Ask the MN Legislature to Regulate Puppy Mills

For several years, the Minnesota Legislature has been debating bills to regulate large-scale, commercial breeders of dogs and cats.  Several viable approaches have been offered.  However, due to the influence of special interest groups, including those with severe conflicts of interest, legislators in our great state repeatedly either table or kill any attempts to regulate large-scale breeders.
In 2009 a viable bill was offered in the House, HF 253, that would regulate large-scale breeders in a balanced and responsible way.

We the undersigned ask the Minnesota Legislature to regulate puppy mills now.
For several years you have discussed humane and fiscal issues surrounding large-scale dog and cat breeders in the state.  The issues are large and growing, and include severe violations of cruelty and tax laws.  Yet, the legislature has done nothing.

News reports relating to Minnesota's puppy mills have been showing up all around the nation.  At the same time, the Minnesota Department of Revenue has concluded that the overwhelming majority of these large-scale breeders are not paying required sales tax on the animals sold.  This amounts to millions of dollars of lost revenue annually to the State.

Regulating these breeders would, therefore, resolve severe animal welfare issues at the same time it would help generate an additional $1.3 million (according to DOE) in revenue the State badly needs.  Rather than doing the responsible thing, which would be to enact responsible regulation, the legislature has been bowing to unrelated special interest groups, like the NRA.

We are tired of the legislator giving special interest groups their way, at the expense of animal welfare and fiscal responsibility.  We want you to do your jobs and act NOW to fix these problems.

For more information about the fiscal implications read this link:
http://www.examiner.com/x-39559-Minneapolis-Pets-Examiner~y2010m2d23-Minnesota-Puppy-Mill-Bill-by-the-Numbers

For more information on the involvement of special interests in this issue, read this link:
http://www.examiner.com/x-39559-Minneapolis-Pets-Examiner~y2010m3d12-Senate-Ag-Committee-Lets-Special-Interests-Have-Their-Way-with-Puppies-and-Kittens
We the undersigned ask the Minnesota Legislature to regulate puppy mills now.
For several years you have discussed humane and fiscal issues surrounding large-scale dog and cat breeders in the state.  The issues are large and growing, and include severe violations of cruelty and tax laws.

News reports relating to Minnesota's puppy mills have been showing up all around the nation.  At the same time, the Minnesota Department of Revenue has concluded that the overwhelming majority of these large-scale breeders are not paying required sales tax on the animals sold.  This amounts to millions of dollars of lost revenue annually to the State.

Regulating these breeders would, therefore, resolve severe animal welfare issues at the same time it would help generate an additional $1.3 million (according to DOE) in revenue the State badly needs.  Rather than doing the responsible thing, which would be to enact responsible regulation, the legislature has been bowing to unrelated special interest groups, like the NRA.
We are tired of the legislator giving special interest groups their way, at the expense of animal welfare and fiscal responsibility.  We want you to do your jobs and act NOW to fix these problems.
For more information about the fiscal implications read this link:
http://www.examiner.com/x-39559-Minneapolis-Pets-Examiner~y2010m2d23-Minnesota-Puppy-Mill-Bill-by-the-Numbers

For more information on the involvement of special interests in this issue, read this link:
http://www.examiner.com/x-39559-Minneapolis-Pets-Examiner~y2010m3d12-Senate-Ag-Committee-Lets-Special-Interests-Have-Their-Way-with-Puppies-and-Kittens
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