The Minnesota Legislature is now considering an important bill that would crack down on cruel and unscrupulous cat and dog breeders.

Such a bill is long overdue.

We have all heard horror stories throughout Minnesota of “puppy mills” where dogs are hideously mistreated – crammed in cages, ill-fed if at all, forced to be outside in all weather, beaten, abused and generally treated like garbage. There are even puppy mills whose owners actually think, in their twisted minds, they are treating their animals just fine, but they are not. Just because one does not beat an animal does not mean that animal is “just fine.” Animals need air, room to move, socialization and kind attention, if not love. Some of these unscrupulous breeders could care less about animals; their only passion is for profits generated by the abject exploitation of living creatures.

Fortunately, news about these notorious puppy (and cat) breeding mills have roused the anger of the public and of legislators. The proposed bill, dubbed “Dog and Cat Breeders – Standards of Care” was authored mainly by Sen. Barb Goodwin (D-Columbia Heights). It has bipartisan support, but public pressure is always important to ensure a bill’s passage, and this bill is no exception.

The bill, in great detail, covers licensing and regulation for commercial dog and cat breeders by the Board of Animal Health. It specifies standards of care; provides for investigation and seizures under certain conditions; allows for civil enforcement and penalties; and requires a whole range of compliances.

One of the bill’s provisions is breeders will not be allowed to keep their animals in outdoor confinement.

Another good provision is it regulates the sale of cats and dogs, including a ban on selling animals under the age of eight weeks.

The bill is now being considered by the Agriculture and Rural Economies Committee in the Minnesota Senate.

If enacted, it will become law this coming summer. Please write, call or email your representatives and senators to let them know you strongly support the bill. The bills Senate File number is 0462. To learn more about the bill and to email your legislators, go to: www.senate.leg.state.mn.us

These suffering animals cannot speak up for themselves; it’s our human responsibility to do it for them.