HSLF, Other Animal Welfare Groups Ask President Obama to Help Dogs by Cracking Down on Puppy Mills

WASHINGTON (Oct. 3, 2011) – Less than ten days since its filing, a petition submitted to the White House from The Humane Society Legislative Fund, The Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) asking President Obama to crack down on puppy mills gathered more than 10,600 signatures – doubling the threshold needed to assure an official response.

The groups submitted this petition using a new feature on the White House website called “We the People,” which allows individuals to seek federal action. In turn, the White House promises a response to any petition gathering at least 5,000 signatures within 30 days. The anti-puppy mill petition met the requirement in less than one week, and as of today has more than 10,600 signatures. The petition is now the most popular animal-related petition on the White House website, and one of the top 15 overall.

“Thousands of animal lovers across the country are bringing the issue of puppy mills directly to the President’s attention,” said Melanie Kahn, senior director of the Puppy Mills Campaign for The HSUS. “The petition asks the President to close a loophole that permits large-scale, commercial breeders who sell puppies online and directly to the public to escape basic oversight and minimal animal care standards. The Obama Administration needs to act now and close this loophole to crack down on the worst puppy mill abuses.”

“The ASPCA has seen first-hand the unspeakable cruelty and horrific conditions of puppy mills,” said Cori Menkin, senior director of the puppy mills campaign at The ASPCA. “The existing regulatory loophole allows many commercial breeders to operate without a license and without any inspection—meaning they are not accountable to anyone for their breeding and care standards. President Obama can take action to protect dogs and consumers and we urge him to do so.”

“For too long the U.S. Department of Agriculture has not regulated or inspected commercial breeders selling puppies over the Internet to unsuspecting consumers. The Obama Administration has taken the first step to shutting down the foreign imports of underage puppies. Now it’s time to properly oversee all large-scale puppy mills in the United States,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund.

Dogs in puppy mills typically are confined inside cramped wire cages for life, receive little to no medical care, and live in squalid conditions with little or no exercise, socialization or human interaction. The dogs must endure constant breeding cycles, often at the expense of their own health. Puppy mill dogs are sold in pet stores, online and directly to unsuspecting consumers with little to no regard for the dog’s health, genetic history or future welfare.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently issued a proposed rule to prohibit the import of puppies younger than six months of age from foreign puppy mills for commercial resale in the United States, implementing a law passed by Congress in the 2008 Farm Bill. This White House petition calls on the agency to close a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act which regulates large-scale commercial dog breeders who sell puppies wholesale to brokers or pet stores, but provides no oversight or standards for those who sell directly to the public through newspaper ads or the Internet.

Additional signatures are still encouraged to allow the petition to reach the status of “most popular” on the White House website. Those who wish to sign should go to: wh.gov/gdb.

Media contacts: Jordan Crump, 240-654-2964, jcrump@humanesociety.org
Rebecca McNeill, 646-291-4582, rebeccam@aspca.org

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The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

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. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.

The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association was formed as a home for veterinary professionals who want to join together to speak out for animals, engage in direct care programs for animals in need, and educate the public and others in the profession about animal welfare issues. The HSVMA is an affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States -- on the Web at hsvma.org.

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first animal welfare organization in North America and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Change.org is the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change—growing by one million new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.

Best Friends Animal Society, named Animal Welfare Non-Profit National Brand of the Year based on the 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend® study, is a national animal welfare organization building no-kill programs and partnerships that will bring about a day when there are No More HomelessPets®. The society's leading initiatives in animal care and community programs are coordinated from its Kanab, Utah headquarters, the country's largest no-kill sanctuary. This work is made possible by the personal and financial support of a grassroots network of supporters and community partners across the nation.

