OK: Happy tails: Puppy-mill bill advances

OK: Happy tails: Puppy-mill bill advances
By World's Editorial Writers
Published: 3/7/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 3/7/2009 3:35 AM

The Oklahoma House chose the right and responsible course recently in approving the Pet Quality Assurance Act, the so-called puppy-mill bill that should help improve Oklahoma's reputation on this front — and the lives of lots of lovable pooches as well.

The fact the bill passed by a huge margin of 74 to 26 suggests House members were keenly aware of the popularity of a measure that will establish some reasonable controls on Oklahoma breeders.

Let's hope the state Senate shares this view.

For years, Oklahoma has been considered one of the top puppy producers in the entire nation, producing tens of thousands of puppies each year that are transported all across the country. While there certainly are many reputable and responsible breeders, there also are some who don't have the ability or willingness to maintain even the most minimal of standards. Recent news stories reflecting horrific conditions at a few breeding operations are testament to that sad phenomenon.

The new measure establishes minimum standards for dog breeding operations, based on federal regulations, and would apply to all facilities transferring more than 35 dogs, cats, kittens or puppies in a year.

Rep. Lee Denney, R-Cushing, is a veterinarian who was the chief proponent of the measure and who worked long hours to craft a compromise that was acceptable to both animal-welfare advocates and breeders.

In pushing for the bill, Denney noted that it was not as much about the puppies — most of whom are
transferred from breeders at very young ages — as it was about the adult breeding dogs that sometimes are subjected to inhumane conditions. She also correctly observed that the bill should help address some of the consumer issues that arise when substandard conditions are present.

Another veterinarian, Rep. Brian Renegar, D-McAlester, said the bill encompasses common-sense regulations that protect the public as well as animals.

Surely state senators will see the wisdom of approving this reasonable and necessary measure.

Source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?subjectid=61&articleid=20090307_61_A14_TheOkl972942&allcom=1