Paws Up! To Indiana Representatives Chris Campbell and Thomas Saunders for introducing a bill that would support adoption of shelter animals at pet stores.
January 25, 2022
Two Indiana legislators−Chris Campbell and Thomas Saunders−are proposing a bipartisan bill in the Indiana General Assembly that would ban commercial puppy mills from selling their animals at pet stores across the state.
What’s wrong with puppy mills?
- Puppy mills may contain between 50 to over 1,000 dogs.
- Dogs live in wire cages stacked on top of each other. Urine and feces fall through the cage floors onto animals below.
- Puppies and breeding dogs in mills are given little water and food and no veterinary care.
- Puppy mills do not have adequate temperature controls.
- Only two or three people care for 500 or more dogs.
- Inbreeding abounds and causes congenital and hereditary conditions.
- “USDA-inspected” breeders may still be puppy mills. The USDA enforces the only federal animal welfare law pertaining to dog breeding, The Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Care standards mandated by AWA are weak and seldom enforced.
House Bill 1160 would require pet stores to source their animals from an animal rescue or shelter rather than from puppy mills, where many animals are neglected and live in squalid conditions while greedy facilities turn profits. If pet stores are no longer allowed to supply their animals from commercial facilities, puppy mills will be forced to close up shop or move their businesses elsewhere due to low demand.
If this bill is passed, pet stores would be required to supply all of their animals from rescues or shelters, encouraging adoption over buying from inhumane breeders, and therefore making a positive impact on communities all over Indiana. According to the bill, stores would be required to display on the animals’ cages what organization, shelter, or rescue they came from.
Take Action: Indiana residents, now is the time to contact your lawmakers! Tell your legislators to vote YES on House Bill 1160 to stop puppy mills from profiting off of defenseless animals in your state!
Find your legislator here!