June 29, 2010
Legislative initiatives to curb puppy mills, in recent years brought before numerous state legislatures, is now in the hands of both houses of the U.S. Congress. The so-called PUPS Act (Puppy Uniform Protection Statute) would require dog breeders who sell more than fifty puppies a year to be federally licensed and regulated.

Is this a job for the federal government? many are asking. Representative Lois Capps, Democrat from California, one of the bills co-sponsors, says yes. She feels that puppies bred for sale would benefit from “more careful scrutiny by the USDA.”

“I don’t think it will do any good,” said Rosemarie Blood, president of the Sacramento Kennel Club, “because they don’t have time to enforce what we have.”

The federal Animal Welfare Act, currently in force, requires facilities that breed dogs for commercial resale to be licensed and inspected. Puppy mills that sell directly to the public are exempt from the provisions of the Act.

For more details, read Rob Hotakainen’s article.