Opinion: Mistreating Animals and Unreasonable Laws Are Both Wrong

by the Missouri Farm Bureau

“Mistreating and abusing animals is wrong, but so are unreasonable laws that put reputable animal caregivers out of business,” said Blake Hurst, president of Missouri Farm Bureau, testifying today before the Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee in support of legislation to make changes to Proposition B approved by Missouri voters last November.

Narrowly passing with 51.6% of the vote, Proposition B places new restrictions on dog breeders in addition to current state law and regulations. According to state inspectors with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, not one of the more than 1,400 licensed breeding facilities in Missouri meet the standards set by Proposition B.

“Missouri law already requires humane care for dogs at licensed breeding facilities. People who disregard the current law will disregard new laws and regulations as well, and Proposition B does absolutely nothing to address that,” said Hurst. “To make matters worse, Proposition B places costly and unnecessary new requirements on reputable dog breeders who are the kind of businesses providing pets to consumers that we should be supporting.”

The proponents of Proposition B spent well over $4 million on the campaign, and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) alone contributed more than $2 million. Campaign reports show that over 80% of the funding came from out-of-state organizations and individuals. Proposition B was placed on the ballot by an initiative petition funded primarily by HSUS who paid signature gatherers.

“When out-of-state animal activists decide they know what’s best for Missouri; buy their way onto the Missouri ballot; target Missouri voters with a deceptive campaign financed by the Washington, D.C.-based HSUS and other East and West Coast activists who do not live here, pay taxes here and vote here; and put reputable, hard-working Missouri citizens out of business, then legislative action is not only justified, it’s necessary,” said Hurst.

Several bills are pending in the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives to make changes to the statutory language from Proposition B. The legislation has bi-partisan support among legislators and has the support of several major agricultural and other state organizations.