First, a pretty good idea that is not really likely to pass in this session.
HB 1004: Establishes the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act to prohibit cruel large-scale commercial breeding of dogs that is harmful and unhealthy for the dogs
Sponsor: Low, Beth (39)
CoSponsor: Kratky, Michele (65) ……….etal.
Being the biggest puppy mill state in the Union is not really a source of pride. Especially when one considers the conditions involved in these mills. Considering that at least one big group would oppose a bill like this, i’m not betting on 1004 in this session.
And a bill slightly more likely to pass
HB 1011: Allows any winery, distiller, manufacturer, wholesaler or brewer to provide beverage samples on a licensed retail premises for tasting purposes
Sponsor: Loehner, Tom (112)
Once upon a time, we had a pretty prominent wine industry here, then Prohibition was passed (Missouri never passed prohibition via a vote, but ratified it via legislature in 1919). Then Missouri was one of the quicker states in repealing prohibition via state convention in 1933. I’ll defer to those who drink alcohol on the logistics/logic of free wine samples.
When I practiced in Florida, we did first exams for puppies purchased at Petland, a large chain of pet stores. My game with each new puppy was to examine the originating health certificate, then see if I could find the town on a map. Odds are, I couldn’t–and a lot of these puppies came from Missouri, and most had health problems at the time of purchase.
On an earlier job in Bradenton, Florida, I diagnosed a puppy with giardia, a waterborne protozoal parasite usually found in pets living in unsanitary conditions. The owner’s infant son had diarrhea at the time, and the pediatrician diagnosed giardia in the infant. By the time we were finished, the state health dept. had SHUT DOWN Petland’s puppy operations for one month, so that they could do a thorough cleanup.
Regulation of the puppy mills if not outright banning is long overdue. I suppose the R’s will scream that it is unwarranted government interference in a legitimate business, this while they try to govern what women can do with their bodies.
Andy
Alton IL