During the bitterly cold North Carolina winter, many puppy mill dogs are almost certainly suffering horribly. Too many are confined to cages and not provided with protection from the cold while winds howl and low temperatures make teeth chatter.
Until a state puppy mill law to require minimum care standards is passed, dogs in substandard commercial breeding facilities will continue to suffer all year long -- especially during extreme winters like the current one.
North Carolina General Assembly members are setting priorities for the 2011 session. Tell legislators the importance of puppy mill reform and lessen the suffering of dogs trapped in puppy mills.
Dear senator/representative,
Last year, the state legislature came very close to passing a good puppy mill bill. The Senate passed S.B. 460 and the House was expected to vote in favor as well, but political maneuvering prevented the bill from coming up at the last moment. Our state's dogs deserve to receive decent treatment, and I strongly support enactment of minimum standards for their care.
[Your comments will be inserted here.]
Please consider the following points:
- Right now, outdoor temperatures in North Carolina are dangerously cold for animals confined to small spaces and denied the ability to protect themselves from the elements. If there is a lack of wind protection, extreme cold, frozen water and insufficient food, dogs can suffer horribly. Only the puppies who survive are lucky enough emerge from these conditions to be sold as pets; the breeding adults are not as fortunate.
- Many breeders do not pay the same taxes as do other business operators. By identifying and requiring them to treat the dogs decently, we are creating an even playing field for breeders who currently provide decent care, and also providing needed revenue for the state.
- No one knows where all the puppy mills are in the state because no one tracks that information. Yet numerous substandard facilities have been exposed in the past few years, and we suspect many more of these horrible places exist.
- Unhealthy puppies who were bred in these squalid places end up in homes, vet clinics and animal shelters throughout the state. They are often sick and need special, expensive care. The emotional devastation is tough on families, especially young children. This cruelty impacts every legislative district.
