Page 8B Times-Gazette Thursday, June 7, 2007

P ET CARE

Lawmakers across the nation consider laws to crack down on puppy mills
By ERIC OLSON The Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Bob Baker has seen the worst of the worst in his 27 years as an animal cruelty investigator. There was the Missouri breeder who would skimp on food by skinning dead dogs and feeding them to other dogs in his kennel. There was the South Dakota breeder who used a handsaw to amputate the leg of a pregnant Rottweiler, injured in an attack by another dog, in hopes that the Rottweiler would survive long enough to give birth to another litter. Baker says such cases are the exception, but adds that mistreatment of dogs in large-scale breeding operations remains common and troubling. Most breeders learn how to keep their standards just above violating cruelty statutes, but the conditions are still unacceptable, said Baker, a St. Louis-based national investigator for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Its difficult dealing with these people. We file charges on the most egregious ones. State legislators across the nation are attempting to crack down on rogue breeding operations and pet sellers. The week after the May 16 rescue of 173 dogs from the property of a Dawson County man, the Nebraska Legislature passed a law that increased the number of state kennel inspectors from one to four and requires new operations to be inspected before opening. Puppy lemon laws, which let dogs brought into U.S. families each year, Shain said, an estimated 2 million to 4 million are products of puppy mills. The demand for popular breeds, and the high prices people are willing to pay, keep breeding operations churning, Shain said. A quick Internet search showed many puppies with four-figure sale prices, and some breeds, including bulldogs and Belgian Malinois, with top prices exceeding $3,000. Many dog breeders chafe at the term puppy mill, saying it is inflammatory and lumps conscientious commercial dog breeders together with the unscrupulous. Clem Disterhaupt, president of the Nebraska Dog Breeders Association, said most commercial breeders have the animals best interest at heart. We dont associate ourselves with puppy mills, but sometimes people are under the impression that if you have a lot of dogs, you must be a puppy mill, Disterhaupt said. Disterhaupt said reputable breeders are licensed with state or federal agencies and provide adequate space, cleanliness, heat and air conditioning and ventilation. Thats not a puppy mill, he said. People need to distinguish the difference. Daisy Okas, assistant vice president of communications for the American Kennel Club, said breeders, kennel operators and pet stores register all types of breeds with her organization. The AKC has 15 inspectors who visit about 5,000 places a year where significant numbers of dogs are registered. Shain, however, said people who want a puppy should avoid pet stores and instead buy from a hobby breeder or adopt from a shelter. Puppy mills, Shain said, damage dogs emotionally and physically because the animals are confined in tight, unsanitary quarters with little or no socialization with humans or veterinary care. Females are bred repeatedly, some when theyre as young as 6 months. The overbreeding, combined with the dismal environment, results in sickly puppies that have genetic defects and temperament problems, she said. The dogs are sold in pet stores or on the Internet to unsuspecting buyers. Investigators such as Baker inspect breeding operations after receiving complaints. Breeders usually cooperate, but when they dont, he said, he gathers information by interviewing neighbors and observing the facility from afar. Baker, who said he has visited more than 750 breeding facilities since 1980, said that when he finds evidence of animal cruelty, he notifies local law enforcement. Most abuse we see is neglect, Baker said. They know some of the stuff theyre doing is wrong, and theyre embarrassed. They apologize a lot of times when we come see them. But theyre blinded by the greed and money theyre making off of this. Some start out with the right intentions. They breed a few and make money, so they get more dogs but dont put money back in. They get swamped. On the Net: Humane Society of the United States: http://www.hsus.org American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: http://www.aspca.org American Kennel Club: http://www.akc.org Nebraska Dog Breeders Association: http://www.nedba.com

For Adoption

Butterscotch Young Male

Butterscotch is neutered

Kitcat Young female

Kitcat is spayed

The Associated Press

Pretty Boy Young male

Pretty Boy is neutered

Chelsey Young female

Chelsey is spayed.

Dogs rescued from a puppy mill in Lexington, Neb., are seen at the Omaha Humane Society, in Omaha, Neb. A short time after the May 16 rescue of 171 dogs from the property of a Dawson County man, the Nebraska Legislature passed a law that increases the number of state kennel inspectors from one to four and requires new operations to be inspected before opening. buyers get their money back if health or genetic defects are discovered within a set time, are on the books in 16 states and were introduced in four others this year. California lawmakers are studying a bill that would require cats and dogs over 4 months old to be spayed or neutered, unless the person caring for them obtains a breeding license. Laws that would tighten the regulation of retail pet shops are pending in Oregon, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and bills establishing standards for breeding operations were introduced in Minnesota and Ohio. Mass breeding has been a hotbutton issue for decades with animal welfare activists, who use the term puppy mills to describe the most unsavory of operations, which are usually situated in rural areas. The Humane Society of the United States has long identified Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Ohio and Pennsylvania as the major puppymill states, said outreach director Stephanie Shain. Of the 7 million to 9 million

A Journey Home Animal Refuge News

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: AJHAR is desperate for volunteers as the shelter gets up and running. Please call 937-840-9918 if you can help volunteer or donate in any way. ABOUT AJHAR: If you are interested in finding out more about A Journey Home Animal Refuge, visit http//wandaritt.tripod.com or call 937-840-9918.

Also for Adoption

Little Man Young male

Little man was picked up as a stray in Hillsboro. His foster mom tried to find his owners, to no avail. Hes approximately one year old and possibly a Beagle/Lab mix. He looks like a Lab in the face and is all black, but his body is built like a Beagle and he definitely has a lot of Beagle characteristics. Little Man is extremely small, even smaller than some Beagles, at 23 pounds and hell stay small. People say he looks like a young puppy at times, and thats how he stole his foster moms heart. He adores other dogs and does very well around young children. Hes still playful like a typical puppy and loves attention as long as he doesnt have hunting rabbits on his mind. Little Man appears to be house trained but still needs to be watched closely. He needs a forever home that will have patience with his puppy tendencies and has a fenced yard. His hunting instincts are strong and when given the chance, he heads to the brush to find a rabbit and will not come back until hes finished. When hes indoors, however, he is extremely loving. Little Man has had all his shots and his foster mom had him neutered. If you're interested in Little Man or would like to see more photos, e-mail his foster mom at izzy@dragonbbs.com or look at his profile at http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=8442998.

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