Corner Post Editorial
Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act puts Missouri livestock industry at risk

by Carah Hart, posted May 3, 2010

As an agriculturalist, I believe the act being promoted by the Humane Society of the United States (commonly known as the Puppy Mill act), poses a threat to animal agriculture.

The petition defending the rights of dogs in Missouri has reached the University of Missouri campus and others across the state to meet its goal of more than 130,000 signatures.

The growing problem of puppy mills in Missouri has the state named, “the puppy mill capital of the nation,” meaning the state has more commercial dog breeding facilities than any other state, according to the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation.

In partnership with the Humane Society of Missouri and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation has created “Missourians for the Protection of Dogs.” According to the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation, this act will ensure that animals will receive sufficient food and clean water, necessary veterinary care, sufficient housing, space for dogs to turn around, lie down and fully extend their legs, regular exercise and good rest between breeding.

In addition, this act says no person may have more than 50 sheltered dogs for the purpose of breeding. These rules will be enforced approximately one year after the passing of the act.

But funding for this legislation poses a few questions, which makes some wonder if the bill can even be enforced within Missouri’s budget. The Humane Society said they could afford to sponsor this incentive with funding they have received throughout the years.

They also claim the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act would only impact dog breeders in the state. Agriculturalists seem to disagree. Most believe the Humane Society poses a threat to animal agriculture in the state.

The Humane Society has been setting standards in the prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act across the United States, which targets corporate farms. The Humane Society states that corporate farms are bad for the environment, slaughter practices are inhumane and producers provide inadequate confinement of animals.

I believe these accusations are incorrect.

According to air quality specialist Frank Mithloehner, U.S. livestock production contributes less than three percent of all greenhouse emissions. This is compared to the 26 percent of emissions from transportation.

Processing practices must meet certain qualifications with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. If a facility does not meet these certain qualifications than it will not be used for processing meat.

Inadequate confinement of animals is incorrect as well. It is important to understand that not only does proper housing protect animals from bad weather, but it is easier to properly handle the animal when they are in one building. Producers can better raise more livestock inside rather than risk losing an animal to other predators or bring the possibility of foreign diseases to the product.

Therefore, not only do producers care for their animals, but they work hard to produce a higher quality product for consumers.

The proper steps regarding production education are being taken within the livestock industry. Across the United States, agriculturists are educating consumers on agricultural practices and their impact on the environment.

Missouri’s livestock industries offer many programs for producers and consumers to become involved in the proper caring for their livestock. Beef quality assurance, pork quality assurance and masters of beef advocacy are a few of these programs. These programs are required and are encouraged within Missouri’s agriculture industry.

Duane Keisler, MU professor in animal reproductive and physiology, said animal agriculture is looking at a situation that they haven’t seen in a long time.

“Right now the animal industries are finally coming together,” Keisler said.

All beef, pork, and poultry industries are known to be very competitive in consumer ratings all trying to provide a lean, healthy product for consumers.

The agriculture industry has worked hard to provide consumers with lean, inexpensive and healthy products to meet the demand of consumers worldwide only to face another problem: protests against the animal agriculture industry.

According to agriculturalists, HSUS claims to do three things to protest the agriculture industry: reduce animal consumption, refine diets by switching to higher animal welfare products and replace animal products with available vegetarian options.

According Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, the Humane Society has no intentions of eliminating production agriculture.

“We do think there are issues with the current state of production per capita consumption of animal products and we have suggested there are compelling reasons to have people eat a little less,” Pacelle said, “but I don’t think in any practical way one can say we are trying to eliminate animal agriculture.”

The Humane Society is known as a not-for-profit organization and continues to receive donations from other organizations and donors, but according to humanewatch.com, only a small amount goes toward local shelters. The majority of it goes toward advertising and lobbying within legislatures.

“The Humane Society seems to be all about the money, but very little animal care,” Keisler said.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in the year 2050, the world’s population will reach an all-time high of 9.2 billion people.

If something as small as the dog breeder bill passes, I fear for the livestock industry and animal production. If that is removed, we will not be able to produce enough food for human consumption.

Agriculture has been very influential in my life, and I know how crucial it is for my generation to stay close to the farm. I will not allow my farm, something that my family worked very hard for, to be controlled by others. It’s time to act. Not only is it our duty as agriculturalists to stand-up for our industry, but also we can take this opportunity to educate others about what we do every day: feed the world.

Note: The Central Missouri Humane Society in Columbia has no connection to the Humane Society of the United States. If one wants to make a donation to a shelter, they are encouraged to donate to Central Missouri Humane Society.

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