A bipartisan bill to regulate the state dog breeding industry was introduced into the Wisconsin legislature Thursday.
If passed, the Wisconsin Dog Purchaser Protection Act would set up a licensing procedure for dog breeders and a set of penalties if regulatory laws are not followed.
"There have been reports of some really gruesome facilities that exist here in Wisconsin, and this bill is trying to put restrictions on them so that we know where they are and can regulate them," said Amber Hodgson, a spokesperson for Sen. Jeff Plale, D-Milwaukee. "Wisconsin is kind of becoming, for lack of a better term, a puppy mill haven."
Currently, there are not any laws regulating dog breeding and sales in Wisconsin. The United States Department of Agriculture registers facilities under the Animal Protect Act, but according to Hodgson, this system is not sufficient. Only 26 animal breeding facilities in the state are registered with the USDA.
"The federal legislation doesn't go far enough, and it's not really enforced," Hodgson said. "It's really kind of important that we do something on the state level."
Plale introduced the bill into the Democratic-controlled Senate and Rep. Tom Lothian, R-Williams Bay, introduced it into the Republican-controlled Assembly. Under the bill, people who sell 60 or more dogs in a year or have eight breeding females must register their businesses with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protections. The bill also includes penalties for breeders who keep their dogs in substandard conditions and knowingly sell subpar animals to consumers.
"We're trying to make it unprofitable to knowingly sell a defective product, in this case, puppies," said Tyler August, a spokesperson for Lothian.
Commercial dog breeders must provide their dogs with adequate water and food, shelter, medical care and other basic levels of treatment. The bill also requires inspections be performed to ensure that conditions meet the state's standards and businesses are not violating any rules.
A first offense violating the law would result in a fine up to $3,000, a second could result in a fine up to $5,000 and imprisonment of up to 30 days, and a third offense could result in a fine of up to $10,000 and 90 days in jail. Commercial breeders could also lose their licenses.
"We feel that the penalties are hefty enough that it would deter anybody from trying to skirt around the law," Hodgson said.
Dr. Randall Zeman, manager of the Wisconsin Humane Society, said his organization has come out in support of the bill.
"It is crucial that any breeding facility that does not provide a standard of care for dogs and knowingly sells dogs that are not healthy is held accountable," Zeman said.
But Zeman added the WHS believes nonprofit groups that do dog adoptions should be exempt from what has been called the "puppy lemon law."
Under this provision, breeders may not knowingly sell a dog with health or behavioral problems. If consumers do buy a dog with problems, they are entitled to a refund or a new dog. According to the WHS, there should not be a punishment if consumers adopt a problem dog because they generally have no background information about the animal.
"The costs of providing extensive diagnostics beyond those that are routine to detect congenital or hereditary conditions could make adopting puppies a financial burden," Zeman said. "And as a result, fewer lives would be saved."
