ban puppy mills

Stunning USDA Setback for Puppy Mill Dogs

Shocking USDA Setback for Puppy Mill Dogs - PLEASE READ : Dahna Bender BlogIn a stunning setback in their efforts to increase enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), USDA has suddenly reversed course and decided to, once again, tolerate substandard conditions at puppy mills. Dr. Chester Gipson, USDA’s chief of enforcement for the AWA, recently told animal advocates that the USDA needs “to enable breeders to sell their dogs to pet stores” and citing violations is an impediment to such sales.

In the past few years, many municipalities have enacted ordinances restricting pet stores to only purchasing puppies from breeders with no violations on their federal inspection reports. These ordinances are intended to protect consumers from buying dogs from substandard puppy mills.

Shockingly, USDA has made the decision to help substandard breeders circumvent these ordinances and to continue to sell puppies in spite of continuing violations. USDA has recently instructed their inspectors not to cite breeders for “minor” violations as such documentation is making it more difficult for breeders to sell their puppies. When questioned as to their definition of “minor,” or as to how many minor violations of the Animal Welfare Act will be ignored per facility, and for how long such violations will be tolerated, USDA responded that it will be left up to the individual inspector and admitted that no guidance has been provided for the inspectors.

At a recent meeting of dog breeders, USDA officials told breeders that, “if at any time a violation has the potential of affecting your business, please call our office immediately and let us know,” emphasizing that USDA stands ready to enable breeders to market their dogs to pet stores.

Shocking USDA Setback for Puppy Mill Dogs - PLEASE READ : Dahna Bender BlogIn an effort to further aide substandard dog breeders, USDA has hired a long-time puppy mill lobbyist and advocate, Julian Prager, to be its “Canine Advisor.” Mr. Prager’s duties will include assisting in the training of USDA inspectors. Ironically, Mr. Prager has consistently opposed all laws regulating puppy mills and vigorously opposed Pennsylvania’s new puppy mill law, and most recently, fought against implementation of USDA’s new regulations on puppy mills selling over the Internet. Mr. Prager also opposed a law to prevent puppy mill operators from performing surgeries such as C-sections and debarking on their own dogs. Julian Prager seated with AKC lobbyists.  This year the AKC allocated $10,000 to oppose  Missouri’s new puppy mill regulations.  Yet, this is the individual that USDA has hired to assist in the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, the law which regulates the same industry that Mr. Prager has served to promote and protect for several decades.

Please contact the Secretary of Agriculture and remind him that the AWA stands for the Animal Welfare Act and not the Dog Breeders Welfare Act. USDA’s sole focus, as mandated by Congress, should be on the welfare of the dogs and not the welfare of the substandard breeders’ businesses regardless of how the neglect of their animals is hurting them financially.

Contact Secretary Tom Vilsack at [email protected], leave a message at (202) 720-3631 or write him at:

Secretary Tom Vilsack
U. S. Department of Agriculture
Room 200-A
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250

Below is an example of what to write in either email or snail mail correspondence to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack:

It has come to my attention, through a social media campaign, “Accountability
Now”, USDA inspectors are incorrectly issuing violations for commercial dog
breeders. USDA inspection reports show breeding dogs clearly suffering, and in
pain, and inspectors issuing indirect violations.

These breeding dogs need USDA inspectors to do their job correctly and enforce
the Animal Welfare Act.

The issue of incorrect reporting of violations was addressed in in the OIG 2010
report and a corrective plan put in place. Today this corrective
plan is clearly not effective.

The USDA’s 2015 Budget Summary and Annual Performance Plan does not contain the
words dog, breeding, kennel or canine once in relation to the AWA, which only
appears four times in the 127-page document. Where do the commercial breeding
dogs fall?

Advocates for breeding dogs across the country are becoming aware of this
monumental problem with USDA inspections and are calling on you, the Deputy
Administrator for Animal Care USDA APHIS to make the changes needed to protect
breeding dogs to the fullest extent the Animal Welfare Act allows.

Harley to the Rescue – Two Puppy Mill Survivors Hit the Road to Rescue Dogs

In a unique twist to the very serious issue of puppy mills in the United States, two puppy mill survivors, Harley and Teddy, will hit the road this week with a team from National Mill Dog Rescue to rescue puppy mill dogs. DOGS SAVING DOGS!

