Culver signs puppy mill bill

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Gov. Chet Culver, with the family dog in tow, on Tuesday signed into law tougher regulations on pet breeders designed to stamp out puppy mills where critics say animals are routinely abused.

Culver said the vast majority of breeders follow laws and raise pets humanely, but that the measure more than two years in the making sends a signal to those who don't, by imposing fines of up to $1,500.

"To any facility currently operating as a puppy mill or those who raise companion animals in unhygienic and inhumane settings, now is the time for you to change course or pay the consequences," said Culver.

The governor traveled to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa on Des Moines' north side to sign the measure. The shelter is where the Culver family got the mixed-breed dog named Buck who accompanied the governor to the ceremony.

A boisterous Buck barked loudly and clambered onto the table where the governor was signing the measure.

Until now, pet breeders were regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has only a handful of inspectors to keep tabs on the industry.

The measure signed by Culver imposes a licensing fee schedule from $20 to $175 charged to larger commercial breeding operations. That will raise about $335,000 a year, which will help fund up to five inspectors to respond to complaints about kennel conditions in Iowa.

Supporters of the bill said there are about 27,000 animals in more than 400 breeding operations statewide, making Iowa the third most productive dog-breeding state behind Missouri and Oklahoma.

"Given the size and scope of this industry, the new requirements are common sense, not only related to protecting animals as they are raised but assuring the pets they adopt are healthy, clean and have been raised humanely," Culver said.

Animal rights activist Mary LaHay has been pushing the issue for more than a year.

"It was a little over a year ago when I was first looking to the issue of puppy mills in Iowa and I was aghast at what I found," she said.

She said some studies have shown that as many as 59 percent of the animals raised in puppy mills aren't treated humanely.

Farm groups initially resisted the measure because of fears the state would toughen restrictions on all animal rearing, but concerns were eased when supporters made it clear the measure only applied to non-farm animals.

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