Canine Cruelty Prevention Act in Missouri

FIRST PUPPY MILL BUSTED UNDER CANINE CRUELTY PREVENTION ACT

The Alliance has progress to report in the fight against substandard dog breeders here in Missouri.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Attorney General’s Office successfully shut down a Lawrence County dog breeding facility using the newly enacted Canine Cruelty Prevention Act. The Attorney General’s office had previously obtained a temporary restraining order against this facility for multiple violations, including failure to provide sanitary living conditions and veterinary care for the animals.

According to inspections by the Department of Agriculture, Linda Brisco of Monett, Mo failed to:

• Provide adequate veterinary care to animals in obvious medical distress; • Clean and sanitize the facility, allowing excrement to cover the entire floor

of the enclosures including inside the feed dishes;

• Provide shelter for sick, aged or young animals;

• Provide shade for the dogs;

• Provide clean drinking water, allowing dirty and muddy drinking water; • Collect and remove animal waste.

Inspectors also reported that Brisco routinely shot unwanted dogs instead of using humane euthanasia, in violation of the law.

In an agreement approved by the court, the owner has forfeited her license,

surrendered all the animals, and will not be allowed to operate a commercial dog breeding facility for the next six years.

Attorney General Chris Koster told reporters yesterday that his office would not have been able to pursue this case as aggressively as he did without the new law. According to General Koster, the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act enables him to sue dog breeders for chronic violations, as well as enabling him to seek civil penalties against such violators, and to obtain injunctions to prevent future violations.

Assistant Attorney General Jessica Blome, head of the newly created Canine Cruelty Prevention Unit, stated that a dozen more cases are being investigated and another lawsuit is likely next week.

The 73 dogs rescued from this facility included Cocker Spaniels, Labrador Retrievers, American Eskimos, Poodles, Beagles, Papillions and Brussels Griffons.

We hope to report further progress and milestones as the Alliance continues to work with Governor Nixon, Attorney General Koster, and Director of Agriculture Jon Hagler to rid Missouri of our label as the “Puppy Mill Capitol of the US.”