House Bill Introduced Targeting Puppy Mills
13 March 2009
by Anai Rhoads
AnaiRhoads.org -- A majority of animals born in the United States are bred intentionally by breeders. Although there are some
qualified breeders out there with the best intentions, there are also too many irresponsible ones.
Profit-driven puppy mills offer poorly bred offspring which often result in costly vet bills to the consumer. The
constant breeding has also led to an epidemic of strays and abandoned animals to shelters across the country. This
burden is carried by shelters, rescues and county animal control divisions on a daily basis.
In Texas, there is an alarming number of unlicensed and unregulated large-scale commercial dog breeding facilities
which prompted the state to take a closer look. State Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston) has introduced House
Bill 3180 which will require these puppy mills to get their act together.
"We just want to ensure that there is a guaranteed minimum standard of care and a level of humanness for all these
animals," states Representative Thompson.
Without strict regulation, puppy mills will continue to dupe consumers with promises of a purebred, healthy puppy.
Female dogs will be left as they are - cramped in cages with the sole purpose of reproduction with every heat-cycle
and then dumped off or killed when she no longer produces litters. Consumers will be left a sick puppy that may or
may not survive its first 6 months of life.
"Now that we know the shockingly cruel conditions in which these animals are being kept and the tragedies that
many pet buyers are enduring after unknowingly purchasing puppies that were bred in puppy mills, it's time to take
action to clean up this industry," said Rep. Thompson.
The Texas Humane Legislation Network and hundreds of Texas rescue groups, animal-welfare agencies and law enforcement
officials are in full support of House Bill 3180.
What you can do
Go to a local pet store that sells puppies and kittens and ask the store manager for the Customers Breed Registry
papers or the Interstate Health Certificates for the animals they are selling. If the manager does not know what you
are talking about or refuses to supply this paperwork, then you are dealing with a pet store that is being stocked
by puppy mills or backyard breeders. Even if the animals being sold are not labelled as "purebreed", the paper
trail is saved and should be available to anyone who asks for it.
When dealing with a breeder, don't buy into their claims that they run an exclusive and small operation. Many breeders
will offer you an opportunity to visit their puppies and see the parents firsthand, but this does not guarantee that
the puppies and parents were placed in a secondary home or facility with the sole purpose to appear legit.
If you visit a facility or home where the parents are crated, caged, whining, barking, running in circles or look like
they do not have fresh water and food in the kennel - report it to your local animal control right away. If you notice
matted hair, malnutrition or weakness in any of the animals on the property, take notes and report it. If you are able
to take photographs, even better.
Your best option is to adopt from a rescue or shelter. The process will take 1-4 weeks depending on the shelter or rescue group - but
the animal you bring into your home will be healthy, vaccinated and the temperament will be matched with your lifestyle and
family.
Purchasing a purebred puppy does not have the same guarantees as those chosen for you by a qualified shelter or rescue.
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