The Fight to Help Dogs Suffering In Missouri Puppy Mills Is Still Going On In Our State Capital

Please take a minute and call your representative and senator and let them know how you feel about Puppy MIlls in Our State. The People have Spoken now lets not back down to these greedy, threathening cruel hearted individuals who try to intimadate anyone they can.

By LEANNE ITALIE Associated Press The Associated Press
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
NEW YORK (AP) — Your sweetheart or your pet. Who would you choose to dump if one had to go?

Most current pet owners said they would hold on to their spouse or significant other (84 percent), but a sizable 14 percent picked their pet, according to an AP-Petside.com poll.

Put Sally Roland, 53, of Omaha, Neb., down in the dog-first column. "I'm divorced, so that might explain it," she joked.

The unmarried, like Roland, are more apt to choose their pet over their mate — 25 percent among unmarried pet owners versus 8 percent among the married.

Count Fidel Martinez, 30, of Akron, Ohio, as forever loyal to Killer. That's his mix-breed, 100-pound rescue dog.

"I would absolutely give up my girlfriend for him," Martinez said. "I know it sounds insane but I've had numerous relationships with women. My dog has never let me down."

For the record: Martinez and Killer have been together for seven years. Martinez and his girlfriend have been together for four. The two-legged pair have no immediate plans to cohabitate, he said, but she does like the dog a lot.

Women are far more apt than men to say the human-pet choice would be a tough one (40 percent among women compared with 26 percent among men). Both genders were equally likely to go with their spouse or significant other, according to the poll conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications.

There was also no difference between dog and cat owners: 35 percent of each said the choice would be a hard one and more than eight in 10 would choose their spouse.

Urban dwellers (47 percent) are more apt to say they'd have a difficult time choosing than did suburbanites (35 percent) or rural residents (25 percent).

Giving up a pet for any reason can be really tough — unless you are the owners of Princess the canine escape artist.

David Rosenthal and his family in Missouri City, Texas, were ready with what they considered an ideal fenced backyard when they welcomed the 2-year-old American Eskimo from a shelter. Then things went from pretty good to not at all.

Man's Best Friend is not a driver's best friend.

Do pets pose another threat to safe driving?
By SUE MANNING Associated Press The Associated Press
Friday, January 21, 2011
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Man's best friend is not a driver's best friend.

While lawmakers have been banning drivers from texting or using cell phones, many motorists are riding around with another dangerous risk — their dogs.

Experts say an unrestrained dog — whether curled up on a lap, hanging out the window or resting its paws on the steering wheel — can be deadly. Tens of thousands of car accidents are believed caused every year by unrestrained pets, though no one has solid numbers.

"An unrestrained pet can be hugely distracting — if he is seeking your attention, putting his face right in front of yours, starts chewing up the upholstery or is vomiting because he is carsick," said Katherine Miller, director of applied science and research for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The issue is drawing attention in some statehouses. Hawaii is the only state that specifically forbids drivers from operating a vehicle with a pet on their lap. But Oregon lawmakers are considering fining drivers who hold their pets behind the wheel. And some cities are taking action, too.

In 2009, 5,474 people were killed and 448,000 injured in crashes caused by distracted drivers in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Cell phones were the top distraction — the cause of 18 percent of the fatalities and 5 percent of the injury crashes. The agency does not track accidents caused by pets, but said they are counted among other distractions such as disruptive passengers, misbehaving children or drivers who attempt to put on makeup or read.

Author Stephen King suffered several broken bones and a collapsed lung in 1999 when he was hit by a driver who claimed he was distracted by his dog.

In a crash, an unrestrained pet can turn into a deadly projectile or get crushed by a driver or passenger who is thrown forward by the collision.

Good pet owners will use a harness or carrier and secure their pets in the middle of the back seat, Miller said. That keeps dogs from getting hurt or bouncing around and hurting others.

According to the ASPCA-"Missouri is home to one-third of all commercial dog breeding facilities in the U.S.—as many as the next three largest dog-breeding states combined—and supplies more than 40 percent of all puppies sold in pet stores nationwide. Allowing Missouri’s many substandard commercial breeders to continue treating dogs as they always have means that the flood of unhealthy puppies will continue unabated into pet stores."

Shelter Buddies of Missouri: About Us

Shelter Buddies of Missouri: About Us: "We are a Missouri non-profit corporation dedicated to the animals at Jefferson County Animal Control in Barnhart, Missouri. Jefferson ..."

