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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowSupporters of a bill to regulate large-scale dog-breeding
operations hope the legislation will have an immediate impact on so-called
“puppy mills” around Indiana.
Bill sponsor Rep. Linda Lawson (D-Hammond) said the bill that won final
legislative approval late tonight will allow the state to start cracking down
on irresponsible breeders.
“It’s a great start,” Lawson said of the bill.
The proposal would toughen animal-abuse laws and require commercial dog
breeders to register with the state. It would require breeders to offer dogs
daily exercise and set other minimum standards of care for the animals.
“This bill is a monumental step forward,” said Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Elkhart). “This bill will work. We will put these bad actors out of
business.”
The legislation unanimously passed the House and cleared the Senate on a 44-4
vote. It now moves to Gov. Mitch Daniels for consideration.
Under the proposal, cities and counties couldn’t enact tougher local animal
ordinances after Dec. 31. Communities that already have tougher standards or
those that pass new ordinances this year would be allowed to keep their stricter
rules.
Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) said she was worried that the bill could
affect farmers and voted against the bill. But Sen. Brent Steele, a Republican
from Bedford who was part of a conference committee working on the proposal,
said farmers had nothing to worry about and explained that the dog-breeding
regulations only deal with dogs, not farm animals. Steele said he wouldn’t agree
to the proposal if he thought it would harm his rural district.
“I don’t think I would be signing my name to a conference committee report
that I thought for one second would be a springboard to put my farmers out of
business,” Steele said.
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