The readers of more than 700 newspapers in 20 countries this weekend were given a special treat with their Sunday comics: Patrick McDonnell’s popular MUTTS strip is spreading the word about Missouri’s puppy mills and calling on readers to take action to save dogs.
Missouri’s two largest newspapers, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Kansas City Star, today offered resounding endorsements of Proposition B, and urged Missouri citizens to vote Yes on this measure to stop puppy mill abuses by establishing common-sense standards for the care of dogs.
Meet Lucky. Lucky was rescued from a Missouri puppy mill last year. Ellen Lucas, a dog breeder and breed rescue coordinator who bought Lucky from a Missouri dog auction for a token amount of money, says, "When I got him he smelled, was covered in mats, could not eat from a bowl, did not know what a biscuit was, had never seen a toy, had never been on a leash, and had lived in a two-by-two-foot cage his entire one-and-a-half years. He is adorable now and Velcroed to my hip."
The Arizona politicians in the pocket of the NRA are trying to pull one over on Arizona voters. They placed Proposition 109 on the ballot, which would amend the state constitution regarding the “right to hunt,” but it would do much more than that. It’s a power grab by politicians and special interests to take away the citizens’ right to vote on wildlife issues.
Many reputable dog breeders wholeheartedly support cracking down on large-scale puppy mills, cruel mass-breeding facilities that draw funds and attention away from good breeders and give the business a black eye. Good breeders know that stronger humane regulations can only lead to happier and healthier generations of dogs.
The campaign for YES! on Prop B to crack down on puppy mill cruelty in Missouri today launched its second week of TV and radio advertising, with new ads featuring Tony La Russa, manager of the St. Louis Cardinals and co-founder of the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), and Dr. Connie Medling, staff veterinarian for the Humane Society of Missouri.
The campaign for YES! on Proposition B, the Prevention of Puppy Mill Cruelty Act, officially kicked off today in Missouri, as the coalition supporting the statewide ballot measure launched its first TV ad of the election season. The 30-second spot, titled “Bad News,” began running today in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia/Jefferson City, Joplin, and Cape Girardeau.
I told you recently about efforts to stop rampant puppy mill abuses in Missouri, which is home to about 30 percent of the nation’s puppy mills, far dwarfing any other state. This November, Missourians will vote on Proposition B, a measure to stop puppy mill abuses by establishing common sense standards for the proper care of dogs.
Arizona, like 23 other states, allows citizens to circulate petitions and pass statewide laws directly through ballot initiatives. It’s a check on the politicians when they fail to represent their constituents’ views, and on the well-heeled special interests when they block policy reforms.
There was good news for animals yesterday in Missouri, when Secretary of State Robin Carnahan officially certified the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act for the November statewide election. The measure will appear as Proposition B on the ballot, and we will be working hard this fall to encourage Missouri citizens to vote Yes on Prop B.