Shelter Buddies Of Missouri

Good Times Benefitting the Animals

It occurred to me that almost every weekend there is a benefit to raise funds for one of the local animal rescues. You could attend a play, concert, trivia night, art show, Texas holdem tournament, bowling and all kinds of other fun things!

If you're going to spend money going out anyway, why not help rescue animals at the same time by attending fun fundraising events. Plus you'll know you're in the company of like minded people!

Wouldn't it be great if all the events were listed in one place? STL animal lovers' social calendars could easily be full.

I've populated Shelter Buddies' calendar with some of the events I've noticed on Facebook. You can see a summary of it at the bottom of this page or see the calendar at: http://bit.ly/ShelterBuddiesCalendar. I find it is easier to look at if I choose the Agenda view. You can easily change the view by clicking on the choices in the upper right hand corner.

If your organization or one of your volunteers has an online calendar - probably attached to an e-mail account, you can e-mail a calendar generated invitation to our calendar. Send invitations generated by your online calendar to moshelterbuddies@gmail.com. It would be great if you would put the name of the rescue the event benefits first with a dash and then the name of the event for the title of the event, i.e. XYZ Rescue - Trivia Night. A link to your web page with more details about the event would also be helpful.

Let's help raise funds for the animals! Please pass the word around about our fund raising calendar.

I AM A DOG

I am a dog. I am a living, breathing animal. I feel pain, joy, love, fear and pleasure.

I am not a thing. If I am hit – I will bruise, I will bleed, I will break. I will feel pain. I am not a thing.

I am a dog. I enjoy playtime, walk time, but more than anything, I enjoy time with my pack – my family – my people. I want nothing more than to be by the side of my human. I want to sleep where you sleep and walk where you walk. I am a dog and I feel love…I crave companionship.

I enjoy the touch of a kind hand and the softness of a good bed. I want to be inside of the home with my family, not stuck on the end of a chain or alone in a kennel or fenced yard for hours on end. I was born to be a companion, not to live a life of solitude.

I get too cold and I get too hot. I experience hunger and thirst. I am a living creature, not a thing.

When you leave, I want to go with you. If I stay behind, I will eagerly await your return. I long for the sound of your voice. I will do most anything to please you. I live to be your treasured companion.

I am a dog. My actions are not dictated by money, greed, or hatred. I do not know prejudice. I live in the moment and am ruled by love and loyalty.

Do not mistake me for a mindless object. I can feel and I can think. I can experience more than physical pain, I can feel fear and joy. I can feel love and confusion. I have emotions. I understand perhaps more than you do. I am able to comprehend the words you speak to me, but you are not always able to understand me.

I am a dog. I am not able to care for myself without your help. If you choose to tie me up and refuse to feed me, I will starve. If you abandon me on a rural road, I will experience fear and loneliness. I will search for you and wonder why I have been left behind. I am not a piece of property to be dumped and forgotten.

If you choose to leave me at a shelter, I will be frightened and bewildered. I will watch for your return with every footfall that approaches my kennel run.

I am a dog – a living, breathing creature. If you choose to take me home, please provide me with the things that I need to keep me healthy and happy.

Provide me with good food, clean water, warm shelter and your love. Do not abandon me. Do not kick me. Do not dump me when your life gets too busy. Make a commitment to me for the entirety of my life, or do not take me home in the first place.

If you desert me, I do not have the means to care for myself. I am at the mercy of the kindness of people – if I fall into the wrong hands, my life will be ruined.

I will experience pain, fear and loneliness. If I wind up in an animal shelter, I have only my eyes to implore someone to save me, and my tail to show you that I am a friend. If that is not good enough, I will die.

I am a dog. I want to give and receive love. I want to live. I am not a thing. I am not a piece of property. Please do not discard me. Please treat me with kindness, love and respect. I promise to repay you with unconditional love for as long as I live.
-Author Unknown-

Bizkit the Sleep Walking Dog

A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS.........
1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years.
Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment.
You have your work, your friends, your
entertainment, but I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words,
I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me,
remember that I could hurt you, and yet,
I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative,
ask yourself if something might be bothering me.
Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in
the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.
10 On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please.
Never say you can't bear to watch.
Don't make me face this alone.
Everything is easier for me if you are there,
because I love you so.

