  These groups felt the language was too vague.
> 
> We still believe the language is valuable, however, in the interest of compromise, we have supported its removal from the legislation.  The bill will soon be reintroduced, with a more narrow, but very important, focus that does two things: sets a very modest limit on breeding (not before one year of age and not more than three times every two years) and a > "> three strikes and you> '> re out> ">  tool for enforcement.  This means that if a USDA licensed facility has three serious violations (i.e. those that have a direct impact on the welfare of the dog or puppy), they will lose their license unless the Secretary determines that there are extenuating circumstances.  
> 
> The Answers Came from Reputable Breeders
> 
> We used the standards dictated by guidelines of breed clubs and relied heavily on experts within the dog breeding community to come up with the language for this bill, so it seems preposterous that any responsible dog breeder would do anything but support this legislation.  Perhaps your breed has been lucky enough to avoid sudden popularity and you> '> ve not had to watch as the breed you love so much is mercilessly exploited.  But can you count on that not happening?  Ever?  It is sad that some would try to distort our motives or the actual language of this bill, but we hope you will look into it directly and see for yourself what this valuable bill will do (and what it won> '> t do) before making any judgments.  We hope to work together to curb the abuses in puppy mills > ->  we need your help to do so.  No one knows better than you > ->  the individuals in the breeding business > ->  how important this goal is.
> 
> We are saddened by personally based attacks on our efforts to support this legislation and urge you to look at the bill on its merits.  These sorts of campaigns, spearheaded by people closely associated with puppy mill operations, are simply a way to avoid addressing the solid arguments in favor of this legislation.  Please, focus on the facts, and support the Puppy Protection Act. For the dogs> '>  sake.
> 
> Additional HSUS Efforts to Protect Puppies
> 
> We also want to share our new > "> Good Breeder Checklist> ">  with you in the hopes you will share it with others and help The HSUS in our effort to guide puppy seekers to a good, reputable breeder> -> someone who loves their dogs, works hard to ensure their happiness, and gives them every possible guarantee of health.  You will find the checklist at http://www.hsus.org/ace/11758 -- just click on the link at the bottom for a printable version.  We also have developed a new brochure with similar information on good dog breeders.  If you would like a copy of this brochure, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to The HSUS/Puppy Protection Act, 2100 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037. We welcome your feedback. If you have specific questions, please don> '> t hesitate to give me a call, or my colleague, Stephanie Shain, who heads up our puppy mill efforts at (301)258-3121.  Please do share the brochures, offer them to your veterinarian; provide them to your local pet supply store, and use them to educate puppy seekers who come to you.  Please help us > "> get the word out> ">  on identifying reputable breeders. 
> 
> Of course, at The HSUS we will continue to direct people to their local shelter or breed rescue group as the first place to look when considering adding a dog to their family. But as you may not have known, we also provide guidance to prospective dog owners about choosing a good breeder.
> 
> Our goal is simple: to create a world where every dog is loved and treated with kindness.  Whether a dog is pure of breed or pure simply of heart, we think she deserves a great life. We hope you share this view and, with us, help make it a reality.
> 
> Most sincerely,
> 
> 
> Nancy Perry
> Director of Government Affairs
> The Humane Society of the United States
> 
> P.S. Please check out our newly-launched website, www.StopPuppyMills.com, designed to educated consumers about the reality of these all too prevalent operations.
> 
> 
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