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Loading...Tea Party Opposes Puppy Mill Law
Puppy mills are commercial breeding enterprises that take the same approach to breeding companion animals that factory farms take to raising animals for food: cramming them into cages, breeding them constantly with no rest, and neglecting their nutrition and veterinary needs.
Puppy mills are so heinous, and their victims so universally loved that even the most militant anti-animal rights, meat-loving conservatives will still rail against them. Even Dean Koontz – a writer who has spoken out loudly against animal rights initiatives – feels activism is important when puppy mills are concerned.
So when a ballot initiative is introduced in the “puppy mill capital of the country” (according to the Better Business Bureau) that attempts to establish minimal standards for the treatment of dogs by breeders, Tea Party leaders in Missouri spoke out against the measure.
Did they speak out because the bill didn’t go far enough? Did they speak out because they want puppy mills shut down entirely and not just reformed? No, leaders associated with the Tea Party, the newest and most frightening right-wing political phenomenon, are digging in their heels in a fight against what they call “radical” animal rights legislation.
They believe the ballot measure, Proposition B, is a covert attempt to eliminate pets altogether and also attack animal agriculture.
The Alliance for Truth, the primary group fighting Prop B, says that HSUS’s goal is “only to raise the cost of breeding dogs, making it ever-more difficult for middle-class American families to be dog-owners”.
Well, what exactly are the “radical” requirements that the Tea Party thinks will be the end of pet ownership? Well, to quote from the text of the bill:
- “Sufficient food and clean water.
- Necessary veterinary care.
- Sufficient housing, including protection from the elements.
- Sufficient space to turn and stretch freely, lie down, and fully extend his or her limbs.
- Regular exercise.
- Adequate rest between breeding cycles.”
The reforms are far from “radical”. In fact, I’d call this a watered-down initiative. Instead of addressing the problems of supporting commercial breeders, Prop B simply presses for very modest reforms.
According to HSUS’ numbers, up to four million pets are euthanized every year in America. Why are there any commercial breeders when so many animals are dying in shelters every year? Why aren’t we advocating for an end to puppy mills altogether?
As long as commercial breeding enterprises exist, the people who operate them will provide the bare minimum of care for their animals. The solution is to end puppy mills altogether, not regulate them into a negligibly higher standard of care.
If you want to help companion animals, adopt homeless animals from shelters and do not support commercial breeders.
Tea Party leaders may think this initiative is too radical, but from where I’m sitting it’s too weak. They’re opposing the bill because it goes too far, and I can’t support it because it doesn’t go far enough to protect animals. The Tea Party thinks animals don’t deserve our protection, and I think they deserve more protection than anyone is trying to give them right now.
Read more: animal welfare, hsus, humane society, legislation, missouri, proposition b, puppy, puppy mill, shelter, tea party
Photo: r.f.m II
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+ add your ownI do not care for the "b.s./tea shits" but this egregious abuse of gutting the puppy mill laws is really a bridge too FAR. I am against ALL PUPPY MILLS! And thank goodness Los Angeles has the cojones to stop puppy mills! Yes I live in Los Angeles and although it has not always been my favorite city to live in, I am now prouder to live here.
Correction - get rid of the 'they think' in my previous post.
There should be a law allowing people to treat the Tea Partiers the same way they think these puppies are being treated.
Puppy mills, cat mills and all kinds of animal mills should be outlawed forever everywhere. But, even with that happening the two million killed at municipal facilities will continue due to the backyard breeder that want to see their cute little dog or kitty have babies. In all my years, I have never bought a cat or dog. All the animals I have ever owned have been strays from the street. I presently have 5 feral cats living under my house, I trapped and spayed them all for only $ 10 each due to a government grant given to the organization SAspay. I also have 4 dogs neutered at my expense. As for the Tea party members they must have a hidden agenda with their crazy statements. I'm hoping most voters are too smart to fall for their BS.
These people are unbelievable..i say ban puppy mills in general..
Another mark, among many, against the Tea Party.
There are a lot of things that I agree with the Tea Party on but this is not one of them. I was a strong supporter of Prop B and very upset about what our legislators did to gut it. Aside from the humane argument against the mills, what about the basic business principle of supply and demand. If even two million animals are euthanized each year, what sense does it make to keep producing more? Don't people realized the price that municipalities pay to house and then euthanize this surplus of animals? I think Puppy Millers need to find another occupation It is not only inhumane, in a lot of instances, but also uneeded. Good for Los Angeles!
Just proving, once again, what soulless, venal, money grubbers the entire party is.
@Shelly Peterson
I'll never vote for another Democrat (or Republican).
I've always voted for the lesser of two evils but it's now clear that I was always voting for the same evil flying under a different flag.
The Democratic Party and the Republican are both giving more power to the ruling elites and helping them carry out their agenda.
Whether or not either party was uncorrupted and working for good at one point is debatable.
What isn't debatable is that they're now both totally corrupt.
So, if it's related to peace, caring & compassion, the Tea Party is automatically against it. Interesting.
Is this even a real party or just a tool created by heartless corporations?
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