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Virginia Legislation Targets Puppy Mills

April 24, 2008, 8:54PM MT

By Denise A LeBeau

HB 538 is law thanks to dedication, elected official and Best Friends

HB 538 is law thanks to dedication, elected official and Best Friends

Starting January 1, 2009, large breeding facilities will be regulated by Animal Control Officers, with stricter requirements for proper care. There are many heroes in this story, but the key individual that persisted in the face of adversity is Teresa Dockery. Teresa is the Chief Operating Officer of the Margaret B Mitchell Spay/Neuter Clinic in Bristol, VA and she has been instrumental in helping get this bill passed. To read HB 538 click here.

She has been working in the General Assembly for the past 20 years and she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get this bill into effect. The last year and a half has highlighted the atrocities occurring everyday in puppy mills, because of cases such as Bland Co. to Carroll Co., the public is becoming aware of the substandard conditions, and she felt the timing was right.

“Best Friends helped me move the process forward. Bland County took a big step in doing a Conditional Use Permit. But the rescue of those animals truly brought home the reality of the conditions these dogs live in for me. When we went onsite to Dogwood Kennels and saw the animals being kept in those small cages and then to see them transition to loving pets getting the treatment they deserve, it was so rewarding!” Teresa shared.

Mabel, rescued from Bland puppy mill, has a new life and a blog!

“When we touched those animals and began helping them, they were the face of all the other animals. They represented the ones that were still kept in misery. I knew I had to help them, and felt hope that something could be done, thanks in big part to all the work of Best Friends in rescuing these animals.”

“The publicity about the bill and the puppy mill seizures has made everyone much more aware of the situation the dogs are kept in. Many people didn’t realize the puppy that they bought has come from the conditions found in many puppy mills, and that the parents of their puppy still lives in squalor!”

That became the greatest concern: to address the terrible conditions that the animals were living in, day after day. Teresa said that they were fortunate to get a sponsor of the bill that could articulate the concerns to the General Assembly.

“Delegate Bobby Orrock, R-Caroline County knew the issue and presented it very well. He understood the problems and concerns and the message is powerful. He deserves a lot of credit!”

“The last 2 years has brought to light the conditions that many large breeding facilities operate under. I had been aware of smaller operations, but hadn’t seen anything like the kennels that supply puppies wholesale. But understand, the size isn’t the issue, it’s the conditions that the animals are kept in. This bill will enable Animal Control Officers to go in and make sure that standards are being met.” Del. Orrock said.

Del. Orrock is an interesting choice to have become the sponsor for HB 538 – he’s Republican, comes from an agricultural background, and many of his constituents are in agribusiness. How’d it happen?

“This is not a lifelong passion of mine, but I believe that we are responsible for stewardship of all God’s resources, whether it’s the land, wild animals, or companion animals, we’ve got to make sure they’re all cared for properly.”

He saw from the recent busts that the animals weren’t being cared for, and he took a stand.

Pudding and Pye rescued from Bland, now in loving homes!

“One of my first lessons I learned when I got into office was that there are two topics of legislation you don’t touch: bills that deal with fencing and bills that deal with dogs. It sparks such a debate, and outrage. I know I won’t be getting any Christmas cards from many of my colleagues, but this was important, commercial breeders need to be responsible to make sure the animals that they’re selling are healthy and make sure that the animals in their facility are cared for. If they can’t do that by themselves, it’s the government’s responsibility to step in.”

While this bill is a compromise, the original proponents think it’s too weak and the opponents feel like it’s draconian, Del. Orrock even said that there are some people in the breeder camp that want to see him impeached!

“It’s about getting a balance. To many people it’s about the money, not the animals. It was not easy, but I was lucky to have had Teresa Dockery working on it for the last 18 years. She is so credible and she spearheaded the coalition. I had support from some individual veterinarians but there was never any official support. The average citizen makes a distinction in an operation to make money between a hobbyist or breed enthusiast, and the people making money need to be held to standards!”

Any final words on HB 538?

“This has been the single most difficult piece of legislation that I have gotten passed and I’m thrilled to have hung in there long enough to see it through.” said Del. Orrock.

“We’re going to create training for the ACO’s and take that training around the state, they’re on the frontlines and we’ve got to give them the tools to get the job done!,” said Teresa.

To read about how Best Friends worked on the ground in Virginia, click here for the full report.

2 Ways You Can Help in Virginia
1. Support Virginia Animal Control Association, click here
2. Join the Virginia Partnership for Animal Welfare and Support, click here

6 things you can do to help stop puppy mills in your community:

1.) Join our coalition:
It’s free, fast, and you will become part of Best Friends Animal Society’s campaign to stop puppy mills and increase pet adoptions. See that gold star on the upper right of the page—click it! When you sign up, you’ll also get our monthly newsletter “Breeding Bytes”.

2.) Get active in your own community:
To download “What One Person Can do to Stop Puppy Mills”click here.

3.) Adopt your next pet:
We understand you may have your heart set on a puppy, or a particular breed. Don’t encourage puppy mills puppy mills by buying pets in stores! We guarantee that your next perfect is waiting for you at one of the thousands of shelters or rescue groups across the country—and they’re not hard to find if you take the time to look responsibly. First, visit your local shelter. If you don’t find the right pet there, rescue from online:
www.1-800-save-a-pet.com
www.pets911.com
www.petfinder.com

One can also find a dog by contacting a local breed rescue organization by searching www.google.com. Enter a city or state, the breed you are looking for, and the word “rescue.”