The Humane Society of the United States Commends Reps. Marino and Sutton for Bill to Penalize Criminals who Finance and Bring Children to Dogfights and Cockfights

WASHINGTON (July 12, 2011) — The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund applaud U.S. Reps. Tom Marino, R-Pa., and Betty Sutton, D-Ohio, for introducing bipartisan federal legislation, H.R. 2492, that would prohibit knowing attendance at organized animal fights and impose additional penalties for causing a minor to attend such events. Over the past decade, Congress has strengthened the penalties for and closed major loopholes in the federal animal fighting law, but has left the issue of spectators unaddressed. The Marino-Sutton bill will correct this remaining gap in federal law to allow for a more comprehensive crackdown on this barbaric activity.

“Spectators are participants and accomplices who enable the crime of animal fighting, provide a large share of the funding for the criminal enterprise through their admission fees and gambling wagers, and help conceal handlers and organizers who try to blend into the crowd when a bust occurs,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. “We are grateful to Representatives Marino and Sutton for introducing this legislation. We call on Congress to swiftly pass it and give law enforcement the tools they need to crack down on the entire cast of characters involved in animal fighting.”

Animal fighting is an inhumane and cruel activity involving the deliberate pitting of animals against each other to fight, often for lengthy contests that end in death, for the sole purpose of gambling and entertainment of spectators. Animals used for fighting are often drugged to heighten their aggression and forced to keep fighting even after they’ve suffered grievous injuries such as broken bones, deep gashes, punctured lungs, and pierced eyes. Young children are often brought to these events and exposed to the gruesome spectacle as acceptable entertainment.

“As a former state and federal prosecutor, I’ve seen first-hand the criminal culture that surrounds animal fighting events and the damaging influence this environment has on our children,” said Rep. Marino. “We try to protect our kids from criminal violence and yet there is no safeguard for those adults who take impressionable children to animal fights where they can witness these heinous acts in person. I introduced this legislation to make sure that law enforcement has all of the tools necessary to deprive the organizers and profiteers of these horrific events from receiving the support they need to continue this activity.”

“Animal fighting is a horrible and barbaric activity, and by making it a federal crime for individuals to knowingly attend these events or bring minors to them, we will make tremendous strides in putting an end to it once and for all,” said Rep. Sutton. “I am proud to stand with Members from both sides of the aisle and look forward to passing this common-sense, humane legislation.”

It is illegal in 49 states to be a knowing spectator at an animal fight. A majority – 28 states – impose felony-level penalties on spectators. The Marino-Sutton bill imposes federal misdemeanor penalties for knowing attendance and felony penalties for causing a minor to attend. State and federal law enforcement agencies often work together to enforce animal fighting laws, and the federal law will complement the state laws on animal fighting spectators.

The law would not reach to individuals who are not aware they are present at an animal fight or situations where two animals fight without provocation by animal fighting organizers. Because organized animal fighting is a federal crime and illegal in all 50 states, this activity is highly clandestine. Spectators at animal fights don’t just accidentally happen upon a fight – they seek out the criminal activity at secret locations, often need passwords to enter, and pay hefty admission fees for the opportunity to watch and gamble on the fights – facts that a prosecutor might use as evidence to prove that a defendant knowingly attended.

Facts:

• Spectators pay hundreds or thousands of dollars in admission fees and gambling bets, generating the bulk of the revenue for this illegal enterprise. The fights would not occur without the crowd betting on the outcome and enjoying the bloodletting.
• Spectators provide cover for animal fighters, who weave into crowds to evade prosecution at the first sign of a police raid.
• Often spectators are themselves participants in animal fights, waiting their turn at a typical organized animal fight, with several rounds during an event or derby. When police raid an animal fight, it is extremely difficult to differentiate between spectators and participants who were going to fight their dog or bird in the next match.
• Cockfighting has been linked to the death of a number of people in Asia from bird flu and to an outbreak of a poultry disease that cost U.S. taxpayers more than $200 million to contain.
• Animal fighting is also closely associated with other criminal activities such as gangs, narcotics, illegal weapons possession, public corruption and various violent crimes. A three-year study by the Chicago Police Department found that 70 percent of animal offenders had also been arrested for other felonies, including domestic and aggravated battery, illegal drug trafficking and sex crimes.

Media contact: Katie Jarl, 301-258-1483, kjarl@hslf.org

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The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

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. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.

