Puppy mill bill has them scrapping in Salem
Measure restricting puppy mills draws a crowd
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 10:32 AM PDT
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| Tucker, the Chihuahua mix whose mother was rescued from a puppy mill, watches dog lovers rally in Salem, at the Oregon State Capitol, Monday, from the comfort of the bag carried by his owner Terri Rise. The rally was held to support the Oregon Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act, pending in the Oregon House. The bill would limit the number of dogs at a facility and establish standards for breeders. |
SALEM (AP) — Expect some yapping and barking at the Oregon Capitol over this bill.
A measure to restrict puppy mills drew more than 100 people to a hearing and some dogs to a rally at the Capitol Monday. The measure has created a sharp division.
The bill sets care standards for breeding operations and establishes consumer protections for people who buy puppies, a goal of the Humane Society of the United States in the wake of stories about overcrowding and disease in puppy mills.
The measure also would limit to 50 the number of sexually intact dogs at least 2 years old that any person could have — the provision that committee Chairman Paul Holvey of Eugene called “the big bone of contention, that’s for sure.”
Terri Rise of Portland brought her 1-year-old Chihuahua mix, Tucker, inside a hot pink bag for a pre-hearing rally on the Capitol steps. She said the dog’s mother was missing toes and had infected eyes when she was picked up in a raid at an Oregon puppy mill.
Kerry Mullin of Corvallis brought Scolly, a 2-year-old Maltese-Yorkie found by animal control officers at a Benton County breeder. The dog was running loose and eating wallboard, Mullin said.
David Calderwood of Eugene, who breeds Shetland sheepdogs, testified that he has never had 50 dogs at one time, but he worries that such a limit could eventually be revised until it restricts his much smaller operation.
“We know this is the plan. That’s why caps are unacceptable,” he said.
Patti Strand, who spoke for 85 AKC kennel clubs in Oregon, said limits would only drive the unsavory operators underground. The cap question also brought concerns from a cat fancier who said she fears state lawmakers could move on to consider similar limits on other domestic animals.
“When do they start on the cats?” asked Ann Segrest of Salem. Holvey said he plans to bring two otherwise identical bills, one imposing a cap and one without, to his committee.
