Fwd: Puppy Mill victory may be thwarted!

[Guest guest]

This is SOOOO easy to do!! You just have to go to the website below

and fill out your name, they will send your letters FOR YOU!!

 

PLEASE DO IT!!

 

Tonya G.

 

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URGENT! PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SENATORS!

A recent court victory that requires the USDA to regulate " puppy

mills " may be thwarted by breeders and other pet industry interests.

 

THE ISSUE

Over the past decade, the DDAL has petitioned the USDA and filed

two lawsuits against the agency concerning their lack of regulation of

commercial retail animal dealers who sell dogs and cats from their

own premises. Many of these dealers, commonly called " puppy mill

breeders, " breed and raise their animals in deplorable conditions. As

a result, thousands of dogs and cats suffer from inhumane treatment and

 

many people who are expecting to buy a healthy dog, end up with an ill

or injured animal.

 

The USDA's position has been that these commercial dealers are exempt

from the minimum humane care and handling requirements of the Animal

Welfare Act (AWA) because the agency consider these dealers to be

" retail pet stores. " The AWA excludes " retail pet stores " from the

statute's requirements. The DDAL's position is that the USDA's

definition of " retail pet store " is too broad and clearly violates

the intent of the law. A person breeding animals in their backyards

and selling them directly to the public is NOT a " retail pet store. "

 

THE COURT VICTORY

Ultimately, the court agreed with DDAL's position. On July 31, 2001,

the United States District Court for the District of Columbia ruled

that the " text, structure, legislative history, and purpose of the AWA

demonstrate that the plain meaning of ‘retail pet store’ does not

include a person who sells dogs and cats for use as pets from their

own premises. " Thus, USDA’s exclusion of all retail dealers who sell

dogs and cats from their own premises is in violation of Congress’

express intent under the AWA.

 

CONGRESSIONAL ACTION MAY BLOCK NEW PUPPY MILL REGULATION

The DDAL believes that pet industry groups are mobilizing to block

funding to the USDA for implementing new regulations that will bring

commercial breeders under the jurisdiction of the agency. When

Congress reconvenes after Labor Day, the Senate will be considering the

FY2002 Agriculture Appropriations bill (S. 1191). It is a real

possibility that an amendment will be introduced to this bill that will

prevent the USDA from using any of its funds to expand regulations to

cover commercial dog and cat breeders.

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO

1. Send an Action Letter to your Senators right away asking them to

oppose any efforts to prevent the USDA from carrying out it's court

mandated responsibilities to regulate puppy mills. We have posted an

Action Letter on our puppy mill Campaign page:

http://www.ddal.org/currentcampaignpuppy.html

 

2. Forward this e-alert to your friends and family who care about

humane treatment for animals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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