INDIANA HB TARGETS BREEDERS
Indiana
legislators are challenged to make a distinction between
puppy mills and dog breeders through a bill introduced this
session.
Yes, I am strongly against cruel puppy mill operations and
animal abuse. On the other hand, I have no quarrels with
those who breed dogs, show dogs or wish to own purebred dogs
as family pets.
HB 1468 started as an animal cruelty bill, and it is an
appropriate place to address cruel puppy mills. In
committee, several large amendments were introduced,
targeting dog breeders. Once it became clear that this bill
would target all dog breeders, I thought that it would be
appropriate for a summer study committee to examine dog
breeding standards, but that approach was rejected.
The bill’s requirements for raising dogs are minute and
arcane. Thankfully, some of the details were removed when
exposed. The bill’s specific requirements for lighting,
mechanical ventilation, exercise, housing, age of breeding
and so forth lack practicality. The responsible breeder’s
viewpoint was not taken into account when this language was
inserted into the bill.
The definition of “commercial breeding” was created to
target puppy mill abuse, is defined by arbitrary numbers and
not by any commercial aspect. A “pet dealer” is one who
sells as few as five puppies in one year.
A pet dealer must maintain detailed records and is subject
to law enforcement inspections. All dog breeders would
likewise be pet dealers.
The “lemon law” amendment goes even further, requiring the
seller of a dog to guarantee the animal’s health regardless
of buyer neglect, illness or whether the illness existed at
the time of sale. The provision even goes as far as
guaranteeing the genetics of a sold animal even when
congenital conditions cannot be detected or possible to
predict.
Given all these added provisions in the bill, it’s easy to
conclude the bill would impede legitimate breeding of dogs
and not target the cruel, abusive puppy mills.
Another concern is that the Humane Society in the United
States is an animal-rights political action group, not an
association or voice for your local humane society. It is
well-organized and well-funded.
The Humane Society of the United States is often opposed by
sportsmen and women, livestock farmers and others because of
the extreme views and policies expressed by the group’s
leadership. Whether accurate of not, it is commonly
perceived that it opposes all dog breeding.
It is not hard to conclude HB 1468 was intended to go beyond
raising awareness and correcting the abuses of puppy mills.
I hope dog lovers will contact their state senators and ask
them to distinguish between cruel puppy mills and legitimate
dog breeders.
“Ask them to focus the legislation on attacking the problem
of cruelty and unethical treatment of man’s best friend. Ask
them to restore common sense and reject the anti-dog breeder
bias in HB 1468.”
courtesy of www.AnimalConcerns.org
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