Urging the Introduction of a Bill to Regulate Commercial Dog Breeders in Arkansas
- by: Joy McManus
- recipient: Arkansas 90th General Assembly
The time to introduce this bill is NOW! We need to move forward with progressive animal welfare laws. Don't let our legislators stall the introduction of this important bill! As a registered voter in the state of Arkansas you have a right to expect your legislators to do what is right for our state!
Arkansas has the 6th largest number of USDA-licensed commercial breeders in the nation, and is the only state in the top ten with no specific law to regulate or oversee the industry. If a breeder sells direct to the public rather than to pet stores there is no requirement to become USDA licensed. With the lack of regulation and oversight this primarily cottage based industry in our state remains wide open to unethical manipulation and abuse of both the system and the breeding stock. There are hundreds of known puppy mills in Arkansas profiting off the mass production of puppies and potentially hundreds more that are not on the radar. Because these facilities are unregulated, many are not complying with required state sales & use tax requirements, and the state may be missing out on thousands in unclaimed tax revenues. Since no officials are inspecting, untold numbers of dogs suffer in sub-standard, cramped, unsanitary cages with no regard to their health or well being and questionable waste disposal practices.
As more states enact regulatory laws for commercial dog-breeding facilities, many mill operators pull up stakes in the more restrictive states, get mobile and set up shop in less restrictive states. Without a regulatory law in place this leaves the state of Arkansas as a favorable hot spot for irresponsible, large-scale breeders to set up shop (and they are doing just that!). Arkansas needs strong state-level standards to monitor large-scale breeders for compliance with state sales tax payment obligations and humane standards of care for the dogs.
Dear Legislator:
As a registered voter of Arkansas I urge you to make sure a bill regulating large-scale, commercial breeders in Arkansas is introduced immediately.
Arkansas has the 6th largest numberof USDA-licensed commercial breeders in the nation, and is the only state in the top ten with no specific law to regulate or oversee the industry. If a breeder sells direct to the public rather than to pet stores there is no requirement to become USDA licensed. With the lack of regulation and oversight this primarily cottage based industry in our state remains wide open to not complying with state sales tax requirements and neglecting the welfare of its breeding stock. There are hundreds of known puppy mills in Arkansas profiting off the mass production of puppies and potentially hundreds more that are not on the radar. Because these facilities are unregulated, many are not complying with required state sales & use tax requirements, and the state may be missing out on thousands in unclaimed tax revenues. Since no officials are inspecting, untold numbers of dogs suffer in a sub-standard, cramped, unsanitary environment with questionable waste disposal methods.
As more states enact regulatory laws for commercial dog-breeding facilities, many mill operators pull up stakes in the more restrictive states, get mobile and set up shop in less restrictive states. Without a regulatory law in place this leaves the state of Arkansas as a favorable hot spot for irresponsible, large-scale breeders to set up shop (and they are doing just that!). Arkansas needs strong state-level standards to monitor large-scale breeders for compliance with state sales tax payment obligations and humane standards of care for the dogs.
The time to introduce this bill is NOW!
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