(June 14, 2011) —The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund are urging the U.S. House of Representatives to approve amendments to reduce federal spending for lethal predator control and subsidies to massive factory farms, and oppose efforts to add funding to re-open horse slaughter plants.

“At a time when so many lawmakers are focused on deficit reduction, we can save millions of taxpayer dollars and save animals by reforming harmful government programs,” said Michael Markarian, chief operating officer of The HSUS and president of HSLF. “Costly and inhumane killing of predators with poisons and aerial gunning, subsidizing foreign-owned horse slaughter plants, and excessive hand-outs to factory farms that drive out smaller, more humane, sustainable farms, are all wastes of tax dollars.”

Lethal Predator Control

Reps. John Campbell, R-Calif., Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., and Gary Peters, D-Mich. will offer an amendment to cut $11 million in USDA’s budget to curb the taxpayer subsidy for lethal predator control by the agency’s Wildlife Services division. This antiquated program has been wasting millions of taxpayer dollars and recklessly killing animals with steel-jawed leghold traps, toxic poisons, aerial gunning, and other inhumane methods. The poisons, particularly Compound 1080 and M-44 sodium cyanide devices, are so deadly and indiscriminate that they have killed family pets and endangered species in addition to killing their intended targets. Moreover, they are ineffective, since other predators simply move into the vacant territory.

The Campbell-DeFazio-Peters amendment leaves funding for legitimate concerns, such as airport safety, but it halts the fleecing of American taxpayers as a subsidy for wealthy ranchers and begins to shift the agency toward a greater balance with cost-effective and non-lethal solutions. This program spent $78 million on operations in FY10 to address conflicts with wildlife, mostly through lethal methods.

USDA Inspections of Horse Slaughter Plants

The HSUS and HSLF are urging members of the House to reject any effort to repeal a provision of the bill that prohibits federal funding for USDA inspections at horse slaughter plants. Every year since 2005, the Agriculture Appropriations bill has included such a provision, which ensured the permanent closure of the last remaining equine abattoirs in Illinois and Texas and has prevented other cruel horse slaughter plants from opening around the country. Americans do not eat horsemeat and more than 70 percent of the country views horse slaughter as a cruel, unnecessary practice.

Subsidizing government inspections of foreign-owned horse slaughter plants could cost U.S. taxpayers about $5 million annually. It would be a waste of tax dollars for Congress to add such expenditures, given all the attention on cutting federal spending. It is foreign gourmands who want this product and would benefit from USDA inspection of horse slaughter plants, at the expense of American taxpayers. As Congress works to cut the budget in every possible way, it should continue to prevent the addition of millions of dollars to the deficit, simply to allow our nation’s horses again to be subjected to cruel slaughter to satisfy foreign markets.

Farm Subsidies

Reps. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., are leading an effort in the House to limit farm payments to large-scale producers. Rep. Flake successfully offered an amendment in the House Appropriations Committee to end subsidies for wealthy producers, but that may face a challenge on the House floor. Rep. Blumenauer plans to offer an amendment to cap the size of farm subsidies.

Payments to megafarms are driving small- and mid-sized more humane, sustainable family farms out of business. Excessive commodity subsidies keep animal feed artificially cheap and encourage massive factory farm development. From 1995 to 2009, federal farm subsidies cost taxpayers a quarter of a trillion dollars. They drive up the deficit while jeopardizing public health, the environment, and animal welfare.

Media contact: Stephanie Twining, (301) 258-1491, stwining@humanesociety.org

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The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

SB 1301 to add bittering agent to deadly chemical unanimously passes

(April 14, 2011) — The Humane Society of the United States, on behalf of its more than 500,000 supporters in Texas, and the Humane Society Legislative Fund, praise the Texas Senate for approving a measure that will reduce the number of childhood poisonings and save tens of thousands of animals each year. The bill, S.B. 1310, which requires a bittering agent to be added to antifreeze and engine coolant products so that children, pets and wildlife are not poisoned by the sweet-tasting liquid, was championed by Sen. Bob Deuell, R – District 2.

