The following letter of support was sent out to various WI legislators - it is written by Jennifer Brown- Regional Director- The Humane Society US!

June 7, 2006

Dear Legislator:

On behalf of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and our more than 179,000 members and constituents in Wisconsin, I am writing to express our strong support of legislative efforts to address the welfare of animals in commercial breeding facilities, animal shelters, and pet stores. The HSUS supported the Pet Facilities Law as it was originally added to the state statutes during the 2002 budget process as well as subsequent efforts to reinstate these important provisions (now called “Justice for Halfpint”). It is time for Wisconsin to pass legislation that requires humane care at pet facilities.

The HSUS has been at the forefront of the fight against puppy mills. As you may know, these high-volume breeding facilities are designed to maximize profit, often at the expense of the dogs’ welfare. The conditions for dogs in such breeding facilities can be atrocious, and often include close, cramped living quarters, not enough or poor quality food, incompetent or lack of satisfactory veterinary care, and no physical or emotional enrichment. Because of these conditions, many animals end up suffering from severe health and behavioral problems. Unfortunately, The HSUS also routinely receives complaints about animal shelters in Wisconsin, as there are currently no laws to regulate them.

A few states have passed comprehensive laws to regulate puppy mills as well as other pet facilities, and ensure basic humane standards. We urge Wisconsin legislators to push for strong legislation to oversee this industry that often puts animals and unsuspecting consumers at risk. In particular, a good pet facility law will:

Apply to all operations with animals or animal sales numbering over a specified threshold; Require a licensing fee (except for non-profit shelters) and pre-inspection; Include routine, unannounced inspections at least twice yearly; Be enforced by an agency with adequate funding and properly trained staff; Rotate inspectors to cover different areas of the state; and Be equipped with strong penalties when facilities are in repeated non-compliance.

In closing, we thank you for your consideration in this matter. The HSUS would welcome the opportunity to work with you on drafting legislation and moving the bill forward by providing expertise, testimony, as well as grassroots support throughout the process. I can be reached at (edited for web site publishing). If there is any additional information I can provide, please let me know.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Brown
Senior Program Specialist
Central States Regional Office