Missouri Tea Partiers, Joe The Plumber Join Movement Against 'Radical' Anti-Puppy Mill Legislation

[meegbear]

A conservative group in Missouri is picking up the backing of the Tea Party and Joe The Plumber in its quest to stop the Humane Society and other animal rights groups from passing "radical" anti-puppy mill legislation.

The measure, which can be read in full here, is called Proposition B or the "Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act." It aims to help eliminate the "3000 puppy mills" in Missouri that constitute "30% of all puppy mills in the U.S.," according to Michael Markarian, the Chief Operating Officer of the Humane Society.

"This measure would provide common sense standards for the care of dogs," he told TPM, including sufficient food and clean water, vet care, regular exercise, and adequate rest between breeding cycles, among other things. Markarian said the measure only applies to "commercial dog breeding facilities" that have more than 10 breeding females who they use for "producing puppies for the pet trade."

Sounds pretty straightforward, no?

Well, according to the Alliance For Truth, the main force behind the anti-Prop B movement, there is something much more nefarious afoot (er, apaw) in the Humane Society's measure. The Alliance For Truth claims that the Humane Society of the United States has a "radical agenda" and is "misleading the public with its intentions on Prop B. The society seeks only to raise the cost of breeding dogs, making it ever-more difficult for middle-class American families to be dog-owners."

Anita Andrews from Alliance For Truth told TPM that it's a "deceptive, lying bill" that is "trying to purposefully get rid of the breeders." The state of Missouri, she said, has been given a bad rap as "the puppy mill capitol" of the U.S. but "in truth we have the best ribbon breeders in the country." And, Andrews said, the state already has anti-cruelty laws on the books.

"They don't like animals," she said of the Humane Society.

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http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/missouri_tea_partiers_joe_the_plumber_join_movemen_1.php?ref=fpa

GOOD GOD MAKE IT STOP!!

[GodlessBiker]

1. "The Humane Society doesn't like animals." They'll just say whatever they want.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. OMG! I just cannot deal with this crap much longer. Has any person in America not seen those

horrible pictures from Missouri puppy mill raids? If they haven't I can sure locate you some. The so-called 'breeders' need to be in jail!

[Mimosa]

3. Humane Society of United States (HSUS) is my fave charity

I love the HSUS.

Joe the Plumber is a jerk and a moron.

[Towlie]

4. That's so obviously twisted that it would be best if it gets as much Teabagger support as possible.

It's like that moment during the court martial when Humphrey Bogart pulled the metal balls out of his pocket and started playing with them, and the accused breathed a sigh of relief because everyone could finally see what they knew all along.

[Javaman]

5. This is what we get when we have a weak republican party.

the nuts take over because the regular nuts have lost the ability to control the real nuts.

So now we are all privileged to witness the colossal fail of the republican party at the cost of our sanity.

[MadHound]

6. Yeah, this stupidity is making the rounds in this state,

I live out in rural Missouri though, and frankly even my conservative neighbors aren't buying this bullshit. We all see too many dogs that come from puppy mills showing up on our doorstep as the breeders, or the owners they suckered, continuously dump off their unwanted dogs.

An example, I took in a dog from my neighbors (they're elderly and don't have the energy for this dog). This is a dog they rescued from a family that was keeping it in abysmal conditions. Supposedly it is an Australian Shepard, and while it has the markings, it is full grown and only twenty one pounds. She is a high, high energy dog, but very sweet and with some time and care will be a great dog. But she is an example of puppy mill products, her bloodline is really limited, which causes problems, and the breeders sell to whoever, not caring about the match between dog and potential owner.

My though is that while some folks are fighting this proposition, most people see the sense of it and it will pass.

[SargeUNN]

7. sorry to hear this but look

3 animals perished in the house that was allowed to burn down over a freakin $75 fee and look at the discussion of it. Is it any wonder that life in America of both animals and people have become so devalued?

[MadMaddie]

8. So I would say that the TeaPartiers and Joe the Plumber

have managed to aliianate another portion of their supporters. Any dog owner knows how devastating these mills are....