Mayer: Lawmakers and Agriculture Community Call on Governor to Sign Senate Bill 133 & 95 Into Law

Bill Targets Unlicensed Dog Breeders in Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY – The governor's signature is all that stands in the way of reforming Missouri's dog breeding industry while protecting it as a viable profession for Missourians, said more than 65 lawmakers and 10 agriculture community representatives today in a letter sent to the governor. The letter called on Gov. Nixon to sign Senate Bill 113 & 95 into law. The bill would create a new crime targeting unlicensed dog breeders, as well as strengthen guidelines and increase the number of inspections of licensed dog breeders in Missouri. Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, sponsored the measure and said he is thankful the governor has chosen to stand with Missouri's farmers and agriculture interests.

"This bill still represents the best hope to repair the damage Proposition B has done to the dog breeding industry and Missouri agriculture," said Parson. "If SB 113 & 95 is vetoed, the agriculture community in Missouri will have taken a serious setback, and our efforts to pass new legislation would be heavily compromised."

Parson said the governor's signature is paramount in developing goodwill with lawmakers for them to advance his compromise language so late in the legislative session. The governor announced Monday a compromise he crafted involving language included in Proposition B passed by voters last year. The governor's compromise language is currently not filed in any legislation before the General Assembly and would begin the legislative process with less than four weeks left in the current session that ends May 13.

Parson, 15 senators, 55 representatives and 10 organizations representing agricultural interests signed the letter dated Tuesday, April 19 and delivered to the governor that same day.

Parson said Senate Bill 113 & 95 keeps the heart of the proposition Missouri voters adopted by strengthening provisions and inspections of licensed dog breeders and cracking down on unlicensed breeders. It is estimated there are more than 1,500 unlicensed breeding facilities in Missouri.

"We all want puppies and dogs to be bred and raised under healthy and safe conditions," said Parson. "That is why we have created a new crime and funding mechanism to hire more inspectors to go after and shut down unlicensed breeders in our state. We also build on the will of the people by making sure licensed breeders must follow common-sense guidelines to protect the dogs' health and well-being."

Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, said the bill has been delivered to the governor.

"The governor's involvement would have been helpful had it been earlier," said Mayer. "By announcing a compromise after a bill has already passed the General Assembly, it is important he show leadership and sign Senate Bill 113 & 95 before the compromise language can move forward in good faith."