Please tell the St. Clair County Commissions that you would like a new dog kennel ordinance that protects breeding dogs by signing this petition. 

We need standards for dog breeding kennels, and citizens have proposed amendments to the new ordinance that would prohibit wire flooring in cages, require adequate rest between breeding cycles, and would enact a limit on the number of intact dogs that a breeder can have. 

Of the 49 licensed kennels in St. Clair County, 38 (78%) are breeding facilities. Of the breeding kennels, 11 are licensed to have over 25 dogs, and seven are licensed to have over 50 dogs!

The local rescues who help retired breeding dogs have reported infections, skin problems, swollen foot pads, hair loss, collapsed trachea, problems with walking, spinal malformations, and one dog with a hole in the heart.

Over the past five years, Michigan has had eight puppy mill busts. In all but one of the cases, the kennels had over 25 dogs. Clearly, regulation and oversight is needed for these large-scale breeding facilities.

If you are a resident of St. Clair County, please go further by calling your Commission and ask them to make St. Clair County a leader in the state and vote for the proposed amendments to improve conditions for breeding dogs. 

The St. Clair County Board of Commissioners office phone number is 810-989-6900.

The county commissioners plan to vote on the amendments at the next Board of Commissioners meeting on June 2, 2010.

(note, letters will be printed and provided to the Commissioners to avoid spamming.)