September marked a historic month in the long struggle against puppy mills as the USDA finally tightened federal regulation of online retailers. For years, a glaring loophole granted unethical puppy mill profiteers unfettered access to internet sales. A lack of even minimal oversight meant deplorable conditions for the animals and deceitful marketing that conned customers into believing they were purchasing happy and healthy puppies.
New regulations promise to reign in these rogue retailers with licenses and inspections. The rules will apply to any breeder with four or more breeding females, with the protections extending to breeders of cats and rabbits as well.
In the campaign for stricter regulations of these online retailers, over 45,000 animal advocates voiced their concern and signed The Animal Rescue Site petition addressed to the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack. Earlier in the year, more than fifty thousand concerned citizens called for the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act and a ban on puppy mill imports, both resulting in greater protection for the animals caught in this race for profit.
The latest regulations are a major victory for companion animals in the United States, but the campaign against puppy mills continues. Anyone who has ever rescued a shelter animal knows the special bond born of such a union. You can help spread this awareness by joining the growing number who have already pledged to stop puppy mills and to support adoption-only pet stores.
Source by: http://theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/ars/article/Feds-to-Puppy-Mills-No-More-Business-As-Usual650
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