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Proposed Law in Michigan Would Stop Cities From Banning Sale of Puppy Mill Animals - National Humane Education Society

Paws Down!
May 25, 2018

To Rep. Hank Vaupel of Livingston County, MI, for introducing HB5917 that would prevent cities and counties in Michigan from banning the retail sale of puppies bred in puppy mills.

 The states of California and Maryland and more than 260 cities in the U.S., including Miami, Boston, New York City, and Los Angeles, have passed local laws to prohibit the sale of puppies bred in puppy mills. These puppies are often sold in retail pet shops to unknowing or indifferent consumers. As consumers pay retail pet shops for puppies, retail pet shops in turn, pay puppy mills to keep their stores stocked with animals for sale. HB917, is described on the Michigan Legislature website as…

“A bill to prohibit a local unit of government from enacting or enforcing an ordinance, policy, resolution, or rule that regulates a qualified pet shop located in that local unit of government; and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain local officers and officials.”

Take action. Citizens of Michigan, contact your representatives and urge them to vote down HB917. Please feel free to use NHES’ sample action letter below.

Re: Please fight HB917, a bill to preempt Michigan communities from banning the sale of inhumanely bred puppies.

Dear Rep. [Last Name],

I am writing to urge you to fight the passage of HB917, a bill that would strip local governments in Michigan from the ability to ban the retail pet shop sale of puppy-mill bred puppies. Mass dog-breeding operations that supply puppies for the retail pet market are only required to provide standards of care as described in a single federal law: The Animal Welfare Act (AWA). USDA-APHIS is charged with enforcing the very scant provisions required under this law. In effect, the law is so weak, that even USDA-licensed breeding operations are likely to fit the description of puppy mill, where cages are stacked on top of each other, where female dogs are continuously bred, and where care is withheld to reduce operating costs. This sad reality has been widely recognized by cities across the U.S. including Miami, New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago and hundreds more cities which have passed laws to ban the retail sale of puppies, kittens, and rabbits for this very reason. Please, do not support a law that would take away this essential freedom for communities in Michigan.  Thank you for considering my viewpoint.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]

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