Vote Yes on Proposition B, Or Not

Proposition B on the November 2nd ballot, the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act, strikes me as a good idea. State law does provide that a person is guilty of animal abuse when a person:

(1) Intentionally or purposely kills an animal in any manner not allowed by or expressly [exempted by other statutes];
(2) Purposely or intentionally causes injury or suffering to an animal; or
(3) Having ownership or custody of an animal knowingly fails to provide adequate care or adequate control.

However, this simple law does not appear to go far enough. There are so many things left out. Consider the precise detail with which this new crime is crafted:

[A]ny person having custody or ownership of more than ten female covered dogs for the purpose of breeding those animals and selling any offspring for use as a pet shall provide each covered dog:
(1) Sufficient food and clean water;
(2) Necessary veterinary care;
(3) Sufficient housing, including protection from the elements;
(4) Sufficient space to turn and stretch freely, lie down, and fully extend his or her limbs;
(5) Regular exercise; and
(6) Adequate rest between breeding cycles.

It is very precise on how the crime is committed and by whom. This crime can only be committed by a puppy mill which meets certain specifications. The new law will not apply to pet stores, animal shelters, hobby or show breeders who have no more than ten female breeding dogs, and dog owners who do not breed their pets. It is helpful to understand in each instance how a crime is committed and by what means. The next step no doubt should be to enact the Pet Story Cruelty Prevention Act and the Animal Shelter Cruelty Prevention Act. After that, the next step will be the Hobby and Show Breeder Cruelty Prevention Act. Certainly, there needs to be a Dairy Cattle Cruelty Prevention Act. Each set of circumstances has its own critical considerations. The law must be able to adjust to the factors that drive each business. Only this way will the state be able to manage how each animal is treated.

As our society evolves, these standards can be reviewed and refined. My Shetland Sheepdog Frodo comes from a breeder that sets an excellent example. I now draft the next generation of the Dog Breeder Cruelty Prevention Act based on his example:

Any person having custody or ownership of more than ten female covered dogs for the purpose of breeding those animals and selling any offspring for use as a pet shall be guilty of the crime of dog breeder cruelty unless the person:
(1) complies with the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act;
(2) has a current knowledge of all illnesses impacting the particular breed;
(3) is competent in grooming the best of the particular breed;
(4) makes a site visit to the home of each prospective buyer; and
(5) at least annually, invites each buyer to a meeting of all owners of the particular breed in order to socialize the animals.

But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

I thank State Rep. Ed Emery for his insights into this proposition.