FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2018
CONTACT:
Pam Sordyl, 734-718-7100 pamsordyl@gmail.com
(LANSING,
MI) Concerned citizens, animal sheltering and animal
control professionals, and animal protection groups from across the state will
assemble at the Senate Binsfeld Building (201 Townsend St) in Lansing on
Tuesday, December 11 to provide testimony in opposition to legislation that
would protect cruel puppy mills and their pet store sales outlets.
Link to event details.
HB 5916/5917, referred to as “the Petland bills” after the
legislation’s primary backer, would allow pet stores in Michigan to continue
sourcing from large-scale, inhumane commercial breeding facilities and to
continue to sell sick puppies to the public, while at the time stripping
cities, towns, and counties in the state of the authority to address this
issue. Three existing ordinances that prohibit the sale of puppy mill puppies
that have been passed in Eastpointe, Fraser, and New Baltimore would be voided
as a result of this legislation.
HB 5916/5917 are an attack on local control and animal welfare,
and are being met with strong opposition from the pet-loving population of
Michigan.
There is a movement across the nation to prohibit the sale of
puppy mill puppies in pet stores. Maryland lawmakers unanimously approved such
a measure last month, joining California and over 260 localities across 20
states.
“We believe this legislation does not protect animals, leaves the
door open to continued sourcing from puppy mills in pet shops, and further
hinders our ability to work with local municipalities toward legislation on
behalf of the animals we care so deeply about, “ said Matt Pepper, President
& Chief Executive Officer Michigan Humane Society.
“HB5916 suggests that pet stores will have more regulations and
puppy buyers will have full access to breeder information, but the real
problems happen long before the puppies arrive in the stores,” said Pam Sordyl,
founder of Michigan Friends of Companion Animals and Puppy Mill Awareness of
Southeast Michigan. “No amount of enforcement in Michigan is going to ensure
that breeders follow the highest standards when breeding or provide expensive
veterinary care necessary in large-scale operations. Puppies from the
industry’s new showcase kennels are still arriving with many abnormalities
including generic issues as a result of poor breeding. “ Link to testimony.
“Our shelter’s dedicated animal care professionals have seen
firsthand the suffering that is the result of the large-scale breeding of dogs
for the pet industry,” said Trudy Ender, Executive Director of the Humane
Society of West Michigan in Grand Rapids. “As a result, we support efforts by
citizens in west Michigan to stop the sale of puppies in pet stores, and to
promote the adoption of rescued animals instead. HB 5916/5917 is a step in the
wrong direction and goes against the wishes of the people of Michigan who
oppose the cruelty of puppy mills.”
“HB5917 is strategically designed to undo all of our work to
protect families and open the door to inhumane kennels,” said Cardi DeMonaco
Jr., an Eastpointe City Council Member. “It is hard imagine my council will not
even be allowed to prevent roadside stands or parking lot sellers from peddling
puppies in Eastpointe. I wanted Eastpointe to be a model city promoting only
humane ways to bring pets into the family. Times are changing and our ordinance
reflects our values as a community which should stay on the books.”
Media
contacts:
Matt
Pepper, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Michigan Humane Society 248-283-5661
Pam
Sordyl, Founder of Michigan Friends of Companion Animals and Puppy Mill
Awareness of SE Michigan 734-718-7100
Cardi
DeMonaco Jr., Eastpointe Council Member 586-744-3864
Trudy
Ender, Executive Director of the Humane Society of West Michigan 616-258-4076
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