House Bill No. 479 Support Puppy Millers in Our State of Missouri

HOUSE BILL NO. 479 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1130H.01I

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE HOUGHTON.
AN ACT

D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

To amend chapter 267, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to agricultural data collection.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 267, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be 2 known as section 267.169, to read as follows:
267.169. 1. No pre mise s re gistration data, animal ide ntification data,

2. 2  environmental data, or animal tracking data collected by any state agency from
   
3. 3  participants under the federal Animal Disease Traceability Program, nor any data
   
4. 4  collected for the purpose of animal health or environmental protection shall be subject to
   
5. 5  disclosure under the Missouri sunshine law in chapter 610.
   
6. 6  2. Any unauthorized release of information under subsection 1 of this section with
   
7. 7  regard to a particular entity or person regardless of the type or quantity of information
   
8. 8  released shall be a violation of this section. Any entity or person alleging a violation of this
   
9. 9  section may bring a civil action against a state agency in a court of competent jurisdiction.
   
10. 10  A court may order any appropriate relief including damages in an amount not to exceed
    
11. 11  ten thousand dollars, payment of reasonable attorney's fees, costs, expenses, and any
    
12. 12  injunctive relief the court deems necessary and proper. 
    

So the paranoid Puppy Millers are at it again. Any way for Joe Public and Mr. Average Citizen to not know what they do to the parent dogs they will push for. This is just one GIANT PARANOID BILL in hopes that it keeps the general public from knowing how they treat their breeding dogs. Please take time today to contact your local representative.

Missouri Legislative Alert! HB 79 would leave abused and neglected animals in the hands of their abusers; HB479 eliminates the ability to monitor animal welfare issues at dog breeding facilities Dear Leanne, Abused animals need your help now! House Bill 79 is yet another attempt to severely weaken Missouri’s anti-cruelty statutes. It would effectively eliminate disposition hearings for animals that have been abused and/or neglected. Law enforcement in many rural counties would discourage impounding abused and neglected animals if they did not have access to a timely disposition process, especially if the county cannot afford to care for the animals on a long-term basis. This could possibly leave animals in the hands of their abusers until the case goes to trial and is resolved. That could be many months or even years. Months for the animals to continue to be abused and neglected, or even die. HB 479 would eliminate the Sunshine Law on animal health and environmental issues. This bill is an attempt to keep the public in the dark about how animals are treated at animal operations like commercial dog breeding facilities. We've worked so hard to improve the standard of care for breeding dogs and stopping cruelty in Missouri's puppy mills: It is imperative that the ability to monitor animal welfare issues at commercial dog breeding facilities remains intact. Contact your Missouri Senator today.Ask them to help STOP animal abuse and vote NO on HB 79 and HB 479. Missouri Senators need to hear from you!Tell them you do not want animals to remain with their abusers. Tell them you want animal welfare issues at commercial dog breeding facilites to be monitored.  Protect helpless animals: Stop Missouri House Bill 79 and 479. On behalf of the animals, Forward this message to friends and relatives » Kathy Warnick President Humane Society of Missouri

Thank you for getting in touch with us. You're correct, animal cruelty is not something our state should condone. HB 79 has been voted out of the House Select Committee on General Laws, but has not yet been scheduled a hearing on the floor. Similarly, HB 479 has been passed out of the House Select Committee on Judiciary but has yet to be scheduled to be debated on the floor. If those bills are passed by the House and come to the Senate for debate (or any other bill that deals with those issues comes up for debate), Sen. Dempsey will keep your thoughts in mind.

If we can help with any other district or legislative issues, please don't hesitate to let us know.

Hudson's original email to his senator 

Dear Senator 

HB 79 has amended language that would severely weaken Missouri's anti-cruelty statutes and would effectively eliminate disposition hearings for animals that have been abused and/or neglected. HB 479 would eliminate the Sunshine Law on animal health and environmental issues.

As your constituent, I am writing to ask you to vote NO on HB 79 and HB 479.

Under HB 79, abused and neglected animals could be left in the hands of their abusers.

I support current Section 578.018 which allows state prosecutors to seek a disposition hearing for animals that have been cruelly treated and subsequently seized by law enforcement officials. I support the current statute which allows a judge to order such animals to be surrendered to a veterinarian, an animal control authority or animal shelter.

HB 479 would eliminate the ability to monitor animal welfare issues at commercial dog breeding facilities. Missourians have worked so hard to improve the standard of care for breeding dogs and stopping cruelty in Missouri's puppy mills: It is imperative that the ability to monitor animal welfare issues at commercial dog breeding facilities remains intact.

As your constituent, I ask you to please vigorously oppose HB 79 and any other legislation that seeks to modify Section 578.018. Please ensure animals will not remain in the control of those who have abused or neglected them.

As your constituent, I also urge you to oppose HB 479 and any other legislation that eliminates the ability to monitor animal welfare issues at commercial dog breeding facilities.