The two most emotionally charged words in the Indiana General Assembly this session aren’t “property taxes” or “school funding.”
The two words are “puppy mills.”
There are an estimated 800 to 1,500 operations in Indiana that produce pups for sale, estimates state Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond. The only oversight group for commercial breeders is the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which registers those who sell to pet stores. Only 92 Hoosier breeders are registered.
Lawson’s House Bill 1468 would ban abusive mills and regulate commercial breeders. Initially, the bill would have allowed a person to breed 10 litters a year before being classified as a “commercial breeder” who would have to be licensed by the state and subject to inspections. Commercial breeders would be those who have 20 or more breeding females or those not spayed.
State laws for animal cruelty would also be easier to enforce under her original proposal.
But the bill has been dogged by changes as it goes through the Statehouse. Smart-thinking legislators aren’t going to be perceived as voting against the bill, but they’re more than willing to tinker with it. The Senate stripped some references to neglect and limits on the number of females that could be bred. A compromise between the Senate and House has to be reached by a conference committee by April 29 before heading to the governor.
The bill arises through efforts by the Humane Society of the United States in 33 states to put a leash on the dog breeding industry. And that’s OK with us.
Indiana cannot allow dogs to be bred in kennels with deplorable conditions.
The American Kennel Club has asked for opposition to the bill, saying that a limit on the number of dogs that an irresponsible owner has will not make him or her a better owner. The AKC encourages stronger cruelty language and an enforcement to cover all dog owners. By limiting the number of dogs for a breeder, there is a sense that breeders would be forced to send additional dogs to shelters. We think good breeders are more responsible and will ensure that their dogs will be placed with responsible owners.
Even the Indiana Farm Bureau has chimed in. They note that the bill worries livestock producers because the Humane Society has an ‘anti-meat’ and ‘anti-livestock’ agenda. The next step, they fear, is regulating the treatment of animals at livestock farms. They note that using the term “puppy mill” is a pejorative term used by those who opposed commercial dog breeding.
Anytime there’s a public discussion of intolerable conditions surrounding the rearing of a pet, the emotions flow. That is the case here.
The bill may not specifically solve the problem of reckless individual dog breeders and it doesn’t address conditions in shelters and rescue organizations.
But it begins to address the concerns of thousands of dog lovers in this state and particularly in the Madison County community. Dirty, overcrowded kennels and animal abuse do not produce good pets. Those conditions have created the term “puppy mill” even though we know there are decent and respectable breeders.
It is only reasonable that the legislature reach a compromise that penalizes animal cruelty and protects animals from careless breeders.
In summary
The Indiana legislature must reach a compromise to regulate dog breeders
Editorials
Editorial: Regulation needed to control 'puppy mills'
- Editorials
-
-
Editorial: Madison County needs vision for future tourism
Slot machines, gospel music, a beautiful state park and candy are all thriving as destination sites. Now is the time to explore a way to connect these valuable attractions and encourage new ideas.
-
Editorial: AHS grad rates moving up, must be pushed ever higher
A diploma is a must, but it has to mean something. Anderson High School must do this the right way, not cutting corners and passing students through classes, but making them accountable for learning the subject matter.
-
Editorial: With changes to program, why not begin recycling?
The public has to understand the importance of recycling aluminum and steel cans, cardboard, glass, newspapers and certain plastics. Besides minimizing a community’s waste, recycling saves energy, natural resources and the environment.
-
Editorial: Reality returns after Super Bowl mania
While we loved what the Super Bowl did for our reputation, it’s time to get back to the real world. Let’s recap the lost week.
-
You Said It: About contract, 'Teen Mom,' State of the City
Each Monday, The Herald Bulletin publishes “You Said It,” a compilation of reader comments from www.theheraldbulletin.com, coupled with responses by the newspaper’s editorial board.
-
Editorial: Smith speech shows mayor aiming high
The bottom line in Mayor Kevin Smith’s State of the City address Tuesday during the Anderson Rotary Club’s luncheon at Anderson Country Club was simple: To attract investment, you have to make investments.
-
Editorial: Bill offered by state Senate honors Fourth Amendment
No law is ever going to rid domestic situations of their subjectivity, but people have a right to be secure in their homes, and the police need to keep this in mind when they come knocking.
-
Editorial: Burton's retirement was overdue
Dan Burton has been a fixture in Indiana politics for nearly a half century. A staunch Republican, Burton made waves in the Statehouse and in Congress, but now it’s over. Burton recently announced his retirement and will not seek re-election in Indiana’s District 5.
-
Editorial: Tempered excitement for call-center jobs is prudent
Immediately after city officials announced the location of a new call center in Anderson on Jan. 25, the “Yeah, buts ...” started.
-
Editorial: Trigger law would give parents too much power
If the state is going to push for charter schools, it has to be a measured action with plenty of debate. There is a reason why the term trigger-happy has negative connotations. It means a knee-jerk reaction with little thought.
- More Editorials Headlines
-
Editorial: Madison County needs vision for future tourism
