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The bill, HB 733 in the House of Representatives and SB 460 in the senate, is sponsored by two area lawmakers, Rep. Lucy T. Allen and Sen. Ed Jones. At this time, the two other local representatives of the valley area, Michael Wray, in District 27 and Angela Bryant, in District 7, are not listed as co-sponsors of the bill and could not be reached to ask if they plan to support the bill.
Mike Markarian, executive president of The Humane Society of the United States, has written a letter to many N.C. animal shelters asking them to encourage their supporters to contact their representatives about supporting and voting for the bill.
“Puppy mills are breeding facilities that mass-produce puppies for sale in pet stores, over the Internet and directly to the public,” Markarian said in the letter. “Dogs at puppy mills are often stacked in filthy wire cages, often with little or no veterinary care or human interaction, and treated not like pets but like a cash crop. Mother dogs are constantly bred and kept in continual confinement. They are destroyed or discarded when they can no longer churn out puppies.”
Markarian said law enforcement raids of breeding operations have uncovered hundreds of dogs living in deplorable conditions, proving that puppy mills are a serious problem in North Carolina.
Allen has said she is passionate about getting this bill passed but wanted small, home breeders and hunters who breed sporting dogs to know the bill is not targeting them. Section Two of the bill clearly defines commercial breeding operations as “any person who, during any 12-month period, maintains 15 or more adult female dogs for the primary purpose of the sale of their offspring as companion animals.”
The definition goes further and states, the bill “shall not include those kennels or establishments operated primarily for the purpose of boarding or training hunting, sporting, herding or guide dogs.”
Donna May, one of the founders of Down East Animal Refuge (DEAR), a “no-kill” animal shelter in Scotland Neck, said she was thrilled by this new bill and is also urging everyone to support it. The DEAR shelter is full and cannot take in any more animals, so she is also passionate about slowing the number of unwanted or abused dogs in North Carolina.
“This is a great first-step in regulating the breeding of dogs in North Carolina,” May said, “But it (the laws regulating dog breeding) should eventually be more like our neighbor to the north, Virginia.” May said a large portion of the people who contact DEAR about adopting dogs are from Virginia because the stringent laws there have reduced the number of unwanted dogs in that state. She would like to see that happen in North Carolina soon.
“One female dog can have six to eight puppies in one litter and eventually generate 600 or more dogs in her lifetime, so something must be done to reduce the number of unwanted dogs and cats in North Carolina,” May said.
Local PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) representative Emily Allen said she didn’t know the details of the proposed legislation in N.C. but would support any regulation of commercial breeding operations in the state. The Norfolk PETA affiliate she works with operates an animal clinic in Emporia, Va. and transports dogs from the Roanoke Rapids area there for free or reduced cost spay and neutering, as well as basic veterinary care.
May also pointed out the numbers of unwanted animals has increased as the economy has taken a downturn. “The cost of pet foods has risen, sometimes dramatically and that is becoming a big problem, not just for pet owners, but for us as well. Many people find they can no longer feed their animals and begin looking for help in finding them a new home. We really need to do something to slow the numbers down and this is a good first step.”
Comments
lina wrote on Jun 8, 2009 1:30 PM:
totally lack of humanity,interest in animals NONE.Yeah,nice "kennels to breed them" and them and get the money! after all that 's what YOU want the CASH
anyone that breeds for sale doesn't have a concience,taking advantage of a creature,disgusting!!!! GET a REAL job,and leave dogs alone!!!! "
Recel wrote on Apr 22, 2009 6:25 PM:
Emma Rae wrote on Apr 21, 2009 12:31 PM:
Doug wrote on Apr 1, 2009 9:47 AM:
Your legislators have time to handle both issues. If they cannot handle both issues at the same time, then you have some really bad legislators. "
Doug wrote on Apr 1, 2009 9:41 AM:
If someone's rights to abuse others are limited, so be it. "
harvey mccormick wrote on Mar 27, 2009 6:36 PM:
Susan wrote on Mar 27, 2009 12:38 PM:
The bills also state quite plainly that breeding is not allowed without a certificate from a veterinarian. This is outrageous. No other domestic species has regulations in place for standards and/or limitations for breeding.
The HSUS agenda is not about animal welfare it is about control. Responsible breeders, hunters, trainers, owners do not need to be sacrificed to unreasonable laws because there are a few bad apples in the barrel. "
Tam Cordingley wrote on Mar 27, 2009 9:41 AM:
The breeders that will be impacted by this law are the show people, the police and military dog breeders, the obedience and competition people, and the people who take the best possible care of their dogs. The true puppy millers will fly under the radar.
Many people are not aware that if this law passes the numbers will be reduced and the fees will be increased. They are also not aware that it calls for warrantless search and seizure. In addition the quarters for the dogs will have to be concrete and steel, no warm beds, no sleeping on the sofa. The "breeding dogs" will be prohibited from being in the house. These laws are mandated by the USDA, whose standards these laws generally follow.
The Animal Rights people, PETA and HSUS, are pushing to introduce this type of bill in 34 states this year. NC has been chosen to be one of them. Please look deeper into these bills that the eliminating puppy mills and see the truth behind such legislation. It is just one more tool to eliminate animal use and ownership. "
Ep Ratledge wrote on Mar 27, 2009 8:25 AM:
The fact that puppy mills are being busted, shows a system in place that is working. Animal neglect, and cruelty are against the law in NC. We do not need more laws, we simply need to enforec those on the books. And we certainly don't need to hear from the likes of PETA! "
Jerry Dobbins wrote on Mar 27, 2009 8:13 AM:
This legislation is unconsititional, and additionally, it is irresponsible of our legisltors to even consider this garbage during the current economic climate. There are 100's of thousands of Farmers, Hunters, Breeders, and Pet Owners who are watching closely to see how this goes. The sponsors of this Bill and any legislator who votes in favor of it, can expect to join the ranks of the 10+% Unemployed in NC after the next election. "
Tristan wrote on Mar 26, 2009 9:42 PM:
Natalie wrote on Mar 26, 2009 9:39 PM:
with actually solving the problem of too
many dogs and not enough homes...if, as animal rights groups claim, 25% of the dogs in shelters are purebred, then the rest are accidental breedings...why would anyone support a law that "might" eliminate one fourth of a problem?? Why do all breeders of purebred dogs take the brunt of every legislative attack??
There are no standards written for home breeding/raising of dogs-this bill will force breeders to erect building and raise animals in sterile conditions without the feel of sunlight or grass or dirt....GREAT....and the expense will be passed along to the consumer...
WHY would a reporter listen to anyone associated with PETA...they have a shelter in Norfolk, and with a 2008 budget of $32 MILLION dollars, they took in 2,124 animals and found homes for 7 of them..SEVEN!!!! They know nothing about animals that needs to be shared with anybody-
Education and the availability of low cost spay neuter are working--it's obvious to anyone that bothers to do the homework instead of depending on PETA and H$U$ to tell them what they believe--BUT..if there are no breeders, then everyone can get shelter dogs..and the animal rights groups will claim huge victories in the name of the animals...
The writing is on the wall--get off the animal rights bandwagon, do your own research, and DO NOT take anything at face value--half a truth is really no truth at all.... "