Puppy mills need stricter regulations

To the editor:

I am writing in response to Barry Horton's letter about the high cost of adopting pets.

The reason our shelters are so full is due in large part to the puppy mills which churn out thousands of dogs in conditions which are not fit for a junkyard. If we had strong regulations on puppy mills, it might well address a lot of the problem. Right now, these so-called businesspeople are free to keep their dogs in whatever conditions they see fit. If they had to adhere to humane standards and spend money to care for their product, they might not be so quick to churn out the product.

I encourage Horton and anyone else who is concerned about the plight of shelter animals to contact their legislators and ask them what they are going to do about this. It will be difficult. Our legislature has consistently kowtowed to the lobbyists for the puppy-mill industry. Our laws and our handling of this problem are a national disgrace. If you check the ASPCA or similar agencies, you will see we are listed as one of the worst states for abuse of animals in this manner.

I hope I will live to see someone in our legislature have the guts to stand up and say he or she will not stand for such abuses any more.

MICHAEL H. MAGUIRE

Cape Girardeau