Monday, August 17, 2009

2008 Pennsylvania Dog Breeding Law Closing Down Puppy Mills

A 2008 "Dog Law Restricted Account" by the State of Pennsylvania is now effecting positive change for dogs in that State; it's said that this recent law is one of the strictest dog breeding laws in the nation.

"The law increases minimum cage sizes, requires veterinary care and exercise periods, and bans wire flooring...," according to today's New York Times article 2008 Law Leading to Crackdown on Pennsylvania Puppy Mills (please read for more details and to download a PDF copy of this dog breeding law).

Perhaps this is a law we could see other states adopt and enforce. I'll look for a copy of Michigan's dog breeding law (if there is one) and will post it or a link to it in the near future.

That the Professional Dog Breeders Advisory Council has decided to sue Pennsylvania for violating the federal Constitution just highlights the fact that they care nothing about the welfare of dogs and everything about making $$$ regardless of abuses they engage in. Really sad.

This is not to say that all dog breeders are "bad," but rather that there needs to be strictly enforced regulation and accountability for those that deal in propagating animal life.

7 comments:

  1. Be careful what you wish for. I am a long time Pennsylvania breeder and could have literally thousands of people attest to the quality and well ebing of my dogs. Nonetheless the state wants to shut me down. They are casting a wide net to get the puppy mills, but in the process are punishing and persecuting everyone.

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  2. Are there any laws to protect people they buy a puppy in Michigan? My sisters family got a puppy, and they found out at first vet visit that it had failing kidneys, and then knee and hip displacement issues, and now after it's first heat...it died. My 4 yr old niece is so devestated, and this breeder won't give them another puppy. She is supposed to be registerd with AKC and everything! There has to be laws that protect people when their puppy dies after only 6 months! What can they do?

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  3. Hey PFC,

    Michigan just did away with its law requiring inspection of breeders, pet stores, etc. It's all pretty much "buyer beware."

    Unfortunately, just because someone calls themselves a "breeder" doesn't mean they are reputable. Your sister might want to contact AKC directly to find out of this person is indeed certified and, if not, take some kind of legal action.

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  4. I live in Colorado, I run a non-profit animal shelter.I am disgusted with so called rescuers bringing in 1000's of animals into our state when we have enough shelter dogs dying already. One such group calls itself "Save our Setters" -- this "rescue" organization should be avoided at all costs. These so called rescues are nothing more than puppy re-sellers.A breeder may breed and sell a pup, but a rescue does the same thing as they go by public demand.The public only wants certain small cute, young animals so that is what the rescues seek in other states.They come back with sob stories to gain public sentiment when in fact many times they are lying. I have talked to other shelters and rescues in other states who have told me that most are not even vet checked before transferred across state lines(which is the LAW)The law ought to apply to all and exempt NO ONE ....WE have enough laws,we just do not have them enforced.

    Cathy, Pueblo, CO

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  5. Perhaps Cathy would be kind enough to provide verifiable facts as to why she deems Save our Setters to be a rescue that should be avoided at all costs.

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  6. I have never posted on a blog before, but when I read Cathy's comments, I couldn't resist. We have been involved in the dog world as a previous breeder, a trainer and showing dogs in conformation and obedience for more than 30 years. I don't know where Cathy received her information about Save Our Setters, but I would invite her to contact SOS and talk to them so she can better understand what they do for the dogs that are taken in to their rescue organization. We have worked with SOS (and other rescue organizations) for many years providing foster care and helping to transport dogs. There are strict guidelines that must be followed from SOS when providing care for any of the dogs they accept in to their rescue program - guidelines a lot of the rescue organizations we have worked with do not have. We have adopted 3 Irish Setters from Save our Setters in the last 3 years. We no longer breed dogs, but are now committed to helping dogs in need of homes. We work with SOS because we are familiar with the Setter breed. To my knowledge, rescue organizations take specific breeds of dogs that breeders do not follow up on. It seldom has anything to do with age. They also accept specific breeds from shelters that are full. A lot of shelters work very closely with rescue groups so they can provide proper care for more homeless dogs. Rescue organizations follow up with breeders if and when they know who they are to see if the breeder will take the dog back so rescue can save other souls. We have been especially supportive of SOS because of the extensive means they go to in making sure the dogs are cared for when they enter SOS rescue and the follow-up they provide once proper care is administered and they are deemed available for adoption. SOS does not discriminate with age or health conditions when they accept dogs into their program. It is a wonderful network of people who truly care about the dogs and they do what ever it takes to help them... bottom line. This is evident on their web site - saveoursetters.org.

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Conversation appreciated. Ours is a big world, with big opinions; please be respectful.