4.) Tired of pet stores in your community? Let them (and potential customers) know:
For information on how to hold a peaceful rally in front of a pet store, Click here.

5.) Wear your opinion on your shirt:

Do you agree that puppies aren’t products to be manufactured in America’s puppy mills and sold in stores like inventory? Say so! To order a “Puppies Aren’t Products” shirt, Click here. All proceeds go to Best Friends’ puppy mill campaign.

by Denise LeBeau, Best Friends
images of puppy mill rescue and dogs by Clay Myers, Best Friends photographer
image of Del. Bobby Orrock, courtesy of the Delegate

Comments

Posted April 25, 2008, 9:23AM by sharkster

Kudos to everyone involved in getting HB538 passed. I just sent an email to “Delegate Bobby Orrock to thank him for a job well done and that we need more people like him in government that believes that animals matter also

Posted April 26, 2008, 7:52AM by Biba

We just adopted our "first puppy mill dog" and she is so wonderful...and has been through so much in her "6 years of breeding"! If the legislature could see how she was when we got her and the difference in her now, all puppy mills would be outlawed.

Posted April 25, 2008, 12:21PM by southerndogmom

While I feel strongly that commercial breeding of dogs should be outlawed in our country, this is a wonderful step toward getting a handle on these large operations which treat the dogs like things who do not suffer or feel pain.

My heartfelt thanks to all who worked so hard to make this happen. May Virginia become a shining example to other states.

Posted April 27, 2008, 9:39AM by stevegan

This is great news! Many thanks to everyone who is working for change in Virginia.

This is a subject near and dear to our hearts because Pudding and Pye are our boys. Yes, they are still together and are now Albie (Chi) and Harley (Pug) and they are happy and loved beyond words thanks to Best Friends. It truly pains us to think of the life they would have led if they were not rescued when they were. THANK YOU!

Posted April 26, 2008, 8:10PM by kgsmiley85

It is great to know that there will be changes here in Virginia. I volunteer for a rescue group in northern Virginia who frequently rescue dogs from Carrol County when their "time is up" or when they "run out of room".

Seeing these puppy mill busts on the news was just heart-breaking. Knowing that so many of the dogs we took in from Carrol County most likely went through that torture earlier in their lives.

Thank you to everyone who put in their hard work to save these puppies and make this change happen.

Posted April 28, 2008, 12:52PM by Puddles_piglet

iinstead of just improving the quality of life of the animals, why not try and close the puppy mills all together. just the name "puppy mill" is bad enough, all the mothers do is breed over and over again.
it's all about the "buck" with total disregard to the poor animals well being, as long as the owners keep taking in money.
totally wrong !

Posted April 26, 2008, 3:36PM by ruthy92

The pro-dog abuse breeders are actual a tiny minority (and since many of them are negligent about issues like paying proper taxes, not an honest minority either!)

But they are obsessively obnoxious about harassing and manipulating legislators to protect their criminal enterprises from regulation.

They also tell shameless lies to perpetuate the abuse, and oppose laws.

They also drag in out-of-state breeders and lobbyists to pretend to be residents and harass state legislators.

It is time for this abuse of the legislative process to end.

The MAJORITY of US citizens do not want these criminal breeding enterprises operating as they are now.

Legislators are finally listening to the American people, not a tiny but hateful subset.

Posted April 26, 2008, 3:46PM by ruthy92

One of the most shameful things in Virginia was the AKC, AKC breeders and some breed clubs, "hobbyist" breeders right in there with the puppy mill lobbyists fighting FOR the puppy mills with the same propaganda that the mill breeders use to oppose laws.

AKC breeders actually calling the unlicensed breeder that killed his dogs in the fire a "good" breeder

AKC breeders that opposed proposed requirements for licensed veterinarians to treat, and they wanted allow the mill breeders to keep to killing their unwanted or ill dogs like insects.

One Virginia AKC "hobbyist" breeder is even married to a puppy mill operator!

This is today's AKC.

In the puppy mill registration business. And that is what pays for all those "hobbyists'" elitist entertainment and business.

Just a real shame.

And the veterinarians that profit from these breeders, and just look the other way while dogs get literally tortured. A real shame.

Posted April 27, 2008, 6:55PM by imforthem

I was thrilled to read that a new law has been passed to keep an eye on puppy mills. I hope firmer legislation will be in the future. Now we need to ge to work trying to close PET SHOPS!!
There is a brand new one that just opened down the street from me and they had the nerve to name the shop "PUPPYVILLE'. I am greatly discusted with this whole scene. I for one am going to wear my anti puppy mill T-shirt everywhere I can. Now, will someone please tell me how to help close these discusting stores. Even though the store is in Virginia Beach, this man gets his puppies from Missouri. They ship them in by tractor trailer! So as you can see, if we can close these stores then these evil merchants will not have commercial customers and that is bound to hurt them. Also, some laws against interstate trade of thes little lives would help greatly.