Missourians asked to take a stand against puppy mills

UPDATE: Hope on the Horizon

March 30, 2010, 9:9PM MT
By Cathy Scott, Best Friends staff writer

Missourians asked to take a stand against puppy mills and sign the Missouri Puppy Mill Ballot Initiative by April 27


**URGENT UPDATE: 4/9/10**

Missouri puppy mill owners are fighting dirty to protect their interests.



In a desperate political move designed to squelch the puppy mill ballot initiative, Missouri legislators have introduced a bill (HJR 86) that could negate the thousands of signatures gathered from Missourians who want to stop puppy mills in their state. Calls to legislators are needed NOW to ensure that the public has a say in stopping puppy mills.



Missouri residnts, get more information, talking points and contact information for your state Senator here: http://www.maal.org/Alert2010HJR86.asp

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Sarah Newman is an animal lover on a mission. She’s helping champion the citizen-backed Missouri Puppy Mill Ballot Initiative that would lower the number of breeding dogs allowed at licensed puppy mills. Missouri happens to have the highest number of commercial breeders than any other state in the union.



That fact is embarrassing to many Missourians, including Newman, a Best Friends volunteer who has been a resident of the Show-Me State since 1986. “Missouri is just shameless in the way they treat their animals,” she said.



The good news, however, is officials are beginning to pay attention. “They’ve really been cracking down because we have a governor now who cares,” Newman said. “And we have a new head of the Missouri Department of Agriculture who cares. We’ve had a lot of protests at pet stores in St. Louis. People are becoming aware.”



Because of those efforts, in January of this year, there were 164 fewer puppy mills than at the same time last year.



Still, fed up with the sales that continue of hundreds of thousands of puppies shipped cross-country to pet stores, Newman has hit the streets to help gather enough valid signatures by April 27 to put the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act — sponsored by Missourians for the Protection of Dogs — to a state-wide vote this fall. It would mean Missouri residents get to decide whether they want puppy breeders limited to just 50 dogs instead of as many as 1,000.



Fed up as well is Mary Koch, a Best Friends volunteer who also lives in Missouri. “I’m embarrassed by how prevalent puppy mills are, but I’m encouraged there are people trying to improve the conditions,” she said. “They’re treated worse than property. To me, it’s common sense to try and do something to help these animals. Some people don’t know about it. As I’m collecting signatures, they ask, ‘What’s a puppy mill?’ You have to get it out to the people.”



Pat Flauter, a native Missourian and another Best Friends volunteer, became aware of puppy mills about 10 years ago when she began volunteering at her local animal shelter. “I’m embarrassed for my state, and that’s why we’ve all started this puppy mill coalition,” she said. “A group of us went down to get certified to stand on corners and get signatures.”



She knows first-hand the truth of not only the physical damage that is done by living day after day in a wire cage, often without cover from the elements, but the emotional damage as well. At the shelter, she sees purebred dogs arrive daily, including a sad Weimaraner puppy originally from a commercial breeder who was given up by the people who bought him because he wasn’t house trained.



“Unless you’re involved with the animals, you’re naïve to it,” Flauter continued. “We educate the community, at the shelter, to adopt. Many people don’t realize there are purebred dogs at shelters. They expect to see mutts. They don’t realize there are shih tzus, bichons, Malteses, huskies and even Brussels griffons who come through the shelters.”



Getting the word out

Laura Collum, also a Best Friends volunteer in Missouri, agreed that it’s all about getting out the word, because too many people are still unaware of puppy mills, even though they’re operating right under their noses. “It’s mortifying that people in my state are doing this to animals. But some people think we’re making it up,” she said.



According to a recent statewide study released by the Better Business Bureau, Missouri is so overwhelmed by its number of puppy sellers, it can’t properly regulate the industry. It found 30 percent of the federally licensed dog breeders are located in Missouri — four times the number of breeders in the next highest state.



The puppy mill industry, according to 2009 figures provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, which federally oversees licensed breeding operations, there were 1,370 commercial dog and cat breeders in Missouri and 159 brokers and dealers. Some put the total number, when estimated unlicensed breeders are added in, at around 3,000.



The initiative would limit the number of breeding dogs to 50 per facility, but would not apply to breeders with 10 or fewer breeding female dogs. It also calls for regular medical check ups and treatment, decent food and clean water.



Education means letting people know about the realities of commercial breeders, which is a big focus of Best Friends’ Puppies Aren’t Products campaign. Volunteers hold peaceful demonstrations at pet stores — including in California and New York, which are ranked number one and number three, respectively, for having the highest number of stores selling puppies. The protests build awareness for the public about inhumane conditions in puppy mills and encourage people to adopt rather than buy pets.



As for the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act, Best Friends wholeheartedly backs it. “Best Friends supports this ballot initiative,” said Kelli Ohrtman, campaign specialist for Puppies Aren’t Products.



“Because Missouri has long been known as the puppy mill capitol of the U.S., change is most needed there. Best Friends members and volunteers have quickly swung into action to tell their friends, sign the petition and to become signature gatherers. We are behind this effort 100 percent.”



If the measure makes it onto the ballot, Newman said, “It definitely will pass. People are learning about the conditions of puppy mills, and they don’t want it in our state.”



Here’s how you can help obtain the 130,000 signatures needed from registered Missouri voters by April 27:


1. Missouri registered voters, sign the petition! Attend a signature gathering event or call the campaign office at (573) 263-9226 or (314) 725-8880 to find a gathering point near you.


2. Sign up as a volunteer petitioner

E-mail: info@missourifordogs.com or call (573) 263-9226 or (314) 725-8880.
Pick up materials or receive them in the mail.
Collect signatures from friends, family, co-workers, etc. (only Missouri registered voters can sign).
Return notarized petitions to the campaign office — the quicker the better so signatures can be tracked and totaled.
Watch as Missouri votes to make a historic and life-saving change for puppy mill dogs this November, in part due to your hard work.

For more information, see “Missouri: Help Crack Down on Puppy Mills,” visit www.missourifordogs.com or call (573) 263-9226 or (314) 725-8880.