Advocate for dog welfare

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To the Editor:
Puppy mills are really bad for the health of the dogs and for the puppies. They are bad news for the consumer as well. Puppies that come from puppy mills are sometimes sick and have behavioral issues such as having a hard time socializing with humans and with other dogs. Some puppies are so isolated that they do not know how to play when they go home to their families. Something needs to be done. Please do something.
Michael Pace
Bettendorf

To the Editor:
Obviously, some of Iowa’s state senators and state representatives want to turn their heads and ignore the 15,000-plus adult dogs in puppy mills suffering needlessly because of Iowa’s lax companion animal welfare laws.
Instead, they listen to the stonewalling lobbyists who have been stopping animal welfare laws for the past eight years.
How can they ignore the 200-plus puppy mills in Iowa with more than half of them (53 percent) cited for violations of the Animal Welfare Act in 2015? That’s up from 2014 in which 47 percent were cited. The dogs live in inhumane conditions, have open sores that go untreated, and are used as breeding machines with no human touch. It’s not getting any better people, it’s getting worse.
Our legislators need to hear their constituents’ voices instead of those of the lobbyists. Please contact your legislators! It’s easy if you go to iafriends.org and follow the prompts.
My state representative is Mary Wolfe and my state senator is Rita Hart. I am happy to say they both support animal welfare legislation.
Iowa is second in the nation for puppy mills. Iowa can do better, but the dogs need YOUR voice.
Sheri Loeffelholz
Clinton

To the Editor:
Iowans: your legislators are hesitating to sign a law that will make life more humane for over 15,000 dogs in large, puppy mill conditions.
We’ve got to do better, much better for the dogs and for our state’s reputation. Many of the dogs sold nationwide have genetic and physical ailments. Ninety percent of pups sold in pet stores come from these mills. The legislation under consideration asks for state oversight of commercial breeders. It lowers fees for small hobby breeders and, yes, raises fees for the larger ones. Some argue that this will make it more difficult for small breeders. The law will do just the opposite. Some are proposing a blue ribbon, voluntary system of compliance. That’s already being done by the reputable breeders! If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a dog’s never-failing love, you’ve got to contact your legislator and help make this happen!
Kathy Kowalski
Sabula, Iowa


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