“The passage of S.B. 1301 will help reduce the number of child poisonings and save thousands of animals each year,” said Nicole Paquette, Texas senior state director for The HSUS. “We are very grateful to Sen. Deuell for his leadership on this important piece of legislation, and to all of the members of the Texas Senate who supported the bill.”

The bill passed the Senate on Wednesday by a vote of 31 to 0. The bill now goes to the House where it will be referred to a committee for potential action. The bill had broad support including The HSUS, HSLF, Honeywell, the Consumer Specialty Products Association, Texas Medical Association, Texas Veterinary Medical Association, Texas Animal Control Association, and the Texas Humane Legislation Network.

An estimated 1,400 children and 10,000 animals are poisoned each year after ingesting ethylene glycol, a highly toxic chemical used to make antifreeze and coolant for automobiles. Ethylene glycol's sweet smell and taste makes the deadly substance attractive to animals and children. The bill will require manufacturers to add denatonium benzoate, the bitterest known chemical, which renders the product unpalatable, to antifreeze and coolant sold in the state. It is estimated that it will cost manufacturers an additional two to three cents per gallon to add the bittering agent.

If signed by Gov. Perry, Texas will become the 16thstate to pass a bill requiring antifreeze contain a bittering agent. The other states where The HSUS and HSLF have worked to pass similar legislation are: Arizona, California, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Media contact: Katie Jarl, (301) 258-1483, kjarl@humanesociety.org

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The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

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. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.

Legislation would close loophole in current law exempting Internet puppy sales from animal welfare standards

(April 1, 2011) — The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund commend Senators Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and David Vitter (R-La.) for reintroducing legislation that will allow oversight of abusive puppy mills in the United States. Puppy mills are large-scale, commercial breeding operations where dogs are commonly housed in overcrowded, filthy, and inhumane conditions. S. 707—known as the PUPS Act, for "Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act "— will close a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act that currently allows large-scale, commercial breeders who sell puppies online or directly to the public to escape licensing and regulation.

H.R. 835, a companion bill introduced last month in the House of Representatives by Reps. Jim Gerlach, R-Pa., Sam Farr, D-Calif., Bill Young, R-Fla., and Lois Capps, D-Calif., already has 86 cosponsors.

The legislation would also require that dogs used for breeding be provided daily exercise. Breeding dogs in puppy mills are typically forced to live their entire lives in small cages with no opportunity for exercise, little or no socialization, and minimal human interaction.

"Dogs should be treated like family pets, not like a cash crop," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "The federal law regarding the care of dogs at commercial dog-breeding operations is grossly overdue for reform, and this legislation will correct some of the worst gaps and deficiencies in current law."

Facilities that breed dogs for commercial resale through pet stores are required to be licensed and inspected under the federal Animal Welfare Act. However, puppy mills that sell directly to the public are exempt from any federal oversight whatsoever. Unregulated Internet sellers and other direct sales facilities sell thousands of puppies a year to unsuspecting consumers. Due to improper care by these breeders, these puppies are often sick, leaving outraged consumers with frail, sometimes dying puppies, high vet bills and broken hearts. Meanwhile, the breeding dogs at these facilities often spend their entire lives in constant confinement, suffering, and deprivation.

In 2010, the USDA Office of Inspector General released a report criticizing the department’s history of lax oversight of dog dealers under the Animal Welfare Act. The OIG reviewed inspections and enforcement actions taken against dealers from 2006 to 2008 and found that USDA inspectors failed to cite or properly document inhumane treatment and brought little to no enforcement actions against violators. This audit mirrors what The HSUS has been reporting for years, that USDA has historically allowed dog dealers to violate the law without fear of any kind of aggressive enforcement actions.

Last year, USDA announced that the administration was going to take a tougher stance on repeat offenders of the law by conducting more inspections and imposing higher fines. As recommended by the OIG, the agency has conveyed to Congress the need to bring producers selling directly to the public under the AWA and close what the agency acknowledged is "a massive loophole."

