Animal welfare groups employ hotline, law to fight puppy mills - USATODAY.com

Animal welfare groups employ hotline, law to fight puppy mills - USATODAY.com: "WHY STRONGER LAWS ARE NEEDED

We asked Stephanie Shain of the Humane Society of the United States to explain why most humane groups believe federal and state laws aren't sufficient to prevent inhumane conditions at puppy mills. Here's what he says:
Federal law: 'Current federal regulations require only bare minimum standards to be met with regard to space and care. No pet owner would keep their dog in a cage 24 hours a day … yet it … is perfectly legal under the current federal law. (There are) modest requirements that do not ensure any socialization, no protection from overbreeding. (And) since the advent and increase in use of the Internet, breeders selling puppies directly to the public through websites are completely uncovered and not subject to any inspection or humane guidelines.'
State law: 'Currently in most states, law enforcement can only help dogs in puppy mills through cruelty laws. That means conditions have to deteriorate to the point of animal cruelty, that animals have to suffer mightily before anything can legally be done to help them. At the very least, agencies should have the ability to proactively visit puppy mills to check on the conditions of dogs and require improvements be made before it reaches the point of legal cruelty.'"