Critter Talk – Animal Welfare Act Disaster
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According to a recent federal investigation, the USDA‘s (U.S. Department of Agriculture) arm in charge of enforcing the Animal Welfare Act — the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or APHIS — often “ignores repeat violations, waives penalties and doesn’t adequately document inhumane treatment of dogs.”
Here’s more, thanks to a piece in Tuesday’s MercuryNews.com:
“In one case cited by the department’s inspector general, 27 dogs died at an Oklahoma breeding facility after inspectors had visited the facility several times and cited it for violations.
The review, conducted between 2006 and 2008, found [that] more than half of those large kennels — known as puppy mills — had already been cited for violations [yet] flouted the law again.
The report recommends that the animal care unit at the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service immediately confiscate animals that are dying or seriously suffering, and better train its inspectors to document, report and penalize wrongdoing.”
It’s nothing those of us who reside in puppy mill-aplenty states or pet shop-rich cities don’t already know about. If you live in South Florida, for example, you may have heard about the class action lawsuits against the puppy purveyors who have been repeatedly cited for selling sick merchandise (read: puppies). This doesn’t guarantee that any justice will be served. They still have custody of 55 puppies.
No, the political will is just not there when it comes to enforcement of the basic laws we as a society have already deemed fair and just. This, despite the atrocities an overwhelming percentage of the citizenry seeks an end to.
We’re not asking for new laws. We want nothing more, save simple compliance and basic enforcement from our officials. And when that doesn’t happen, we expect some self-scrutiny in the governmental game of checks and balances so that we can push back.
This time they did. Now we’ll just have to stay tuned to see if anything will change, and live to fight another day should it fail to.
Many thanks to Dr. Patty Khuly and our friends at Fully Vetted
Related articles
- USDA failing to police puppy mills (timesunion.com)
- USDA fails to crack down on puppy mills (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
- Why Aren’t Puppy Mills Illegal? (therealowner.com)
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What do I know, But I think basic human kindness begins as a child having to take care of animals. You’ve heard of kids beating and torturing the poor critters. They grow up and become nasty,loathing,greedy people. They can’t see the life in the eyes of animals. I think how people treat these creatures are how they treat other people. Nothing makes me more sad than taking advantage of creatures that can’t defend themselves. By that I mean all things great and small. (From the Book). Without having to say a thing, I know all you feel the same. That’s why you write from the heart.
That is a beautiful thing you said Tim! I live every day of my life seeing the same precious light in the eyes of all my creatures. I can’t understand why some people think it is OK to let another living thing suffer. Around here it is a “rancher” attitude in general that creates a puppy mill (so many animals each loses its own specialness and its value is monetary only.) This could be said about any animal raised in bulk. Which is why we should go back to backyard flocks.
Here is what we need to do IMO. Well this is what I have done when I happen to be close to animal “stores” in the mall or wherever. You just stand outside them and tell people how these animals are treated. Half hour/hour, you are already at the mall so spend an extra few telling people how awful some of the places are. Tell them about shelters in the area, only the cold hearted bastard will still buy from puppy “stores”. I’m afraid it is up to us to make sure animals are protected.
Given how the USDA has been less than diligent with inspecting TN Walking Horses (at shows) – allowing sored horses to get through – I don’t expect much more with their inspections of puppy mills.
To be fair though, the USDA is horribly underfunded and understaffed. They are almost forced to hire auxiliary staff who are undereducated and untrained and who aren’t adverse to holding out an empty palm.
A lot of this is due to the mindset we have in this country. If society really gave a shit about child and animal abuse, more money would be pumped into the agencies that are responsible for their protection.