Anti Puppy Mill Laws In Us

[Steve]

http://gantdaily.com/2010/03/26/oregon-dog...puppy-mill-law/

A commercial dog breeder has surrendered dozens of animals to the Oregon Humane Society to comply with a new state law banning puppy mills, which mass produce animals for sale to pet stores and online.

The Oregon Humane Society received 43 dogs Thursday from a breeder in Medford. It is the first time a commercial breeder has voluntarily turned over dogs to abide by legislation.

"I just want these dogs to go to loving homes. I am thankful that OHS is helping me be in compliance with the law," the breeder, who preferred to remain anonymous, said in a statement.

The dogs range from 4 to 9 years old. They will be sterilized and checked for health problems before being offered for adoption.

"We are looking to find homes for all of these dogs, so they can live out their lives as part of a loving family. That’s something that most dogs used for breeding never experience," Sharon Harmon, executive director of the Oregon Humane Society, said in a statement.

A number of states and counties nationwide have enacted measures cracking down on substandard or unlicensed breeding facilities following reports about inhumane conditions in such kennels.

The Oregon legislature passed passed a measure last year, joining Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington state in capping the number of breeding dogs in a facility. The law was approved by Oregon lawmakers following the rescue of 371 dogs from one individual who kept the animals housed in deplorable conditions.

The law, which took effect Jan. 1, limits the number of dogs breeders may own to 50 sexually intact animals that are older than two years. It allows people to own up to a maximum of 75 dogs as long as they have at least one employee to care for the animals eight hours a day.

The law requires that each dog must have enough space to stand, lie down and turn about freely, without its legs or tail touching the sides of its enclosure or another animal. The enclosure should be cleaned of urine and waste once a day, with the animal out of the enclosure during the cleaning.

Dogs older than four months should be provided with one hour of exercise each day outside its enclosure. All dogs older than eight months must also have a record of their medical history and information about the litter from which it came from.

Pet stores are required to disclose where they purchased the dogs they sell. They also must give refunds to customers who provide documentation within a limited time that the dog they bought from the store is seriously ill or has a congenital defect.

The law was passed despite concerns from breeders that legitimate businesses that provide quality care to dogs will be affected.

About a third of the nation’s independent pet shops sell puppies, according to the Humane Society of the United States. The main supplier of these stores are puppy mills. Documented conditions in puppy mills include filthy enclosures where dogs are overbred and permanently confined without socialization or affection from other animals or humans, and little or no veterinary care and exercise.

Dogs rescued from such facilities are not ensured of a promising future. Nearly 4 million animals are euthanized in shelters every year.

The situation has pushed three cities in California to ban pet stores from selling dogs and cats. More than 500 pet shops nationwide have also voluntarily stopped selling dogs to support the campaign against puppy mills.

"The financial success of companies that refuse to sell puppies and kittens, such as the nation’s largest retail pet supply stores PETCO and PetSmart, is proof that a humane business model is successful," said the Humane Society.<br />

[Nekhbet]

Dogs older than four months should be provided with one hour of exercise each day outside its enclosure.

so 23 hours in something they can just spin around in. How is that better? THis guarentees no socialisation or benefit to the dog.

limits the number of dogs breeders may own to 50 sexually intact animals that are older than two years

how can a person/couple look after 50 dog properly? I'd say half that, even that is pushing it really.

[spottychick]

It's slightly better than allowing people to have over 300 dogs in filthy conditions. But yeah, it doesn't go far enough.

*sigh*

[sandgrubber]

Pathetically weak. Is there anything in Australia that goes even that far?

It's slightly better than allowing people to have over 300 dogs in filthy conditions. But yeah, it doesn't go far enough.

*sigh*

[Steve]

Yeah looks to me that she just got rid of her oldies which were past their breeding prime.

[ILK]

My first thoughts - There has to be a reason she is getting rid of them. They are all 4 to 9 years old :D

I would say "less than good intentions".

[Kissindra]

oh it's nice to know I'm not the only one who thought the same

re: the new laws - can't comment absolutely without reading them in full, but the article "cheery picking" doesn't sound all that promising :D

[Jed]

Cheaper t o hand them over than euth them!

I thought those regulations were ok - EXCEPT - for the living space. Why don't they legislate that each dog must have x2? Or legislate that they must have an excercise area of xm2 to which they must have free access during daylight hours?

It can't be that difficult to legislate for that, surely?