This is a letter to Secretary Dan Glickman of the USDA. The letter is asking for better regulations for the housing and breeding of these animals in a "commercial" setting. Is that what is really needed here? There is no mention of the "health" of these animals. There is no mention of hereditary diseases being passed on by these breeders. There is no mention of certification of OFA hips and elbows. There is also no mention of the brokers and the pet stores that keep these puppy mills in business.

Letters need to be written to Secretary Dan Glickman to let him know what is happening. He needs to know of the sad little puppies who are ill, through no fault of their own. He needs to be made aware of the costly years of veterinarian care these puppies demand to keep them going. Write your letters, and let the Secretary know how you feel. This isn't going to be a "quick fix", but it's a start. Every new adventure in life begins with the first step. This is that first step to getting something done about the puppy millers who continue to breed unhealthy animals. Thanks for your support and your help.

Congress of the United States Washington, D.C.
August 7, 1995
Secretary Dan Glickman
U.S. Department of Agriculture
14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Secretary Glickman:

We understand the U.S. Department of Agriculture is currently reviewing proposed regulations that would significantly increase the standards of commercial breeding facilities for dogs, commonly known as "puppy mills," and we ask for your strong support in expediting these regulations to insure immediate steps are taken to protect the health and quality of future pets.

The current regulations covering these facilities provide only minimal standards, and often fail at achieving even a basic level of care.  Conditions in puppy mills are often grossly deficient and therefore, inhumane. Overcrowding, inadequate shelter, improper veterinary care, lack of sanitation, and incessant breeding are conditions found far too often in these facilities. Because profit, not quality, is the ultimate goal of a large majority of the "puppy mill" industry, these terrible and cruel conditions continue to exist.

The regulations that currently apply to these commercial breeding facilities have not been fundamentally changed since the original regulations were adopted 28 years ago. Society has learned a great deal more about the welfare of animals since 1967, and that is why we ask the Department of Agriculture to address this issue without further delay. We advocate the Department of Agriculture implement the following regulatory changes to protect dogs being bred and raised in commercial breeding facilities:


    a.. Increase basic cage size for companion animals permanently housed in the facilities.

    b.. Improve flooring within the primary enclosures by requiring plastic-coated wire of a specific width.

    c.. Increase the size and material of the resting surface for each animal in a primary enclosure.

    d.. Require constant access to potable water for all animals housed in the facility.

    e.. Limit the number of times/frequency breeding stock can be bred over a certain time period.

    f.. Strengthen the sanitation requirements for the primary enclosure.

    g.. Eliminate the ability to tether animals.

    h.. Reexamine temperature guidelines.

    i.. Require more specific daily exercise of animals at the facilities. Exclude "another dog" as acceptable exercise.

We believe the Department of Agriculture can continue its work of ensuring humane care to the dogs housed in commercial mass breeding facilities by implementing new regulations. These animals, our loyal pets and companions, deserve no less.

We look forward to hearing from you with regard to the actions the Department plans to take on this matter in the near future. Thank you for your attention.


Sincerely,

Rep. Glenn Poshard Rep. William Lipinski
Sen. Rick Santorum Rep. Sherrod Brown
Sen. Bill Bradley Rep. Neil Abercrombie
Sen. Barbara Boxer Rep. Andy Jacobs
Sen. Dale Bumpers Rep. Henry Waxman
Sen. Alfonse D'Amato Rep. Lane Evans
Sen. Mike DeWine Rep. Peter Blute
Sen. John Glenn Rep. Robert Andrews
Sen. Slade Gorton Rep. Jon Fox
Sen. Edward Kennedy Rep. Tom Lantos
Sen. John Kerry Rep. Lynn Rivers
Sen. Herb Kohl Rep. Dick Zimmer
Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun Rep. Major Owens
Sen. Paul Simon Rep. James Walsh
Sen. Bob Smith Rep. Ed Whitfield
Sen. Arlen Specter Rep. James Greenwood
Sen. Olympia Snowe Rep. Benjamin Cardin
Sen. Paul Wellstone Rep. Jerry Costello
Rep. Henry Hyde Rep. Pat Schroeder
Rep. George Brown Rep. Edolphus Towns
Rep. Jan Meyers Rep. F. Pete Stark (? I think it's an "F")
Rep. Martin Frost Rep. Thomas Manton
Rep. Floyd Spence Rep. Matthew Martinez
Rep. John Murtha Rep. Scott Klug
Rep. Richard Durbin Rep. Stephen Horn
Rep. Harry Johnston Rep. Julian Dixon
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard Rep. Gary Ackerman
Rep. Deborah Pryce Rep. Bart Gordon
Rep. Christopher Shays Rep. Susan Molinari
Rep. Bernard Sanders Rep. Pat Williams
Rep. James Leach Rep. William Martini
Rep. Peter DeFazio Rep. Clay Shaw
Rep. Ed Bryant Rep. David Hobson
Rep. Peter Deutsch Rep. Richard Gephardt
Rep. William Goodling Rep. Esteban Torres
Rep. Edward Royce Rep. Elizabeth Furse
Rep. John Olver Rep. Ken Bentsen
Rep. Bob Franks Rep. Thomas Fogliotta
Rep. Porter Goss Rep. Curt Weldon
Rep. Steven Schiff Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee
Rep. Tony Bellenson Rep. James Moran
Rep. Earl Pomeroy Rep. Victor Frazer
Rep. Pete Green Rep. Thomas Sawyer
Rep. Sonny Callahan Rep. Ronald Coleman
Rep. Barbara Kennelly Rep. Anna Eshoo
Rep. Constance Morella Rep. Cass Ballenger
Rep. Gerald Solomon Rep. Karen McCarthy
Rep. Sherwood Boehlert Rep. Sam Gejdenson
Rep. Charles Canady Rep. John Bryant
Rep. Albert Wynn Rep. Paul McHale
Rep. Sam Farr Rep. Steven LaTourette
Rep. Gerald Kleczka Rep. Ronald Dellums
Rep. John Conyers Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen
Rep. Charles Wilson Rep. Spencer Bachus
Rep. Lynn Woolsey Rep. Eleanore Holmes-Norton
Rep. Jim McDermott Rep. James Traficant
Rep. Robert Borski Rep. Jack Reed
Rep. Michael Doyle Rep. Walter Tucker
Rep. Frank Pallone Rep. Bill McCollum
Rep. Phil English Rep. Carlos Moorhead
Rep. Tim Roemer Rep. Gary Condit
Rep. Alan Mollohan Rep. Dave Camp
Rep. Nita Lowey
Rep. Walter Jones
Rep. Luis Gutierrez
Rep. Jennifer Dunn
Rep. Robert Torricelli
Rep. Nancy Pelosi
Rep. Frank Wolf
Rep. Gene Green
Rep. Frank Tejeda

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