Separating Myths & Facts Regarding Prop B

GUEST COMMENTARY: Separating myths and facts regarding Prop B
Friday, January 14, 2011
BY Shelley Powers
Fact: Proposition B was voted into law in November.

Myth: The election is over, and we no longer have to discuss Prop B
Bills submitted in both the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives seek to either repeal or modify Proposition B. The new activity has retriggered the contentious debate associated with Proposition B, giving fresh life to the many myths and misunderstandings surrounding the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act. Here, I will attempt to address several of the more persistent.

Myth: There is no definition of "puppy mill."

Fact: The Missouri Federation of Animal Owners sued the state of Missouri regarding the text for Proposition B, specifically the creation of the misdemeanor crime of "puppy mill cruelty." Judge Jon Beetem upheld the language of the ballot initiative, ruling that it was neither "insufficient nor unfair."

In addition, the term "puppy mill" was defined in the case of Avenson v. Zegart, 577 F. Supp. 958, 960 (D. Minn. 1984): "A 'puppy mill' is a dog breeding operation in which the health of the dogs is disregarded in order to maintain a low overhead and maximize profits."

Summary: The term "puppy mill" has been legally defined. In addition, a judge ruled on both the fairness and sufficiency of the Proposition B language prior to the November election.

Myth: The voters were uninformed; the vote was unfair because it was skewed; the election was bought by outside interests.

Fact: Proposition B was probably the most discussed topic before the election, barring some of the political races. Both sides had a chance to state their opinions frequently, and in numerous publications. The Missourian had at least 33 separate publications on Proposition B that I could find. There are probably more.

It is a fact that the majority of counties voted against Proposition B (103 of 114 counties voted No). However, what counts in state legislation isn't the number of counties that voted for a bill, but the number of people. Proposition B passed, 51.6 percent to 48.4 percent. According to my estimates, Proposition B also passed in the majority of Missouri Senate and House of Representative districts.

A rural vote does not mean less than an urban vote, but a rural vote is also not worth more than an urban vote — yes, even when the vote is about dogs.

It is true that a majority of funding for the Proposition B campaign came from sources outside the state. However, only Missourians signed the petition to place Proposition B on the ballot (more than 190,000 signatures), and only Missourians voted to pass this bill.

If outside funding is an issue with Proposition B, it must also be an issue with other races in the last election. If we question Proposition B results because of outside campaign funding, we must also question the results of other races.

Summary: The majority of voters in Missouri voted for Proposition B. Both sides had sufficient time and space to air their views. The vote for Proposition B was legal and proper.


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Myth: Proposition B will kill puppies

One of the more commonly repeated myths about Proposition B is that it will kill puppies. It's based on the section that requires ambient temperature for indoor kennels of between 45 and 85 degrees. Because puppies in their first few weeks of life require temperatures in excess of 85, Proposition B will "kill puppies."

Fact: The relevant sections of Proposition B are the following:

3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person having custody or ownership of more than ten female covered dogs for the purpose of breeding those animals and selling any offspring for use as a pet shall provide each covered dog:

and

(1) "Covered dog" means any individual of the species of the domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris, or resultant hybrids, that is over the age of six months and has intact sexual organs.

The temperature requirements outlined for indoor kennels in Proposition B are specifically targeted at adult dogs, not newborn puppies. These temperatures are necessary for the health of the adult dogs.

Puppies typically are kept warm by their mother when they're first born. If their mother isn't sufficient, breeders are free to use heat lamps, heating pads or puppy incubators, and they won't be in violation of Proposition B requirements.

Summary: Proposition B does not kill puppies.


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Myth: There are no provisions to fund Proposition B

Fact: Proposition B is an amendment to Chapter 273 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. When enacted, it will be labeled as section 273.345. An existing Chapter 273 section, section 273.357, reads:

273.357. All fees collected by the director from licenses issued under sections 273.325 to 273.357 shall be used to administer the provisions of sections 273.325 to 273.357, and shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the "Animal Care Reserve Fund," which is hereby created. All moneys deposited in the animal care reserve fund shall be subject to appropriation for the use and benefit of the department of agriculture to administer the provisions of sections 273.325 to 273.357. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, moneys in the animal care reserve fund shall not be transferred to the general revenue fund at the end of the biennium.

Proposition B is added as 273.345, including it within the range given above. Therefore Proposition B's funding is already mandated by law.

