Category Archives: PUPS Act

104 dogs rescued from Mississippi puppy mill

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The Humane Society of the US recently took part in yet another puppy mill raid, this time under a joint effort with the Walthall County Sheriff’s Office and the Humane Society of South Mississippi.

More than 100 dogs were found living in horrible conditions. The HSUS reports decomposing bodies of adult dogs and puppies were found. Charges are pending in the case.

Lydia Sattler, Mississippi state director for The HSUS was quoted as saying:

“I was sickened by what we found today. No animal should have to suffer in such atrocious conditions. We are thankful that the Walthall County Sheriff’s Office and the Humane Society of South Mississippi acted so quickly to address the situation and that we were able to assist with rescuing these animals.”

Tara High, the executive director of Humane Society of South Mississippi:

“These are some of the worst conditions that I’ve ever seen. To think that these animals have lived like this, it’s a testament to their fortitude that they could survive. We’re glad that we were able to respond to help these dogs as soon as possible. We are also thankful to our community for helping us adopt out animals so we could make the space for these needy dogs.”

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PACK MENTALITY BLOG: Compassion - teamed with Science and Logic

More info on PUPS Act

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The reintroduction of the PUPS Act in the US Congress, which would close the Internet loophole for puppy sellers – and help crack down on puppy mills – is incredibly important.

I want to publicize this as much as possible, so when I see news stories or columns cross the Pack New Wire, I will post them here on the blog.

KOMO News reports breeder Wendy Laymon’s kennel facility –

….has not been inspected by the USDA since the feds pulled her license. Her puppy mill in Snohomish County was raided in 1999, dogs seized, and Laymon sent to jail.

And Opposing Views highlighted Laymon’s operation Friday, reporting she began selling dogs over the Web as soon as she was released from jail – through the Internet loophole.

AND in related news, protestors from Maine Citizens Against Puppy Mills lined up outside a pet store on February 23. The Scarborough Leader ran an article on Friday about the group’s effort. A quote from the store’s website was included, claiming over 8,000 breeders are regulated by the USDA. – Really? – Is this suppose to give customers some confidence?

We need to see the passage of the PUPS Act, to close the gaping loophole in the laws, and we need more effort poured into enforcement and regular inspections for all commercial breeding operations. Shutting down puppy mills and seriously regulating dog and cat breeding will save taxpayer funds in the long run. And it will help to save lives and end suffering.

 

 

PUPS Act – to close the Internet loophole for dog breeders – was introduced on Wednesday

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Great news today. The Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act (The PUPS Act) was introduced Wednesday in the US Congress. And in equally good news, it is a bipartisan effort. The bill’s sponsors, as reported by the USA Today, are Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and David Vitter, R-La., and Reps. Jim Gerlach, R-Pa., Sam Farr, D-Calif., Bill Young, R-Fla., and Lois Capps, D-Calif.

Online puppy sellers are slipping around USDA regulations and inspections, because the Animal Welfare Act became the law of the land before the Internet rolled around. So the USA Today story notes –

The PUPS Act will require all breeders who sell more than 50 dogs annually — whether through pet stores or online — to undergo inspections and meet U.S. Department of Agriculture standards for caring for the dogs.

This should be a sweep in both the House and Senate, but I can image a few uneducated elected officials voting with their special interests puppet masters and against this important legislation.

If passed, we need to see funding made available to the USDA for inspections and more enforcement.

 

Pack Line Headlines: Bear bile farms; PUPS Act; Puppy Mill stores; beached dolphins

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Bears starving themselves to death on bile farms?: Some are suggesting bears suffering horribly on bile farms are trying to starve themselves to death to end the torture.

An article posted on the Mother Nature Network website tells the story of a bear on a Laotian bile farm who was refusing food. The owner of the farm admitted this was not uncommon. So the farmer tortures bears every day, forcing them to live in tiny cages with no room to move at all and punches a hole in their sides to extract the bile AND admits they starve themselves to death. Yet, he continues to torture them.

These are sick, twisted people who should be convicted criminals, forced to live in tiny cells as blood donors. Okay – that’s harsh in response to harsh, but this sort of brutality really pisses me off.

The article reports an estimated 12,000 bears are currently suffering on bile farms across Southeast Asia.

Support the PUPS Act: The Bradenton Herald out of Florida ran a letter Saturday from a reader supporting the Puppy Uniform Protection And Safety (PUPS) Act (S. 707 and H.R. 835). The bills would require regular inspections by the USDA for commercial dogs breeders who sell 50 or puppies each year over the Internet or through newspaper ads.

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PM News Topic: Puppy Mills

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Three interesting news stories popped up today on the Pack News Wire, under the heading of puppy mills.

ONE – The federal bill H.R. 835 – also known as the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act (PUPS) could close a loophole in the old Animal Welfare Act from 1966. The current loophole means commercial breeders who sell directly to the public and over the Internet can avoid licensing and regulations that other breeders face.

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Federal bill introduced to regulate sale of puppies online

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Illinois Senator Dick Durbin official introduced a bill Thursday that requires all breeders who sell more than 50 dogs each year to be licensed and to undergo inspections. The bipartisan bill is cosponsored by Senator David Vitter of Louisiana.

Durbin is basically re-introducing the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act – or PUPS
Act. This is one piece of legislation that should pass unanimously. Any elected official who votes against this bill should get a MRI of his or her chest to make sure they have any sort of heart at all.

Or maybe each individual voting no should be issued a “I Love Puppy Mills” sticker for their cars.

AM News Pack: dog fighting, greyhound racing, PUPS Act and animal cruelty

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Links galore again this morning as we take a look at some important news from late in the week –

A Petside.com blogger offers her thoughts on the PUPS Act (Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act), noting the current loophole in federal law that allows unlicensed breeders to sell directly to the public, primarily over the web.

Jo Singer notes that on March 1, a group of bipartisan representatives in the US House reintroduced the PUPS Act. Hopefully this time we’ll see a fully bipartisan effort in the full House and Senate to get this bill passed. It should only take a few minutes to pass something this important and morally right.

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AM News Pack: Federal PUPS Act and update on NC budget cut for animal-welfare division

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Veterinary Practice News offered an update Thursday on the PUPS Act (Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act). We haven’t heard much of late about this proposed legislation.

If passed into law, this legislation would amend the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) by requiring “high volume retail breeders” to be federally licensed and regularly inspected. It seems basically the regulations would apply to any breeder sells more than 50 puppies each year by Internet, telephone or newspaper.

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