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Living with shame-Missouri fed up with reputation as puppy mill state
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Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster and Missouri Department of Agriculture Director John Hagler announced on June 29, 2009 that the second phase of “Prosecution Bark Alert” has been initiated in a joint effort between their offices. The goal: to stop unlicensed and substandard dog breeders from operating in Missouri. In a statement by Director Hagler he stated:
"We want unlicensed breeders to know that in the days and weeks ahead, they will begin to face in
creasing pressure as we add more bite to Bark Alert. One way or another, they are going to get the message that substandard, unlicensed facilities are not welcome in Missouri."
Over the years Missouri has become known as the puppy mill capital of the United States due to the number of highly publicized puppy mill problems within the state. Since the Prosecution Bark Alert initiative began in February, 2009 over 200 unlicensed facilities have been located and over 1900 dogs rescued from a life of fear and pain.
Missouri is estimated to have over 4000 substandard high volume puppy breeders within its borders. Instead of being allowed to sell their animals to other unscrupulous breeders when raided, these puppy mills now have to turn their animals over to the Humane Society of Missouri or another reputable rescue groups. Mills that persist face a fine of $1000 per dog and prosecution for animal cruelty.
We want to send a message to clean up the industry and put an end to animal cruelty," Koster said. "People have cared about this a long time. Government hasn't cared about it until now."
As many of my readers know, I have been ridiculed by so called legitimate breeders; I am being accused 
of trying to put them out of business. Nothing could be further from the truth. My reply has always been, and always will be- if you are truly a caring and legitimate dog breeder you should be more outraged at these unlicensed, substandard facilities than anyone else. These types of unli
censed, uncaring breeders are the ones that are giving all breeders bad press, not the media and not the Humane Society. All AKC and other licensed breeders should stand up, get involved and show that legitimate breeders do in fact support any initiative that will stop this insanity once and for all. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem. And how can you, a breeder, say that these people "just got in over their heads", and that the facts are distorted? I think these pictures say everything.
I find it admirable that Missouri is standing up and saying that they have a problem and want to address it. Anonymous tips can be reported on an on-line form through the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
http://mda.mo.gov/animals/ACFA/barkalert/
The public needs to be educated to realize that those cute puppies in pet stores most likely came from a high volume puppy mill. For every healthy looking dog you see at the store, there are dozens of others being used as breeding stock under the most deplorable and inhumane conditions you can imagine. Only the strong survive, and then only for a short time. Long enough for their owners to make a profit.
Thanks for reading! keepsake16@yahoo.com
http://www.ky3.com/news/local/49438582.html
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