PRLog – Jul. 27, 2014 – COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Dogs Saving Dogs! It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s two tiny Chihuahuas saving dogs from puppy mills again! Two puppy mill survivor superheroes, Harley and Teddy, will head out into the Midwest July 29th on yet another on their ‘Harley to the Rescue’ missions to save more than 60 puppy mill dogs with National Mill Dog Rescue.

Harley, a 13 year old Chihuahua and an iconic figure in the world of puppy mill awareness through social media, spent 10 years as a commercial breeder in a puppy mill. His one-eyed, grizzled image is immediately recognizable, due primarily to the fact he lost an eye being power washed at the puppy mill. Although suffering with congestive heart failure, he actively uses his Facebook page with 52,000+ followers to spread awareness about the cruel realities of puppy mills and raise funds for non-profit rescue groups.

Teddy is Harley’s sidekick and ‘Team Driver’. He uses his page with 20,000+ followers to spread puppy mill awareness and share his experiences of learning about life outside the cage. .

Harley To The Rescue : Dahna Bender Blog‘Harley to the Rescue’ started out as a campaign to raise the $2,500 needed to fund one rescue of approximately 25-30 dogs. Now they’re on the road to rescue more! To date, these two dogs have raised over $200,000 to rescue 364 dogs from the horrific conditions in puppy mills.

Through their social media outlets, they chronicle their journey into the world of puppy mills, all from the perspective of puppy mill survivors. Dogs Saving Dogs! Follow the mission of these ‘caped crusaders’ and support their cause!

To learn more: https://www.youcaring.com/harleytotherescue4

National Mill Dog Rescue is a Colorado Springs based 501(c)(3) organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and re-homes discarded commercial breeding dogs from puppy mills. NMDR relies on volunteers to care for the dogs, from the moment they are surrendered to the time they are adopted and beyond. The organization depends on the generosity of the public to provide the high level of care for our dogs and to continue to be able to save them.

National Mill Dog Rescue started with a single sentence in an e-mail that Theresa Strader received: “50 Italian Greyhounds in need.” A large-scale breeding operation, or ‘puppy mill’ was going out of business and all 561 dogs were going to auction. One of those dogs was a seven-year-old Italian Greyhound named Lily. The moment their eyes met through the wire of Lily’s tiny cage, Theresa knew her life had changed forever and that this new life would include Lily and a mission to bring about lasting change.

In honor of Lily, National Mill Dog Rescue was established in February 2007 to give a voice to mill dogs across the country. Since then, NMDR has rescued more than 9,100 puppy mill survivors, all while maintaining a strict no-kill policy. Every single dog that comes through the doors is spayed or neutered and given whatever additional medical care they need – without exception. They are groomed, many of them for the very first time. Years of filth and matted fur are removed, allowing the beautiful dog underneath to shine. Soon they learn about all the simple pleasures that they had never previously known – clean water, toys and treats, a soft bed, and most importantly, the love of a human companion.

Harley’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/harleyfreighttraintaylor
Teddy’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/teddybearburchfield

NMDR Website: http://milldogrescue.org

Tell The USDA We Want Puppy Mill Accountability NOW

USDA puppy mill campaign : Dahna Bender BlogThe USDA is in charge of protecting commercial breeding dogs – aka: Puppy Mill breeding dogs.  Through yearly inspections of kennels and breeding dogs therein the USDA inspectors issue violations of the Animal Welfare Act to the breeders.

This system has failed to protect breeding dogs from abuse and in humane conditions.  Failure of this system has been documented by the Inspector General in scathing internal investigation reports as far back as 1992 and as recent as 2010.

Animal advocates are asking for ACCOUNTABILITY NOW!

A campaign has begun to sound the alarm and force USDA to retrain inspectors, correctly categorize violations as direct and indirect, issue monetary penalties when warranted, and enforce the Animal Welfare Act to the fullest extent of the law.

Please contact your state’s U.S. Senators and Congressional Representative and ask that they help with this very important campaign by sponsoring and supporting legislation holding the USDA accountable to the Animal Welfare Act – that they work across the aisle to see changes made.  Send letters by mail, send emails, make phone calls.  If you are a rescuer of a puppy mill breeding dog, tell your story and send pictures.

Click here to find your Senator’s contact information.
Click here to find your Congressional Representative’s contact information.