"The media regularly reports stories about dogs rescued from substandard facilities -- where dogs are housed in stacked wire cages and seriously ill and injured dogs are routinely denied access to veterinary care," said Senator Richard Durbin. "Sadly, online dog sales have contributed to the rise of these disturbing cases. My bipartisan bill requires breeders who sell more than 50 dogs a year directly to the public to obtain a license from the USDA and ensures that the dogs receive proper care."

“Too many loopholes have allowed dog breeders to get away with abusive behavior, and this bill makes necessary reforms to ensure that puppies are treated humanely,” said Senator David Vitter.

The legislation will close the loophole in the AWA that allows thousands of commercial breeders to go unregulated. It will require the following changes to the AWA:

• All dog breeders who sell more than 50 puppies per year directly to the public will be federally licensed and inspected..
• Dogs at commercial breeding facilities must be given the opportunity to exercise for 60 minutes a day.
• The bill will not affect small breeders and hobby breeders who sell fewer than 50 dogs per year directly to the public, but is crafted to cover only large-scale commercial breeding facilities.

Media contact: Jordan Crump, (301) 548-7793, jcrump@humanesociety.org

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The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

Federal lawmaker takes in puppy saved from grim future

WASHINGTON (March 30, 2011) —The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund commend Representative Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., for adopting a rescued puppy he has named “Sebastian.” The HSUS and Columbia Second Chance recently rescued Sebastian’s mother and littermates from a Missouri puppy mill after the facility shut down. The mother dog and her four young puppies were all found neglected and riddled with parasites and lice. Two of Sebastian’s littermates were so weak that they unfortunately passed away shortly after their rescue. The HSUS was able to make a match by showing Rep. Grimm a photo of tiny Sebastian after hearing of the congressman’s desire to adopt a puppy. Sebastian will meet Rep. Grimm for the first time on March 30thin his office. Wayne Pacelle, HSUS president and CEO, will be on hand to deliver Sebastian to his Congressional adopter.

“Rep. Grimm is setting a terrific example by taking in a puppy in need of a loving home,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. “Missouri, the puppy mill capital of the U.S., just passed stronger standards for the care of dogs by citizen initiative, encouraging some overwhelmed puppy mills to surrender dogs to the care of rescue groups. Sebastian’s story is a striking example of how the passage of strong animal protection laws is life-changing for individual animals. We’re proud of Rep. Grimm for making this compassionate choice.”

In addition to rescuing a dog in need of a home, Rep. Grimm is also leading federal policy efforts to protect dogs on Capitol Hill. On the first day of the 112th Congress, he introduced the Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act (H.R. 198) to establish a program that allows veterans to address post-traumatic stress disorder through therapeutic dog training. The trained dogs are then given to physically disabled veterans to help them with their daily activities. His years as a Marine serving in Operation Desert Storm inspired Rep. Grimm’s concern for wounded veterans, but his compassion for animals drove him to add language encouraging the use of shelter dogs for the program. Rep. Grimm also is a cosponsor of the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act (H.R. 835), also known as the PUPS Act, a bill which would crack down on puppy mill abuses.

“I want to lead by example. That’s something I’ve always tried to do throughout my career in the Marine Corps, in the FBI, and as a Member of Congress,” said Rep. Grimm. “As a dog-lover who fully supports improving animal welfare, I couldn’t think of a better way to do that than by adopting a rescue dog. I thank The Humane Society of the United States for all their help in making this possible and I look forward to giving Sebastian a great new home.”

The PUPS Act, which is sponsored by Reps. Jim Gerlach, R-Pa., Sam Farr, D-Calif., Bill Young, R-Fla., and Lois Capps, D-Calif., will upgrade the federal law that covers abusive puppy mills in the United States. Puppy mills are large-scale, commercial breeding operations where dogs are commonly housed in overcrowded, filthy, and inhumane conditions. The legislation will close a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act that currently allows these large, commercial breeders who sell puppies online or directly to the public to escape federal licensing and regulation, leveling the playing field for all high-volume commercial dog breeders.

