Puppy mills, operating in deplorable conditions that are both unsanitary and inhumane, flood the pet market with unhealthy puppies who often bring with them serious medical problems and tragedy when even the best of medical care is not enough to save them. In 2008, Oprah Winfrey helped expose the horror of puppy mills on her program and pledged to work to put a stop to them.
Now, Texans have the chance to do something about puppy mills in our state by supporting HB 3180, the “Puppy Mill Bill” sponsored by the Texas Humane Legislation Network and the Humane Society of the United States.
The Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) has created a video that shows footage of animals rescued from puppy mills right here in Texas. You can view it by clicking here.
It’s important to remember that this bill does not impact reputable, responsible hobby breeders. The Puppy Mill Bill will only affect commercial breeders, those who produce hundreds of puppies and kittens a year in factory-like settings. This bill will improve the conditions these animals live in by:
• Imposing minimum care standards on breeders with ten or more breeding females, including adequate space, medical care, fresh food and water, and socialization
• Requiring registration and inspection of those facilities once a year
• Creating a “puppy lemon law” to protect consumers who purchase animals that become sick or are found to have congenital defects that were not disclosed at the time of purchase
We need your help to pass this bill! Please call, email, or write to your legislators and ask them to support HB 3180 and its companion Senate bill, SB 1910. Not sure who represents you? Visit www.legis.state.tx.us and type in your address. Not sure what to say when you call or write? Here’s a sample:
“I am a constituent of_______ and I would like to ask him/her to support HB 3180/SB 1910, the Puppy Mill Bill. I am appalled at the way animals are treated in puppy mills and I want Texas to do something about it.”
It’s that simple! A few words and a few minutes of your day can change the lives of thousands of animals. Want to do more? Visit www.thln.org to find out how.