The Humane Society of the United States Applauds Provisions Included on Puppy Imports, Dogfighting, Class B Dealers and Cloning

WASHINGTON – Countless animals stand to benefit if the final version of the Farm Bill includes a series of provisions passed today by the Senate during consideration of its version of the sweeping agriculture bill. The amendments would stop the import of puppies for commercial sale from foreign puppy mills, strengthen the federal law against dogfighting, phase out the use in research of random source dogs and cats obtained through Class B dealers, and delay approval of food products from cloned animals.

"Inhumane treatment of animals is a widespread problem, but today the U.S. Senate enacted a series of measure to tackle some particularly harmful practices," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States.  "Animals feel and they suffer, and we have responsibilities to safeguard them from cruelty."

The HSUS expressed its appreciation to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) for supporting these provisions.  And the group expressed additional appreciation to the Senators who ably advocated for these provisions -- Senators Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) on Class B dealers, Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) on puppy mill imports, John Kerry (D-Mass.) on dogfighting, and Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) on animal cloning.

Puppy Imports – The Senate accepted a provision to stem the import of puppies for commercial sale from foreign puppy mills. A growing number of breeders in China, former Soviet bloc countries, Mexico and other foreign countries see the U.S. as a potential market, even though there is a strong domestic dog and cat breeding industry here and there are millions of pets available from U.S. breeders and animal shelters.  This amendment will require that any dog imported into the U.S. for commercial sale be at least 6 months old, to ensure that young, unweaned puppies are not forced to suffer from harsh, long-distance transport.

Dogfighting – This provision will strengthen federal law by allowing prosecution of dogfighting cases without requiring proof of interstate or foreign movement of the particular dogs in each case, enhancing the penalty for dogfighting offenses from a potential three-year prison sentence to a maximum five-year prison sentence, and making it a crime to knowingly possess, breed, or train dogs for fighting.  

Class B Dealers – This provision will prevent stolen pets and other fraudulently acquired dogs and cats from being kept in horrible conditions and then sold for laboratory experiments by Class B dealers.  These dealers - and the "bunchers" who round up animals for them - have a long history of trafficking in stolen pets, misrepresenting themselves in responding to "free to good home ads," and violating basic Animal Welfare Act requirements for food, water, shelter, and veterinary care while they hold animals before selling them for experiments.  The amendment will phase-out the practice within five years. Parallel language championed by Rep. Michael Doyle (D-Pa.) and Steve Israel (D- N.Y.) has already been unanimously approved by the House as part of its Farm Bill, but with a shorter 90-day effective date.   

Food Products from Cloned Animals – This provision requires that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wait to issue its final risk assessment on food products from cloned animals until further studies by the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Department of Agriculture can be completed.  The FDA had indicated intentions to wrap up its risk assessment by the end of this year and give the green light to use of food from cloned animals, despite serious gaps in the agency's analysis and the fact that more than 150,000 public comments were received by FDA overwhelmingly opposing the approval of such food, out of concern for human health, animal welfare and economic impacts.

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization – backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at humanesociety.org.