The bill would also require that dogs used for breeding puppies for commercial sale be provided an opportunity for daily exercise outside their cages. Breeding dogs in puppy mills are typically forced to live their entire lives in small cages with no opportunity for exercise, little or no socialization and minimal human interaction.

Facilities that sell dogs wholesale through pet stores are already required to be licensed and inspected under the federal Animal Welfare Act. However, puppy mills that sell directly to the public are exempt from any federal oversight whatsoever. Unregulated Internet sellers and other direct sales facilities sell hundreds of thousands of puppies a year to unsuspecting consumers. Due to improper care by these mills, these puppies are often sick, leaving outraged consumers with frail, sometimes dying puppies, high vet bills and broken hearts. Meanwhile, the breeding dogs at these facilities often spend their entire lives in constant confinement, suffering, and deprivation.

The legislation will require the following changes to the AWA:

• All dog breeders who sell more than 50 puppies per year directly to the public will be federally licensed and inspected.
• Dogs at commercial breeding facilities must be given the opportunity to exercise outside of their cages for 60 minutes a day.
• The bill will not affect small-scale or hobby breeders who sell fewer than 50 dogs per year directly to the public.

Media contact: Jordan Crump, (301) 548-7793, jcrump@humanesociety.org

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The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

Congressmen Elton Gallegly and Jim Moran take top awards; 144 other Members of Congress Recognized

(March 30, 2011) —The Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal protection organization, and its affiliate, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, have announced the recipients of the congressional Humane Awards for 2010.

Top honors as 2010 Humane Legislators of the Year will go to:

• Congressman Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., for his leadership on a bill enacted in December 2010 to ban the creation and distribution of obscene animal torture ("crush") videos, as well as introduction of a bill to require federal agencies to buy pork, egg, and veal products only from those who raise animals without intensive confinement; and
• Congressman James Moran, D-Va., for his leadership on a bill also enacted in December 2010 to require accurate labeling of fur apparel regardless of dollar value, along with his work as Chairman of the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee to protect wild horses and to allow the EPA to collect greenhouse gas emissions data from the largest factory farms, and his assistance on the crush video legislation.

Reps. Gallegly and Moran are co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, working to organize animal advocates in Congress to become a more powerful political force. They both have longstanding records as animal protection champions, including Rep. Gallegly’s winning enactment of animal fighting legislation in 2007 and the original crush video bill in 1999, Rep. Moran’s strong voice opposing horse slaughter and commercial trapping on National Wildlife Refuges, and the two jointly introducing legislation in 2003 to end bear baiting on federal lands.

“We commend Congressmen Gallegly and Moran for their tremendous skill, compassion and tenacity in advancing key animal protection laws,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. “They have been in the forefront of so many of the most pressing issues affecting animals, and we are enormously grateful for their extraordinary work.”

Every year, the Humane Society Legislative Fund compiles a federal Humane Scorecard to provide a snapshot of animal protection issues considered by the U.S. Congress and give animal advocates a tool to assess the performance of their Senators and Representatives. The scorecard tracks key votes as well as co-sponsorship of important pro-animal bills and support for adequate funding needed to enforce key animal welfare laws. For 2010, in addition to the top awards for Reps. Gallegly and Moran:

• Humane Champion awards will go to 20 legislators who took the lead on animal welfare legislation and also received a perfect score on the 2010 Humane Scorecard.
• Legislative Leader awards will go to 99 legislators for their leadership as prime sponsors of pro-animal legislation.
• Humane Advocate awards will go to 25 legislators who received a perfect score on the 2010 Humane Scorecard.

In total, 146 legislators – more than one-third of the Senate and one-quarter of the House (representing 38 states and two U. S. territories) – will receive awards for their work in 2010. To see the complete list of 2010 awardees, please click here.

“Time and again, we see animal protection issues bringing Members of Congress together and bridging partisan divides,” said HSLF President Michael Markarian. “We thank these leaders for their compassion and determination to ensure that our animal welfare laws reflect our basic values and attitudes shared by people across the country.”

