Animal Advocates Praise North Carolina Lawmakers for Introducing Bill to Crack Down on Puppy Mills

Animal welfare advocates including North Carolina Voters for Animal Welfare, Susie’s Law, the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), Humane Society of Charlotte, SPCA of Wake County, United Animal Coalition and The Humane Society of the United States applaud Rep. Jason Saine, R- 97, for introducing a bill to ensure that dogs are treated humanely in commercial breeding facilities.

HB 930 establishes commonsense standards of care that include: daily access to fresh food and water, appropriate veterinary care, and housing that protects dogs from the elements.  

Rep. Saine said: “This bill protects both dogs and consumers. Our citizens have made it clear that they are no longer willing to tolerate animal cruelty in the dog breeding industry, and neither am I or my colleagues who support this bill. This legislation will help protect dogs in North Carolina commercial dog breeding facilities by requiring operators to adhere to these basic standards of care.”

In the past 18 months, The HSUS has assisted law enforcement in rescuing dogs suffering from severe illnesses and injuries due to lack of humane care from 13 large-scale commercial dog breeding operations all over the state.

A recent poll conducted by Lake Research Partners and commissioned by the ASPCA revealed that nearly 9 in 10 (87 percent) North Carolina voters are in favor of the state legislature passing a law that would set standards of care for North Carolina’s commercial dog breeding facilities. 

Kim Alboum, North Carolina state director for The HSUS said: “Dogs in North Carolina’s worst breeding facilities have suffered for far too long. This bill will protect dogs from the very worst of the types of abuses that we commonly find in puppy mills.”

Ann Church, vice president of state affairs for the ASPCA said: “Puppy mill operators want to keep their costs down and their profits up, and nothing short of a legal mandate will convince them that they must treat the animals in their care more humanely. North Carolina voters care about this issue and expect a strong puppy mill bill to pass this year. We thank Representative Saine for protecting North Carolina’s breeding dogs and the puppies they produce.”

Hope Hancock, executive director for the SPCA of Wake County said: “I commend Representative Saine for introducing legislation to crack down on commercial dog breeders. This is long overdue in North Carolina.”

Shelly Moore, president and CEO of the Humane Society of Charlotte said: "Puppy Mills are no different than any other animal related commercial enterprise and should be regulated as such with standards that protect both the animals and the consumer. Until North Carolina starts to hold these operations accountable to providing proper conditions, animals by the thousands will continue to suffer."

Facts:

• The HSUS estimates there are about 200 commercial dog breeding facilities in North Carolina that are currently operating without any oversight.
• The HSUS estimates 2 million to 4 million puppy mill puppies are sold each year in the United States; meanwhile 3 to 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters each year for lack of homes.
• Puppy mill dogs are most commonly sold in pet stores and online.
• Documented puppy mill conditions include over-breeding, inbreeding, minimal veterinary care, poor food and shelter, crowded cages and lack of socialization.
• Dogs kept for breeding in puppy mills suffer for years in continual confinement. They are bred as often as possible and then destroyed or discarded once they can no longer produce puppies.
• More than 2,050 pet stores across the country have joined The HSUS’ Puppy Friendly Pet Stores program including 29 stores in North Carolina by pledging to take a stand against puppy mills by refusing to sell puppies.
• The ASPCA’s national “No Pet Store Puppies” campaign aims to reduce the demand for puppy mill puppies by urging consumers to pledge not to buy any items—including food, supplies or toys—from stores or websites that sell puppies. To date, more than 2,700 North Carolina residents have taken the ASPCA’s No Pet Store Puppies pledge.

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Media Contacts: 
THE HSUS: Niki Ianni, 301-548-7793, [email protected] 
The ASPCA: Maureen Linehan, 646-706-4602, [email protected]

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We're there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty – on the Web at humanesociety.org.

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