It is time for Maine to stop supporting puppy mills and kitten mills. People can help by not buying pups or kittens from pet shops. People can also raise their voices to end puppy/kitten mills by supporting LD 335, “An Act To Restrict The Sales Of Dogs And Cats In Pet Shops.”
LD 335 will restrict a pet shop from selling dogs and cats obtained from any large-scale puppy/kitten mill that has significant violations from the USDA. The restriction does not apply to a public or private charitable nonprofit shelter, humane society, or rescue organization, or from a pet shop with dogs or cats owned by a public or private organization. LD 335 will also stop other puppy/kitten mills, expecting to sell to pet shops, from starting business in Maine.
Documents obtained from the Maine Department of Animal Welfare have proven that 99 percent of all pups and kittens sold in Maine pet shops are obtained from out-of-state, large-scale breeding facilities, where the parent animals are kept in inhumane conditions with urine/feces-filled cages, without nutritious food, no veterinary care for illness or injury and without any protection from the elements. Such breeders often have repeat USDA violations and many are not licensed by the USDA.
Pet shops will deny those facts, but facts are facts — they cannot be denied.
Does Maine want to support an industry that abuses dogs and cats? I think not.
I urge members of the Maine Legislature to pass LD 335.
Lynne Fracassi, Casco
Editor’s note: Lynne Fracassi is founder of Maine Citizens Against Puppy Mills.
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