Dugger: Prop B Fix Passes With Three Votes To Spare

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” –Abraham Lincoln

PROPOSITION B

Proposition B, the so-called “Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act,” – is not about preventing people from operating puppy mills.

Proposition B is the first step in an attempt to end animal agriculture in the state of Missouri. There are over 100,000 farmers in this state – many of them raise livestock. In the words of the organizations that sponsored the measure – the Humane Society:

“My goal is the abolition of all animal agriculture.” —John “J.P.” Goodwin, HSUS grassroots coordinator, statement made on AR-Views, an animal rights internet discussion group

“If we could shut down all sport hunting in a moment, we would.” —Wayne Pacelle, president of HSUS, Associated Press

“The life of an ant and that of my child should be granted equal consideration.” —Michael W. Fox, HSUS senior scholar, Associated Press

This week the Missouri House passed a measure [SB113] that would actually make it harder to operate a puppy mill in this state. Our bill, unlike the humane society’s proposition, increases the cost of obtaining a dog breeder’s license in Missouri, and uses that money to increase inspections.

Bad people will always do bad things. But we can’t regulate or penalize good Dog Breeders out of business. It is unconstitutional and simply not right to do so.

We also now have a program in Missouri called Bark Alert which lets citizens call in and report inhumane treatment to animals.

Since the launch of Operation Bark Alert, more than 4,300 dogs have been rescued in across Missouri. In 2009, Missouri saw a decrease of 164 commercial breeders thanks to Operation Bark Alert. In 2010, the trend continued with more than 200 commercial breeders no longer in business in Missouri. This was without the measures in proposition B, designed to end animal farming.

We can stop illegal breeders from operating here without hurting legitimate businesses. The Humane Society thinks that we cannot legitimately raise animals for food; they think that animals are equal to humans. This is insane.

Most of Missouri’s dog breeders are small family operations that raise dogs because they love them, and they want to supplement their income. Proposition B will literally put them out of business – while those already operating illegally will continue to do so. Unchanged, Proposition B hurts all dog breeders. Our proposal increases funding to look for puppy mills and shut them down without hurting legitimate farmers.

The house passed the measure with 85 yes votes only 3 votes to spare. The issue will now go to the Governor’s desk.

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