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Dear Editor:
I was alarmed when I saw that HB 1412, which would force cities to allow pet stores to sell puppy mill puppies, recently passed the Indiana House of Representatives. Even more concerning upon closer look, the bill would still allow puppy-selling pet stores to get puppies from hundreds of USDA-licensed puppy mills across the country.
As a dog lover and advocate, I’ve become more familiar with the shocking amount of allowances a USDA license gives commercial dog breeders. A licensed puppy mill can legally keep hundreds of dogs in stacked, wire cages only six inches larger than their bodies for their entire lives. There is no limit to how often or how long potential mothers are bred, which means that mothers may be bred excessively until their bodies give out.
Also, sadly, the USDA has notoriously weak enforcement of these subpar standards, and as a result, a USDA license really does nothing to show that a breeder takes good care of their animals. In fact, there are hundreds of puppy mills who keep their licenses year after year, even though dogs in their care have been found with open wounds or living in kennels and cages with moldy feces caked onto the floor during inspections.
HB 1412 would also allow pet stores to source puppies from Canine Care Certified (a voluntary breeder program) breeders but gives them zero incentive to do so, all but ensuring that they will continue to sell sick puppy mill puppies to unsuspecting consumers here in Indiana.
It’s disheartening to see such a misguided bill be considered here, and I urge readers to contact their state Senators and ask them to oppose HB 1412.
Megan Pinisetti
Carmel