Previous recipients of the Humane Legislator of the Year Award include Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., in 2009, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., in 2008, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., in 2007, Rep. Chris Shays, R-Conn., in 2006, and Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., in 2005.

Media contact: Martin Montorfano, (301) 258-3152, mmontorfano@humanesociety.org

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The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

Legislation would close loophole in current law exempting Internet puppy sales from all federal oversight

WASHINGTON (March 1, 2011) — The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund commend federal lawmakers for reintroducing legislation that will allow oversight of abusive puppy mills in the United States. Puppy mills are large-scale, commercial breeding operations where dogs are commonly housed in overcrowded, filthy, and inhumane conditions. The legislation will close a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act that currently allows large, commercial breeders who sell puppies online or directly to the public to escape licensing and regulation.

H.R. 835 — known as the PUPS Act, for "Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act "— is sponsored by Reps. Jim Gerlach, R-Pa., Sam Farr, D-Calif., Bill Young, R-Fla., and Lois Capps, D-Calif.

The bill would also require that dogs used for breeding be provided daily exercise. Breeding dogs in puppy mills are typically forced to live their entire lives in small cages with no opportunity for exercise, little or no socialization and minimal human interactio.

"Dogs shouldn't be treated like a cash crop," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "The federal law regarding the care of dogs at commercial dog-breeding operations is grossly overdue for reform, and this legislation will correct some of the worst gaps and deficiencies in current law."

Facilities that breed dogs for commercial resale through pet stores are required to be licensed and inspected under the federal Animal Welfare Act. However, puppy mills that sell directly to the public are exempt from any federal oversight whatsoever. Unregulated Internet sellers and other direct sales facilities sell thousands of puppies a year to unsuspecting consumers. Due to improper care by these breeders, these puppies are often sick, leaving outraged consumers with frail, sometimes dying puppies, high vet bills and broken hearts. Meanwhile, the breeding dogs at these facilities often spend their entire lives in constant confinement, suffering, and deprivation.

In 2010, the USDA Office of Inspector General released a report criticizing the department’s history of lax oversight of dog dealers under the Animal Welfare Act. The OIG reviewed inspections and enforcement actions taken against dealers from 2006 to 2008 and found that USDA inspectors failed to cite or properly document inhumane treatment and brought little to no enforcement actions against violators. This audit mirrors what The HSUS has been reporting for years, that USDA has historically allowed dog dealers to violate the law without fear of any kind of aggressive enforcement actions.

Last year, USDA announced that the administration was going to take a tougher stance on repeat offenders of the law by conducting more inspections and imposing higher fines. As recommended by the OIG, the agency has conveyed to Congress the need to bring producers selling directly to the public under the AWA and close what the agency acknowledged is "a massive loophole."

"I look forward to working with my colleagues and The Humane Society of the United States on this bill to make sure pet owners and dogs are protected in all states,” said Congressman Jim Gerlach. “This bill would not hinder the operation of reputable and responsible breeders. It is aimed at protecting dogs and making individuals motivated by profit rather than the fair and humane treatment of dogs accountable.”

"Dog breeders have taken advantage of this Internet loophole to increase their profits at the expense of the health of thousands of dogs," said Congressman Sam Farr. "The result of breeders' ability to bypass regulations has led to widespread abuses of dogs that are crammed into small cages with no exercise or social contact. We have a responsibility to close this loophole, because it is simply unconscionable to allow this abuse to continue."

The legislation will close the loophole in the AWA that allows thousands of commercial breeders to go unregulated. It will require the following changes to the AWA:

• All dog breeders who sell more than 50 puppies per year directly to the public will be federally licensed and inspected.
• Dogs at commercial breeding facilities must be given the opportunity to exercise for 60 minutes a day.
• The bill will not affect small breeders and hobby breeders who sell fewer than 50 dogs per year directly to the public, but is crafted to cover only large commercial breeding facilities.

Media contact: Katie Jarl, (301) 258-1483, kjarl@humanesociety.org

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The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

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. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.

