Dear Editor: As a farm-raised native of the "puppy mill state" I know why humane societies and SPCAs across the country hope Missouri's Prop B. passes in November.
I'm a Missouri native now living in California, where I've volunteered and served on the board of an independent, non-profit animal shelter for many years Each week that a new load of poor quality Missouri puppies is air-shipped to California cities, means that we soon have to find the funds to tend the sick ones that dissatisfied buyers relinquish to their local shelters.
Bluntly, there seems no quality control on Missouri's end, other than to make sure the pups live long enough to be sold out here. Sure, a dissatisfied buyer can exchange the dead or ill pup to the store to be given another one just as poorly bred, to cost thousands in vet bills to prolong its life.
If these dogs were food animals, your inspectors would never let many of them leave the processing plant.
As it is, judging from what we get out here, the breeders only care if the pups are bred to be strong enough to live only until they are sold in the store. That might be for a frying chicken, but not for a companion animal that one hopes to enjoy for 10 or so years.
If I were still a Missouri voter, I would vote yes for Prop. B. My reason: this problem has existed for over 20 years while Missourians get to be labeled as not from the Show Me State but from the Puppy Mill State. It's time to get some new rules in Missouri.
Vote "yes" on B. We're as tired of this shameful commerce as you are and you can do something about it on your ballot.
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