Did you know that Minnesota is one of the worst states in the country when it comes to regulating the dog and cat breeding industry? Minnesota has no licensing requirements, no care standards, and no regulations to make sure dogs and cats are humanely bred and cared for. Unfortunately, while there are responsible breeders, there are those that take advantage of this situation. The result: inhumane breeding conditions, and excessive breeding that contributes to the large number of abandoned cats and dogs in our state.
One of my primary goals during the next legislative session will be to help ensure that a Breeder Bill gets signed into law. January may seem far away (especially when it's 90 degrees outside!), but it's never too early to think about what we need to do next session. To get started, let's educate ourselves. Check out http://www.animalfolksmn.org/ to learn more. Talk to your state elected officials and find out where they stand. Find out who's running for (re)election in your district and educate them on this very important issue. Talk to your friends about the issue and educate them. If we work together, we could be celebrating this time next year!
