News
Statewide Call to Action on Puppy Mills
March 04, 2009, 2:25AM MT
By Carrie Jones
Responsible Breeders Act headed for hearing in Sacramento
Responsible Breeders Act headed for hearing in Sacramento
By Carrie Jones, Best Friends Network Volunteer
Amy and Beth are two of the lucky ones. Cast off by a puppy mill after seven years of servitude as breeder females, they are awaiting forever homes at the Amanda Foundation. Their fates could have been far worse. At seven years old, they have outlived their usefulness as breeders and faced euthanasia, abandonment, or being auctioned off like livestock to a face in a crowd.
They are pure-bred Maltese, but you can hardly tell by looking at them. Years of malnutrition, living in filthy, cramped wire cages with no exercise and no human contact has taken its toll on their tiny bodies. At seven years old, they are finally being given a chance to live thanks to the non-profit organization that rescued them. It will take time for them to learn to trust, and play and accept affection. They still shrink away from human contact, but at least for Amy and Beth there is hope for a new life.
This month, the Responsible Breeders Act (AB 241) proposed by Assemblyman Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) is expected to face its first hearing.
AB 241 takes aim at large-scale breeders who mass-produce dogs and cats for sale by limiting the number of animals with intact reproductive organs at any one facility to 50. Chris Derose, President of Last Chance for Animals, believes “limiting the number of animals is one of the best ways to limit cruelty, because it would change the economics that allow breeders to make big profits by neglecting dogs.” Last Chance for Animals participated in an undercover investigation in 2008 which led to the closure of five dog-breeding operations in Los Angeles County, one of which held nearly 500 animals in squalor on the property.
The Responsible Breeders Act will crack down on large-scale operations that contribute to pet overpopulation, shelter overcrowding and staggering euthanasia rates. Your emails, faxes and phone calls are needed to help this piece of legislation move forward on its way to becoming law in California.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
? Fax a brief letter of support (either as an individual or on behalf of your organization) to Yes on AB 241 at (916) 319-2135. You must include your mailing address so your letter can be routed to the appropriate district.
? Make a call or send an email to your elected Assembly Member to urge him/her to support Nava’s Responsible Breeders Act. Look up your legislators here.
Additionally, as of 3/9/09, the bill has been referred to the Public Safety and Business and Professions Committees. Please also contact all Committee members to voice your support of AB 241.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
• Download the AB 241 Fact Sheet at YesonAB241.com.
• Read about Assemblyman Nava’s animal cruelty prevention package here.
• Read related articles here.
Photo of Amy & Beth courtesy of The Amanda Foundation
** Best Friends supports legislation that promotes quality controls and quantity caps for commercial breeders of companion animals. Specifically, we support quality standards that incorporate strict guidelines to ensure that animals’ physical and mental health thrive. Periodic oversight by an authoritative state or local agency and notable penalties that seriously deters recidivism is important. Also supported are statues stating that failure to comply will result in the penalty that a person or entity no will longer allowed to be in the pet-for profit business.