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Puppy Protection Act of 2003

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

While scanning the online news channels, I came across an article written by a candidate for U.S. Congress about the Puppy Protection Act, also known as "HR 3484". Actually, the article was not so much about the Act, but about what a newcomer to politics faces when he runs for office.

But that got my curiosity going. What the heck is the "Puppy Protection Act"? So I ran search on the Internet, and found several webpages. The Humane Society of the United States seemed to describe this legislation as a way to stop puppy mills.

But then I found webpages from reputable and responsible breeders of pure-bred dogs voicing their opposition to this legislation, saying that it was actually an attempt to put them out of business. The American Kennel Club published a newsletter announcing their opposition to this as well:
The PPA is the brain child of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and has been introduced it its behest. The HSUS is a Washington-based organization that in recent years has evolved into a radical animal rights advocate. Fanciers will recall that in the mid-1990s the HSUS undertook a nation-wide campaign, complete with glossy brochures, aimed at persuading local governments to ban the purposeful breeding of dogs. The HSUS has also been highly critical of purebred dogs. It is the organization responsible for championing the "natural dog", otherwise known as a mongrel.
It seems like there's this "silent war" going on between animal-rights groups and breeding organizations.

I decided to look up the text of HR 3484 at the U.S. Congress' official legislative website, "Thomas". The meat of the legislation is essentially:

  • a female dog cannot be bred until it has reached at least 1 year of age


  • a female dog cannot be whelped more frequently than 3 times in any 24-month period
As to whether this can be considered "strict" standards is open to discussion. For myself, a dog owner who doesn't breed dogs, it doesn't really mean much to me. But for a breeder, one who upholds the highest standards of breeding, and takes excellent care of their dogs, I can understand that they don't want government, moreover animal rights groups, telling them what they can and cannot do. That's true of anyone in any profession.

As a libertarian, and someone who doesn't like "big government", I don't support this legislation, at least not at the federal level. I think puppy mills should be shut down, but not at the expense of legitimate breeders. I think this should be addressed at the state level. Obviously, animal rights groups don't want to fight this at the state level, because for one, that's 50 states they have to fight, and two, some states tend to disagree with them.

So where is HR 3484 right now? It's still in the Congress. According to Thomas, it was referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture back in November of 2003, and is still there. Probably stuck there.

5 Comments:

  • "As a libertarian, and someone who doesn't like "big government", I don't support this legislation, at least not at the federal level. I think puppy mills should be shut down, but not at the expense of legitimate breeders"

    Puppy mills,Backyard Breeders- That fact of the matter is look in any newspaper classified section these days-
    On a bad day there are over 600 purebred pups- good day less then 300. It all revolves around money.I betcha I can't pick out the good from the bad breeders.Good breeders charge about a grand for a dog, the ones you see in the paper are 500 or less but yet still AKC certified? Humm.. I wouldn't buy them.



    Good breeders don't over breed their dogs, and put them to sleep when they are "finished with them".Good breeders make all buyers sign a waivers to spay/neuter at a certain age, so their blood lines aren't used. I think that the goverment should be invovled, and law does make sense to me.

    The sickest part of it all everyone suffers, the consequences when the bad breeders, keep breeding, the dogs that they are spewing out these days, poor eyes,hips,socialization,teeth ETC ETC.

    You can become a pet dealer for $25.00
    You can get a AKC certificate for $25.00

    Adopting a Pet PRICELESS! :)

    www.Petfinder.org
    www.LittleZoo4you.com

    By Blogger Jodi, at 11:25 AM, February 10, 2005  

  • Jodi, no one questions that puppy mills should be put out of business. But ask yourself this, if the Puppy Protection Act is passed into law, will puppy mills go out of business?

    The answer is no. This is because there are no law enforcement officers to enforce this law. Look, there are already laws against animal cruelty in the cities, counties, and states. But there are not enough officers to go after these puppy mills.

    So why do you think federal legislation is going to make a difference?

    The AKC is making a very good point. Federal legislation will only put the law-abiding breeders out of business. This is because the only people who respect the law, are the law-abiding people. But puppy mills are operated by outlaws, people who snub their nose at the law.

    So what difference will another law make?

    That's why I don't support the Puppy Protection Act. It will not do anything to put puppy mills out of business. It will only hurt the responsible breeders. The only way to put puppy mills out of business is to create more law enforcment officers. You don't need federal legislation to do that.

    By Blogger Steve, at 12:38 PM, February 10, 2005  

  • I understand your reasoning, but the AKC provides puppy mills with the certificates- and allows them to register under the same name as many dogs as they want each year.Litters have a quota (I think after the 7th litter then can be no longer register if it is the Same Dam not Sire.

    When people see AKC ( it rings a dollar sign in thier head) if the Puppy mills could no longer register thier dogs, you would see a decline, in dogs being bred.Or atleast I think so.

    I think that AKC should be held responsible for all the dogs that it is certifying- And maybe they should have some law enforcement on thier behalf, exspecially the people who are constantly breeding 2 or more types of breeds.
    Unfortunetly Puppy mills are NOT outlaws (that is what makes it so screwed up) They they have a liscense do buy/sell/breed dogs.AGMKTS don't care either as long as they get their $25.00 yearly fee. It is the way that they are kept that is illegal.

    And no the puppy mills would not be out of business.

    You right on about having more "enforcement". :)

    By Blogger Jodi, at 4:46 PM, February 11, 2005  

  • Jodi, you're at least 10 years behind the facts. The AKC has done a lot to crack down on puppy-mills, which is is why puppy mills now use "registries" such as the Continental Kennel Club and others that would register a lump of granite as a pure-bred golden retriever just as long as the check clears. Puppy-buyers don't get the distinction: To most, "papers" are "papers." There's so much great information out there. If only people would educate themselves.

    The AKC is not the enemy. Puppy-millers are.

    By Anonymous Gina, at 3:02 PM, February 17, 2005  

  • Based on the two restrictions listed above I think the world should vote yes to the bill. No bitch should ever be bred before a year. They are not mature physically or mentally for breeding. Secondly, breeding a bitch more than three times in 24 months is disgusting. A physically mature bitch should not be bred more than every other heat. You should never breed back to back because it is dangerous for the bitch.
    People who breed for the love of the breed rarely make money at it. Backyard breeders and puppy mills are the ones who make the money. Backyard breeders aren't concerned with testing the male and bitch prior to breeding or the pedigrees of the dogs involved. There is no love of the breed only love of money. The health of the bitch never enters in to the equation.
    This bill will be supported by every reputible breeder and breed club in the country. AKC is the biggest game in town, and having said that, it does not mean that every AKC registered dog is breedable quality. If that were true every AKC registered dog would be a show dog and that is hardly the case. The AKC does more for dogs and owners than any other club in this country. They focus not just on purebreds but on all breeds. An example is the Canine Good Citizen test which focus on a dog and owners behavior rather than a specific breed. The AKC offers obedience, agility and other sports for non-purebred dogs. See the AKC.org website.

    By Anonymous Neon Rain Mastiffs, at 8:59 PM, June 07, 2005  

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