Please also contact:

Dr . Chester Gipson
USDA/APHIS /Animal Care
4700 River Road  Unit 97
Riverdale, MD  20737-1234
Email: [email protected]

Tom Vilsack
United States Secretary of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave S.W.
Washington, DC  20350

Please share this with everyone you know and ask them to be the voice for the helpless hopeless breeding dogs!

Connecticut Governor Signs Puppy Mill Legislation

CT Puppy Mill Law : Dahna BenderConnecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy was joined by state legislators and puppy mill advocates for the signing of Public Act 14-77: An Act Concerning Certain Recommendations of the Task Force on the Sale of Cats and Dogs from Inhumane Origins at Connecticut Pet Shops.

The new state law will  increase standards for Connecticut retail pet shops and breeders.  Here is an overview of what the bill does:

  • Require pet shops to reimburse customers for veterinarian expenses incurred to treat a dog or cat that becomes ill shortly after purchase from the shop (this now will cover the purchase price of the animal and veterinary costs).
  • Prohibit pet shop licensees from purchasing dogs or cats from a breeder who has violated U.S. Department of Agriculture animal welfare regulations in the past two years.
  • Require the state Commissioner of Agriculture to develop a standard of care applicable to in-state dog and cat breeders by Dec. 31, 2014.
  • Require pet shops to post the U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection reports for breeders of any dog offered for sale.

To view of the complete legislation, click here.

“There is evidence that puppy mills around the country have employed practices that any reasonable person would consider inhumane,” Malloy said while signing the legislation at a ceremony at the Greenwich Animal Shelter.

“By signing this bill into law, we are setting standards in Connecticut to ensure that animals are living in humane conditions,” Malloy said.  CT Passed Puppy Mill Law : Dahna Bender

 

Suffolk County’s Puppy Mill Bill – A Labor of Love

Suffolk County New York Passes Puppy Mill LegislationSuffolk County is the first municipality in New York State to regulate pet dealers and the source of the puppies they offer for sale to unknowing consumers.  The “Puppy Mill Bill”, sponsored by Legislator Jay Schneiderman and Legislator “Doc” Spencer passed the legislature unanimously on June 3rd, 2014 in Hauppauge.

The bill sets standards for cage size, how cages are stacked, and will require dealers to provide inspection reports of the breeding facilities on request as well as post publicly that that information is available.

The bill also bans dealers in the county from buying animals from commercial breeding facilities that have:

  • A direct violation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (which regulates breeders) within the past two years
  • ‘No access’ violations on the two most recent inspection reports from the USDA
  • Three or more different indirect violations, other than “no access violations,” on the most recent USDA reporter
  • One or more recurring indirect violations on the most recent USDA report

There would also be a fine up to $500 per violation.

Barbara Dennihy, a local animal advocate spearheaded a movement to regulate pet dealers in Suffolk County in 2010.  Along with other local animal advocates she went before Suffolk legislators asking for a ban on the sale of puppies in Suffolk County to combat puppy mill abuse.  FOIL documents from New York State Agriculture Department show pet stores in Suffolk County source their puppies from horrible puppy mills some with horrible violations from the USDA against breeding dogs.  Nothing could be done at that time because of an existing preemption in the NYS Agriculture law.Suffolk County New York Puppy Mill Bill : Dahna Bender Blog

After a 3 year long campaign by animal advocates from all over New York State to get the preemption lifted, this past January Governor Cuomo signed a bill to lift the preemption allowing local municipalities to regulate pet dealers as long as they do not pass any bill to ban the retail sale of puppies that are raised in a safe and healthy manner.  Before the ink was dry Barbara contacted Legislator Schneiderman and asked him to sponsor a bill to regulate pet dealers in Suffolk County.  Working with local animal advocates and Schneiderman a bill was put together to regulate pet dealers.  This is a first step in holding pet stores accountable.  They can no longer hide the source of the puppies they sell.  The real end to this horrible business practice lies with the consumers.  They need to stop buying puppies from retail stores and over the internet.

“If you cannot meet the parents or at least the mother of the puppy, see the condition of the kennel the dogs live in, see the veterinary records for the parent dogs, and check references – then you should not purchase that puppy.  If you do, you are probably supporting puppy mill cruelty.  Pet stores use puppy mills to get puppies, that is a fact.”

My husband and I joined this effort near the tail end to help where we were able. We do not just get involved with awareness and fundraising, but on the legislation level too! My heart is full today!