This is an excellent commentary regarding HB 2525, Pennsylvania’s proposed Puppy Mill Bill, by North Penn Puppy Mill Watch. NPPMW is an excellent organization that watches, reports and works diligently to increase awareness and improve conditions for dogs in Pennsylvania.

People say that change is good. When it comes to Pennsylvania puppy mills, change is imperative…. There are times, however, when excess change, ambiguous change and even ad nauseum change can strangle the life out of just about anything and that includes House Bill 2525.

The Bill, in its original form and co-sponsored by 96 Representatives, would prevent dogs from suffering in horrific conditions for the sake of profit. Period. The Bill will not affect hobby breeders; true hobby breeders don’t exploit their dogs for the sake of money. The Bill will not affect hunters; real hunters take good care of their dogs and wouldn’t dream of making them suffer.

So that the pet trade may continue to prosper, tens of thousands of dogs are currently living in misery and squalor in Pennsylvania. HB-2525 represents the third attempt, over the last 24 months, to alleviate the dogs’ suffering and in desperation, the pet profiteers are pulling out all the stops in a concerted effort to stop any reform that would translate into a tremendous financial loss were these deplorable kennels forced to treat the dogs humanely.

With the clock ticking down toward the legislative summer recess, those intent on keeping Pennsylvania “The Puppy Mill Capital of the East” have tacked on no fewer than 52 amendments to House Bill 2525. A review of the amendments reveal the majority to fall into one of two categories: (1) amendments that thwart the spirit of the Bill and essentially undo all positive measures for the breeder dogs; and (2) frivolous filler.

Drafted by crafty politicians, “frivolous filler” amendments are comparable to a written filibuster and are intended to give proposed legislation the appearance of being overly cumbersome. Now, with time being a precious commodity, and the only roadblock standing in the way of the summer break, HB-2525 has more than its fair share of filler.

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As the dogs and puppies from the recent TN Pine Bluff Kennel puppy mill start to become available for adoption at the shelters, hundreds and hundreds of people are flocking to adopt the small dogs.

At the Atlanta Humane Society, more than 200 people were lined up before the doors even opened to adopt one of the 47 dogs that were available on Tuesday. The rescued dogs were available for adoption for $200. Competition was so fierce that fights broke out and people were actually scalping, selling dogs to those farther back in line for an extra $100.

Many people left sad and empty handed but the remaining 82 dogs will be available for adoption on Saturday and others in several weeks after they’ve gotten the medical care they need. The Humane Society called police on Tuesday and there will be there again on Saturday for crowd control.

One of the most positive aspects is that people also adopted many of the mix-breed dogs that were also at the shelter looking for homes.

Atlanta Humane Society president Carl Leveridge was happy that momentum from the puppy adoptions carried over to the other 250 dogs and cats at the shelter; by mid-afternoon, 45 of the non-purebreds had been adopted.

“We knew we’d get the little fluffies [from Tennessee] adopted, but we were hoping some of the momentum would be carried over to the mixed breeds,” he said.

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Last week when the arrest warrant was issued for Helena-West Helena’s Mayor, James Valley, Phillips County Sheriff Ronnie White said that rather than arrest Valley, they would probably just let him know when his court date was. Well, looks like something changed since last Friday when the statement was issued and Tuesday because Valley was arrested.

Of course he was never in jail, he was immediately released on his own recognizance with no bond. He is facing misdemeanor animal cruelty charges, which carry up to one year in jail or a $1000 fine.

He says he’s not upset about the charges but about broken promises. Again, instead of accept responsibilty for his cruel and rash act of dumping almost a dozen shelter dogs near the St. Francis National Forest on June 11, he continues to throw blame at anyone he can, specifically Ruby Burton, the director of the Humane Society of Southeastern Arkansas.

Valley says the charges are not about the dogs, but about humans with “vendettas”. Valley says Ruby Burton, the director of the Humane Society of Southeastern Arkansas, was “down here busting over gates and climbing over fences or whatever she did. That’s why she’s called a renegade, cause she violated the law in doing that. She should be the person whose under arrest for trespassing, interfering with government operations and all the other stuff she’s done in the community.”

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It’s the 4 of July , reason to celebrate is because we’re free.
It gives us the chance for you to be you and for me to be me.
Without a fight this would not have been and it’s all thanks to you.
And I certainly hope everyone continues to do what they do.

You see, without the men and women going out to fight
For what they believe in, to keep our rights in sight.
We would not have the country that we do have now.
So to all the men and women alike, to them I take a bow.

This not only goes for those who fought to keep our country free
This also goes out to all those who fought, for all the animals like me.
For all you kind people who fought to free us from this cage
You have helped to free us from our prison and the miller’s rage.

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