Governor and Lawmakers Finalize Missouri Puppy Mill Cruelty Compromise…

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(Jefferson City, MO) — On a day of dizzying legislative speed, Gov. Jay Nixon signed two pieces of legislation aimed at modifying regulations on the state’s dog breeders.

As part of a political deal worked out between the governor and the legislature, Nixon started his day Wednesday by signing Senate Bill 113, legislation passed by the House and Senate last week in response to Proposition B, the so-called “puppy mill cruelty prevention act” passed by voters in November.

Later in the day, the legislature passed another bill on the matter, Senate Bill 161, which alters the law addressed in Senate Bill 113. Senate Bill 161 was brokered in negotiations between the governor’s office, legislators, the state Department of Agriculture, dog breeders and animal rights groups.

Elements of the work already accomplished by the General Assembly in SB 113 can be seen in the text of the SB161 compromise. For instance, provisions remain to increase license fees to support Missouri’s Operation Bark Alert, which targets problematic breeders. And gone is the reference to puppy mills. The law is now known as the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act.

Missouri Puppy Mill Dogs Suffer in Protest

But some major changes are evident, as well, including provisions to expand the cage sizes of breeding dogs, doubling the space mandated by current regulations for existing facilities by Jan. 1, 2012, and providing “constant and unfettered access to an attached outdoor run.” Cage sizes in any new construction are to be three times as large, according to the compromise.

After about an hour of noontime debate, most of which featured House Ag Policy Committee Chair Tom Loehner, R-Koeltztown, explaining the the new bill’s details and the deal by which the legislature was abiding, the House passed the bill by a 108-42 margin.

“Does it put some added burden on the breeders? Yes it does,” said Loehner during floor debate. “But it allows them a time to decide whether they want to stay in business and do a good job. And if they don’t, then they can get out of the business.”

Little opposition was voiced during the debate. Only Rep. Margo McNeil, D-St. Louis, rose to speak against the legislation, saying the voters had spoken and it was her duty to support them.

“I think this legislation is going to improve things, however, I made a pledge to my voters that I would not overturn the will of the voters,” said McNeil, who’s district voted heavily in favor of Proposition B.

“This is a Missouri solution to a complex issue,” said Nixon speaking to a group of about 50 reporters, legislators and bill supporters. “Each of the leaders here today shares a common belief that agriculture is the backbone of Missouri’s economy. Responsible, professional, dog breeders are a vital part of our agriculture industry.”

The governor defended the speed with which the legislation moved through the process.

“I think this is an issue that requires action…now,” Nixon said. “I certainly think that if there are animals that are being mistreated or malnourished, that we shouldn’t wait until August 28th (when legislation traditionally becomes law) to get that problem solved.”

Critics continue to contend that the legislation passed in the last week and signed by the governor does away with Proposition B and the people’s vote to protect dogs in the state. Nixon strongly disagrees.

“But for the people of the state voting on this, we wouldn’t be here today,” Nixon said. “Their votes fundamentally changed a discussion that was going on in our state and played a vital role in getting this to the finish line.”

Then House then voted to pass the legislation with an emergency clause that makes the new law effective immediately upon the governor’s signature. The emergency clause passed with one vote to spare after House Minority Leader Mike Talboy, R-Kansas City, called into question the emergency clause’s effect on the ability for the public to challenge the new law by referendum.

As fast as the House went through the legislation, the Senate moved even faster, voting once on the bill, then reconsidering after some Senators claimed they were confused about what they were actually voting on, then voting in favor of the legislation again by a margin of 24-10, all in about an hour. The Senate accepted the emergency clause 32-1. The bill is now heading for the governor’s desk.

“If you really care about the animals, on which ever side you are on, this goes into effect right now,” said Sen.Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, who championed both versions of the Prop B revisions in the Senate. “We can do something about the mistreatment of animals in the state and you can do it today.”

Barely two hours later, Nixon hosted a bill signing ceremony in his office for Senate Bill 161.