HSLF Praises President Obama for Signing Bill to Increase Protection for Sharks

WASHINGTON (Jan. 5, 2011) — The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International and the Humane Society Legislative Fund applaud President Barack Obama for signing an important bipartisan bill that will increase protection for sharks from the cruel and wasteful practice of shark finning – cutting the fins off a shark and tossing the mutilated live animal back into the ocean to die.

The Shark Conservation Act – introduced by Reps. Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam, Eni Faleomavaega, D-American Samoa, and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. – requires that sharks be landed with their fins still naturally attached, the only sure way to enforce a ban on finning. H.R. 81 will strengthen the Shark Finning Prohibition Act of 2000 that has been difficult to enforce, closing a loophole in that law that unintentionally allowed vessels to transport fins obtained illegally as long as the sharks were not finned aboard that vessel. Many fisheries target sharks for their valuable fins, which are sold for shark fin soup.

“Cutting off sharks’ fins and tossing their live bodies back into the sea is terribly cruel. It’s also a major factor in the severe decline of sharks worldwide and the associated devastating impact on other species in the ocean ecosystem,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. “Up to 73 million sharks are killed this way each year, just for shark fin soup. The Shark Conservation Act will make the U.S. ban on shark finning more enforceable and strengthen our hand in international negotiations. We thank President Obama for taking this important step forward in conservation and animal protection.”

Along with praising President Obama and the legislation’s prime sponsors, the groups extend their thanks to Chairwoman Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Ranking Republican Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, whose leadership on the Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation were instrumental in guiding the bill to Senate passage. The groups also thank House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings, R-Wash., and Subcommittee Ranking Member Henry Brown, R-S.C., who worked with Subcommittee Chairwoman Bordallo to bring the bill forward in the House, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who helped ensure timely approval of this legislation before Congress adjourned, and other Senate cosponsors of the bill including Sen. David Vitter, R-La.

In July 2008, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration instituted regulations requiring that sharks be landed with their fins attached, but these regulations applied only to U.S. fisheries in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico, not the Pacific. The Shark Conservation Act will bring the Pacific fisheries into line with the rest of the country’s fins-attached policy, and strengthen the U.S. position in international shark conservation efforts.

Facts:

• H.R. 81, introduced by Rep. Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam, had the bipartisan support of 30 cosponsors and passed the House by voice vote with an amendment offered by Rep. Eni Faleomavaega, D-American Samoa, on March 2, 2009.
• S. 850, introduced by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., had the bipartisan support of 33 cosponsors.
• H.R. 81, with Senate amendments, passed the Senate by unanimous consent on December 20, 2010, and the House by voice vote on December 21, 2010, and was signed into law on January 4, 2011.
• Up to 73 million sharks are killed each year in targeted fisheries and as bycatch. Shark finning is a major cause of massive declines in shark populations around the world, since retaining only the fins allows fishing operations to kill many more sharks at a time (filling their onboard freezers with just the fins while dumping the bodies overboard).
• When sharks’ fins are cut off and their live bodies are thrown back into the water, the animals suffer a gruesome end, bleeding to death, suffocating because they can’t swim, or being eaten by other sharks.
• As top predators, sharks play an important role in maintaining ecosystem balance. The killing of large numbers of sharks already appears to be affecting other marine species and commercial fisheries. When shark stocks are depleted, their natural prey proliferate and can have a devastating impact on the species they feed on – for example, fewer sharks mean more skates and rays, who in turn have taken a large bite out of scallop and other shellfish populations.
• A national fins-attached policy will provide for improved conservation and management of steeply declining shark populations. It is often impossible to identify a shark species solely by looking at its fins, so landing sharks with fins attached is crucial for tracking which species are caught.
• The Senate amendments include an exemption for smooth dogfish sharks, which are typically caught along the East Coast primarily for their meat. The exemption will put the onus on that fishery to ensure that no fins from any other species are included in smooth dogfish landings.

Media contact: Jordan Crump, (301) 548-7793, jcrump@humanesociety.org

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The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

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. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.