A bill to regulate Minnesota’s commercial dog and cat breeders has been getting a lot of attention lately—though the bill was just defeated in the Senate Agriculture Committee. Sidewalk Dog asked Animal Humane Society (AHS), which was closely involved with the effort, to educate our readers on this issue. Here’s what AHS’s Tracie Jacobson had to say:

Since the beginning of this year, Animal Humane Society has rescued more than 130 animals from puppy and kitten mill situations. At the same time, the Minnesota Dog and Cat Breeder Bill, also known as the Puppy and Kitten Mill Bill, was “laid on the table” in the agriculture committees in both the Minnesota House and Senate. It remained “on the table” in both committees at the end of the 2009 session. During the current session, the Senate Agriculture Committee heard the bill on Tuesday, March 9. Unfortunately, it was defeated by a 7-5 vote. (Click here for details on the outcome of the Minnesota Puppy and Kitten Mill Bill (S.F. 7/H.F. 253) in 2010.)

For animal lovers like you and me, it’s difficult to comprehend how a bill such as this doesn’t pass the Minnesota Legislature. By not putting licensing and inspections of breeding facilities in place, the state is continuing to allow animals to experience pain and suffering. They are left to live in substandard conditions, oftentimes without food, water or exercise and very little interaction with humans resulting in extensive behavioral and health issues—issues that become the burden of Minnesota taxpayers. As many of you know, Minnesota is one of the top producers of puppies in the United States. At the same time we are one of a diminishing number of states that continue to allow the dog and cat breeding industry to operate without licensing and inspections. In fact, Wisconsin passed legislation in 2009 to regulate breeders.

Opposition to the bill is strong in Minnesota. According to our friends at Animal Folks Minnesota, those in opposition state the bill is “unnecessary because current Minnesota law already addresses animal cruelty, care and housing in animal facilities.” This statement and many others are not true, nor are the many other arguments legislators are hearing from special interest groups against the bill. These statements provide a never-ending source of misinformation contributing to the bill’s lack of progression in the Minnesota Legislature.

So what can we do? At Animal Humane Society we will continue to take in and care for animals seized from inhumane breeding facilities. We will also continue with our efforts to pass legislation that will protect these animals in the future.

The coalition leading the effort, which includes Second Chance Animal Rescue, Animal Humane Society, Animal Folks Minnesota and many others, does not see this as an end. We’re not giving up. Citizens throughout Minnesota voiced their support of the bill this year and the Minnesota Legislature heard us. They know about the problem of inhumane dog and cat breeding and the need for regulation. We have to continue to be a voice for animals.

You can be a part of the effort by becoming an Animal Humane Society Animal Advocate. Through this network you’ll be provided opportunities to help get the message out across the state about the importance of the bill. Please also visit Animal Folks Minnesota for additional information regarding puppy and kitten mills in Minnesota. While you’re there, don’t forget to sign the petition showing your support of this effort.

Thanks to Sarah Beth Photography for providing this photo from yesterday’s protest outside Shakopee’s Petland, a store that sells puppies obtained from large commercial breeders who mass-produce animals. And by large we mean huge. According to Animal Folks Minnesota and USDA inspection reports, one of the Minnesota breeders that supplies Petland had 491 adult dogs—kept in cages and bred repeatedly—in 2008.

The peaceful demonstration was organized by the Animal Rights Coalition and the Coalition for Animal Rights Education with support from In Defense of Animals.

To learn more about puppy mills in Minnesota, visit the issue page on Animal Folks MN’s Web site. And for more information on how to organize a peaceful protest, visit AFM’s action page.