PUBLIC'S PET ROLL

When local, state and federal authorities recently raided a dog-breeding operation in Shannon County, they were overwhelmed by the poor conditions, both of the facilities and the animals they found there. Nearly 200 dogs were killed because they were beyond saving.

Now the federal government is looking at stricter regulations in an attempt to improve the lot of animals bound for pet stores. But more regulations probably won't make a big difference to animal breeders who seem to have no compassion or concern about the dogs and cats they foist off on an unsuspecting public. And breeders who provide high-quality care for the pets in their charge would only be faced with even more government red tape as they try to earn a living.

The real culprit in this mess may very well be the buying public, those who want pets but don't take the time to check out the backgrounds of where the new family dog or cat came from. There is a good chance, of course, that the animal came from Missouri, since this state is the No. 1 animal-breeding state in the nation with more than a thousand licensed kennel operations.

At a federal hearing a few weeks ago in Kansas City, the importance of public education about kennel operations was brought home by Jhan White, administrator of the Cape Girardeau Humane Society, which operates the animal shelter here and whose staff was involved in rescuing animals from the raided puppy mill in Shannon County.

Federal officials seemed to agree that the expense and effort of trying to inspect every kennel is less productive than concentrating on the problem-causing animal breeders.

But the real solution to putting puppy mills and similar cat breeders out of business is for the consuming public to take some responsibility for learning more about the animals they want to buy. After all, it is in the consumer's best interest to have a healthy pet with a long life expectancy.

More regulations won't put a stop to puppy mills. More red tape would only make it harder for good operators and more expensive for anyone who wants to purchase a good pet.