Domestic animals such as cats and dogs are being bred at unimaginable rates in the US, becoming the root cause and leading contributor to innocent pets being euthanized and abused/neglected. Both "puppy mills" and "backyard breeders" are unregulated and sell sick, deformed and medically expensive animals to unwitting customers. Once these owners realize the extent of the issues, they "dump" these animals back onto an already overburdened system supporting neglected and abused pets. We need to stop this at the source and demand Breeder Licensing and stiff fines and penalties for unethical and immoral breeding practices.

 

25% of dogs in the "system" are pure-bred. It ends with Quinn's Law in Rhode Island. She is a Great Dane that was born deaf and blind due to unethical and immoral breeders who only bred for money. Due to the lack of understanding of how to breed (genetics) they continued to breed deformed dogs, as well as lack the means to ensure they are healthy once born with proper veterinary care. She came to a rescue with worms including heart worm and will cost the rescue over $3,000 just to keep alive.

 

Each breeder would pay a fee to become a breeder after fulfilling the following: (revenue to State of Rhode Island and commitment to responsible breeding)

 

1. Take course on ethical and moral breeding (provided through SPCA or other partner rescues).

 

2. Understand the issue of pet overpopulation as a result of this training (statistics, real cases, etc.).

 

3. Sign agreement to respect life, the process of creating life, and to never put any domestic animal in harms way to produce income from breeding, and to abide by Quinn's Law.

 

 

 

Quinn's Law will include the ability for Animal Control to remove and shut down unethical and immoral breeders who put dogs in harms way. This includes:

 

1. Incest Breeding of any kind (parent to child, siblings, or any domestic animal lineage that is first cousin or closer in relationship).

 

2. That the breeding frequency does not place the mother's health in jeopardy. (guideline to be agreed upon)

 

3. Domestic animal babies are kept up-to-date on all shots and appropriate veterinary care.

 

4. Mother is permitted access to her offspring until such time as they are adopted by a qualified buyer.

 

5. Breeder is held responsible for selling offspring to pre-qualified buyers:

 

   a. Buyer demonstrates ability to house the animal in appropriate facility.

 

   b. Buyer demonstrates the means to provide the animal medical care as required (example: is employed).

 

   c. Background check for State of Rhode Island demonstrates buyer has no criminal history of animal abuse or the like.

 

6. Any domestic animal sold from breeder is done so with 90 day guarantee. If the animal becomes ill or is deemed to be "sick" as documented by a veterinarian, the breeder will either: a) refunds all money to the buyer and takes the animal back into his/her control, and/or b) replace the animal with a healthy animal.

 

7. Breeder will submit to a random inspection at the State's discretion of any breeding facilities.

 

8. Three or more formal complaints lodged with the State that are deemed valid by the State's animal control officer results in termination of breeding license for the life time of the breeder. Breeding of any domestic animal is also revoked - not just the type being bred at the time of the complaint.

 

9. All breeders will insist their buyers spay/neuter the animals unless specifically purchased and proven to be a show animal.

 

10. All breeders who sell dogs 9 months or older must sell only spayed or neutered animals.

 

11. Breeders are limited to two domestic animal breeds – they cannot breed more than 2 breeds or will lose license to breed.

 

The results of violations are to be:

 

1. Fines - for each unhealthy animal bred that is either witnessed by animal control or reported by a buyer results in $1,000 fine per animal.

 

2. Neglect - any animal in a breeder's control that is not up to date on veterinary care will result in immediate remove of animals and $100 fine per day until the animals are placed in adoptive care.

 

3. Prison - if the breeder has had their license revoked and continues to breed they will serve up to 5 years jail time and pay a $10,000 fine.

 

4. Licenses - will be issued to an adult citizen at a specific address. If the license is revoked it is both for that individual and that address. Any other residence at the same address cannot be licensed if a license is revoked.

 

We believe this is a win-win-win. Breeders should be fine with the above as ethical and moral breeders already abide by these guidelines. Unethical and immoral breeders would no longer be reaping huge incomes at the expense of the State's funds to support their animal control facilities and officers. Animal control officers will finally have the ability to shut down known breeders who do not care about animals but simply lining their pockets. Licensing will be a new source of revenue to the state and long-term this will reduce the burden for the state to care for abandoned, abused and neglected domestic animals.

 

Please move this into law so we can know that any pet sold in Rhode Island comes from a respectable breeder and has a great start in life.