If existing funding is inadequate for Proposition B, it is inadequate for the existing regulations without Proposition B. Proposition B refines existing inspection criteria; it doesn't add to the criteria. If anything, Proposition B should lessen the burden on inspectors as it sets an upper limit for breeding dogs, requiring less of the inspector's time. In addition, we should see a decrease in bad breeders, who take up the majority of inspector time.

Summary: Funding for Proposition B is already covered by existing laws.


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Myth: Proposition B does nothing about unlicensed breeders.

Fact: The requirements for Proposition B apply whether the breeder is licensed or not. Proposition B is also an amendment to an existing law, not a replacement, and existing regulations in the law provide additional provisions regarding breeder licensing and penalties for breeders who are not licensed.

Summary: Proposition B, in conjunction with existing, unmodified regulations, does apply to unlicensed breeders.


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Myth: In no other industry does Missouri limit the number of products. No other industry is economically impacted by business regulations established by the Missouri legislature.

Fact: Proposition B does not limit the "product" a breeder has — a breeder can breed an infinite number of puppies because the breeder's "product" is puppies. That the bill places other restrictions on the business is neither new nor outside of the boundaries of state law.

Missouri does regulate any number of businesses in Missouri, and sometimes these regulations can have economic impact on the business. A Case in point: in 2010, the Missouri state legislature approved HCS SS SCS SBs 586 & 617, otherwise known as the Adult Entertainment Law.

This law mandated new restrictions governing adult entertainment venues. Several adult entertainment businesses have filed suit, claiming the new law violates their constitutional rights to free speech. In addition, these same owners have recently stated that the bill has "decimated" the industry-specific businesses, and that many have been forced to close their doors and lay off workers.

Therefore, Missouri does regulate businesses and such regulations may have economic consequences to the business.

Proposition B does place a restriction on the number of covered dogs a breeder has and how often the dogs are bred. However, Proposition B should also go far in removing the perception that Missouri is the "puppy mill capital of the US." This can have positive economic impact on breeders, some of whom have been forced to post disclaimers that they are not puppy mills at their websites.

Summary: Proposition B does not restrict the number of breeder products (puppies). In addition, Missouri has the right and has evoked the right in the past to regulate business in Missouri, even if such regulation has an economic impact on a specific industry.

Myth: Proposition B is about more than dogs. Proposition B is a threat to agriculture.

Fact: Proposition B is an amendment to Chapter 273 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, a chapter labeled "Dogs-Cats." The title of the bill ballot was "Statutory Amendment to Chapter 273, Relating to Dog Breeders." The word "dog" is referenced 33 times in the bill. The new law is to be cited as the "Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act".

No other animal is referenced in Proposition B.

The rumors about Proposition B being some slippery slope into restrictions on cows, hogs and chickens seem to arise from the following:

(9) "Pet" means any domesticated animal normally maintained in or near the household of the owner thereof.

This section of the bill includes definitions of all terms used as part of the regulations in the bill, such as the use of "pet" in the following:

3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person having custody or ownership of more than ten female covered dogs for the purpose of breeding those animals and selling any offspring for use as a pet shall provide each covered dog ...

The other seeming concern about Proposition B as it relates to other types of animals is that it is seen as some form of "slippery slope" that will open the doors to a floodgate of new animal legislation.

The fight for Proposition B was long and arduous and had to overcome both court challenges and an aggressive counter campaign — much of it based on many of the same myths and misunderstandings covered here. Even now, Proposition B is being challenged in both the Senate and House of Representatives, as we once again have to take up the battle in its defense.

This, even though Proposition B is against something the vast majority of us don't like (puppy mills), in order to refute a title that embarrasses the people of this state ("puppy mill capital of the US"), in favor of the type of animal most of us love and have in our own homes (dogs).

I find it unlikely that any future bill related to animals will find the way paved to easier passage because of what has happened with Proposition B.

Summary: Proposition B is not about any animal other than dogs. Proposition B is not a threat to other forms of livestock or to agriculture.

Shelley Powers is a self-employed software developer and technical writer currently living in St. Louis. She is not employed, directly or indirectly, by any animal welfare or animal rights organization in Missouri, the United States or elsewhere. Shelley's only interest in Proposition B is that of a concerned citizen.

Take a moment today to thank God for your pets.
Enjoy and take good care of them.
Life would be a much duller,
less joyful experience without God's critters.

Randy Grim Rocks and has done so much for Stray Dogs in St. Louis....