Puppy Mill Legislation
A SPATE of law-enforcement raids on local dog breeders in January uncovered horrific conditions as well as the news that Washington had no statewide law to crack down on puppy mills. State lawmakers corrected this oversight with a strong bill passed by the Legislature this week. The bill prohibits breeders from possessing more than 50 non-neutered dogs older than 6 months at one time. It sets standards for kennel size, exercise and sanitary conditions. The bill's language is a clarion call for basic humane treatment of dogs. Breeders will have to provide clean food and water, keep cages clean and allow dogs to leave their cages for at least an hour a day. Violators could be charged with a gross misdemeanor.
Even though I prefer no legislation of this type, it is probably inevitable that this kind of law would be proposed. The problem is that once it becomes law, then it will, over time, be amended. And amendments are always more and more restrictive. The number of dogs allowed will be reduced, the standards will get tighter and tighter. And eventually, dog breeding will become pretty much illegal.
A SPATE of law-enforcement raids on local dog breeders in January uncovered horrific conditions as well as the news that Washington had no statewide law to crack down on puppy mills. State lawmakers corrected this oversight with a strong bill passed by the Legislature this week. The bill prohibits breeders from possessing more than 50 non-neutered dogs older than 6 months at one time. It sets standards for kennel size, exercise and sanitary conditions. The bill's language is a clarion call for basic humane treatment of dogs. Breeders will have to provide clean food and water, keep cages clean and allow dogs to leave their cages for at least an hour a day. Violators could be charged with a gross misdemeanor.
Even though I prefer no legislation of this type, it is probably inevitable that this kind of law would be proposed. The problem is that once it becomes law, then it will, over time, be amended. And amendments are always more and more restrictive. The number of dogs allowed will be reduced, the standards will get tighter and tighter. And eventually, dog breeding will become pretty much illegal.
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