USDA Seeks Change to Regulate Internet Pet Sales

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Well, this certainly sounds like a good change!  They will be accepting comments on the proposed changes for 60 days so hopefully they don't change their minds on this.

 

From the Associated Press:

USDA seeks change to regulate Internet pet sales

By TRACIE CONE, Associated Press–3 hours ago

Dog breeders who skirt animal welfare laws by selling puppies over the Internet would face tighter scrutiny under a rule change proposed Thursday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The change would subject dog owners who breed more than four females and sell the puppies electronically, by mail or over the phone to the same oversight faced by wholesale dealers as part of the Animal Welfare Act.

That law, written in 1966, set standards of care for animals bred for commercial sale and research. Retail sales were exempt from inspections under the assumption that anyone who visited the store could see whether the animals appeared healthy and cared for.

The Internet opened a new venue for puppy sales, and thousands of large-scale breeders who advertise there have not been subject to oversight or inspection.

The proposed change seeks to close that loophole by ensuring that anyone who sells pets over the Internet, by phone or mail order can no longer do so sight-unseen.  Sellers either must open their doors to the public so buyers can see the animals before they purchase them, or obtain a license and be subject to inspections by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

"We feel this is certainly a much-needed change to an outdated system," said Rebecca Blue, deputy undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs.

The change does not affect backyard breeders who sell puppies from their homes or other physical locations. Blue said it's designed to ensure that dogs sold and shipped to buyers are healthy, treated well and genetically sound.

"This is a very significant proposed federal action, since thousands of large-scale breeders take advantage of a loophole that allows them to escape any federal inspections," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "Dogs in puppy mills often live in small, overcrowded cages, living in filth and denied veterinary care.  We need more eyes on these operations, and this rule will help."

Opposition to the change is hard to find.

"You need to open your home if you breed more than four dogs. That sounds appropriate to me," said Patti Strand, director of the National Animal Interest Alliance.

The proposed rule change came as Congress considers legislation backed by Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., a longtime animal welfare supporter, and Reps. Jim Gerlach, R-Pa., Bill Young, R-Fla., and Lois Capps, D-Calif., as well as Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and David Vitter, R-La. — that sought to make similar changes to the regulations.

Farr welcomed the USDA's decision.

"The change will finally allow the USDA to properly enforce violations, shut down puppy mills, and prevent future abuses of dogs and unsuspecting customers," Farr said.

The USDA will accept comments on the proposed rule change for 60 days.

 

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jDv-YW6Y0tCwa0Hpy...

 

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

 

It is a step in the right direction.  Let us hope that if the rules are changed thay are enforced.  Unfortunately there are many rules and laws in this area that are selectively enforced at best.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This would be so great, but I have a feeling there is going to be tremendous opposition from PIJAC and the puppy mill industry. JD and I will be keeping our fingers and paws crossed!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

what is PIJAC?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

LOL, what did I tell you? PIJAC is already mounting a strategy aganst the legislation: http://www.pijac.org/_documents/us_hr_835_pups.pdf

http://www.pijac.org/

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Does anyone know where we can write to comment? I tried Googling, but did not get anything.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here you go, Laurie:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/2012/05/retail_pets_051012.shtml

[Richard Crowe]

     Any change would be an improvement.  But, I am very hesitant to jump with joy regarding "The change would subject dog owners who breed more than four females and sell the puppies electronically, by mail or over the phone to the same oversight faced by wholesale dealers as part of the Animal Welfare Act."

     The USDA regulates dog breeding in virtually the same way that it regulates the breeding of pigs, cattle and chickens which are meant for slaughter.  While I am certainly in favor of humane treatment of all animals, even those destined for my dinner table, I really believe that dogs and cats should have the benefit of being treated differently from the treatment of food animals.

     Two years ago, Judy and a friend drove up to Albany, Oregon to rescue four female Maltese who were either pregnant or had new litters of puppies from a puppy mill.  The owner was dying (good riddance and I hope she burns in the fires of hell) and the USDA vet had contacted American Maltese Rescue to rescue the dogs.

     These dogs had been kept in terrible conditions, they were malnourished and filthy. Judy attempted to bathe the dogs on a motel but their condition was too filthy for that to work.  Judy stopped a couple of times on the way home because she thought that one of the dogs had pooped.  It was just their terrible odor that Judy was smelling. The dogs were filled with worms and other parasites.

     But the most terrible thing was that these mothers were terrified of humans.  They did not want to leave their travel kennels and when they did, they would face the corner of the room so that they would not need to look at us.  However, the mothers with puppies were very attentive to their litters.

     I would sit on the floor and toss bits of kibble out to these dogs to get them to approach me, just like I would do with a wild creature like a rabbit. Luckily all of the dogs were food oriented; likely because they had not been fed decently.

     To make a long story short, we were able to socialize three of the four females and all of the puppies, both the pups we rescued from Oregon and those born in our home.  To prove that it was not the mother's genes that caused them to be so fearful, the pups all turned out to be normal friendly little Maltese.  We found wonderful furever homes for all the puppies and all the girls except Melody.

     Melody was a special case and was the most fearful of the group.  She had spent eight years in a tiny little pen, being bred at every cycle.  She had absolutely no human contact and would run if she was approached.  It was imposible to find a home for Melody.  I made her my project and it took me a year before she whould approach me.  At about 18 months in our home, Melody started coming up to me.

     Although Melody is no way near being a normal dog, she is night and day different from how she was when we got her.  She will jump up on the couch to sit in my lap and sleeps cuddled up to me.  When I tell the dogs, "Let's go to bed", Melody barks and is the first one at the bedroom door.  She crouches down at the foot of the bed which is her way of asking to be picked up.  However, Melody is still petrified of strangers and will even run from me if I make an attempt to pet her without getting her attention first. Melody is now a Crowe dog and will remain with us furever.

     I would seriously love to run a prison in which I could house puppy mill operators in the same conditions as they keep their dogs.

 

[Rose Ann and Amante]

It is a great improvement, but I hope that the politics of it do not keep it from happening!!

[K and Racey]

http://www.akc.org/governmentrelations/usda_aphis.cfm

Looks like there were some regulations that went through relating to this. Forgive me if there is another discussion on this- I searched and didn't find one.