This is news out of my home state. So it’s big news for me. By a vote of 100-15, the North Carolina House of Representatives has passed a bill that will hopefully protect dogs in commercial breeding facilities.

HB 930 will still need a positive vote in the NC Senate before advancing to Governor Pat McCrory’s desk. I’m seriously hoping the margin of victory in the House is a sign of what could happen in the Senate.

Again, I wish this bill included more – like inspections and a mandatory licensing system. But it is a positive step in the right direction. I’m also hoping that the margin in the vote tally is a sign that elected officials are finally catching the message from the population – that we no longer want to see animals abused at the hands of people who put profit above all – even to a degree where animals are tortured to increase the bottom line.

This is happening every day in puppy mills in North Carolina and all across the nation. It needs end – now.

The HSUS press release in full:

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North Carolina House of Representatives  Cracks Down on Puppy Mills

(May 9, 2013) — The North Carolina House of Representatives passed legislation to ensure dogs are treated humanely in commercial breeding facilities. The bill, which passed the House with a 100-15 vote, is sponsored by Reps. Jason Saine, R-97, Rayne Brown, R-81, Chuck McGrady, R-117, and Nathan Ramsey, R-115. It next goes to the state Senate.

Kimberley Alboum, North Carolina state director for The Humane Society of the United States said: “This is a great step forward for the dogs in North Carolina. If passed, this legislation will help thousands of dogs living in commercial breeding facilities, and I am proud of our sponsors and supporters for their efforts to relieve suffering for so many animals in our state.”

The passage of H.B. 930, which falls during The HSUS’ seventh annual Puppy Mill Action Week, would establish commonsense standards of care that include daily access to fresh food and water, appropriate veterinary care and housing that protects dogs from the elements. The HSUS estimates there are about 200 commercial dog breeding facilities in North Carolina that are currently operating without any oversight.

Rep. Saine said: “This is reasonable legislation that we have taken months to develop. I am pleased with the outcome and I look forward to working with members of the Senate to see this common sense piece of legislation move forward.”

In the past two years, The HSUS has assisted law enforcement in rescuing dogs suffering from severe illnesses and injuries due to lack of humane care from 13 large-scale commercial dog breeding operations all over the state.

The bill is supported by several animal welfare organizations including The HSUS, North Carolina Voters for Animal Welfare, Susie’s Law, the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), Humane Society of Charlotte, SPCA of Wake County and United Animal Coalition.

North Carolina is taking steps toward joining a growing list of states that are cracking down on puppy mills. In recent weeks, lawmakers in Vermont and West Virginia passed bills to protect dogs from irresponsible breeding. The West Virginia measure was signed into law last week, and the Vermont bill is awaiting the governor’s signature.

Facts:

– Thirty-three laws have been passed in 25 states in the past five years to crack down on puppy mills.
– The HSUS estimates 2 million to 4 million puppy mill puppies are sold each year in the United States; meanwhile 3 to 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters each year for lack of homes.
– Puppy mill dogs are most commonly sold in pet stores and online.
– Documented puppy mill conditions include over-breeding, inbreeding, minimal veterinary care, poor food and shelter, crowded cages and lack of socialization.
– Dogs kept for breeding in puppy mills suffer for years in continual confinement. They are bred as often as possible and then destroyed or discarded once they can no longer produce puppies.
– More than 2,050 pet stores across the country, including 29 stores in North Carolina, have joined The HSUS’ Puppy Friendly Pet Stores program in pledging to take a stand against puppy mills by refusing to sell puppies.

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