Puppy mill awareness day Sept. 15

Officials found these dogs after being tipped off about a puppy mill in Illinois. /Photo courtesy: stoponlinepuppymills.org.

Local members of the Society For Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) were reminded that Sept.15 is National Puppy Mill Awareness Day.

While there are some reputable breeders, and there are several approved by Warren county’s board of supervisors, puppy mills are prevalent throughout the country and the SPCA and other national animal welfare organizations seek them out and secure prosecutions under prevailing cruelty laws.

In Virginia, anti-cruelty laws exist under which local animal control functions, and locally, both the county and town are agreeing on their own tether law which would control the length of tethers. Also, the number of hours a dog may be tethered outside. The proposed new law, to which the sheriff’s department has given its approval, will govern the temperatures, high and low, that a dog may be kept  outdoors.

At the federal level, at which the SPCA is taking aim, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) at this time “hands unscrupulous dog breeders a gift with a big red bow: no matter how poorly breeders treat the animals in their care, the USDA renews their licenses (to operate).”

“This means,” the SPCA told its members this week, “that breeders with violations for sick, neglected or injured animals can stay in business – even though they are known to be breaking the law.” It is calling for a change in this auto-renewal policy.

Dog lovers are encouraged to visit the SPCA website and submit a comment. In Warren County, the sheriff’s department animal control may be called in to investigate any forms of animal abuse.