Protect Pets Sold Sight Unseen from Abuse and Neglect ...

Animal Welfare, Petitions ? By Erica Ruedas on June 2, 2012 2:00 am

Target: David Sacks, Spokesman for USDA?s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Goal: Provide better protection to animals sold for retail wholesale from abuse and neglect.

The USDA?s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is considering an amendment to the Animal Welfare Act that will redefine the term ?retail pet store? in order to protect animals sold sight unseen via the internet, phone, and mail-order. The original law predated the Internet, leaving a loophole for breeders who can now sell their animals over the Internet, phone, and by mail, and the buyer cannot see for themselves that the animal has been humanely treated.

The rule would also require licensing and regular inspections by the federal government to ensure that the breeding animals and their offspring are treated humanely. The rule would also allow any premises exempt from licensing up to four breeding females on the premises, though the offspring cannot be sold online, through the mail or telephone, or through another retail premises, or the location would lose their exemption.

This new rule will help prevent abuse and neglect seen at breeder mills, and include any animal sold, whether for retail or wholesale. If the retail pet store is exempt, the buyer will be able to view the animal and see that it is treated humanely. If the premises is not exempt, the retail pet store will be subject to regular inspections by the federal government, so that any buyer can be satisfied that the animals are humanely treated.

By signing the petition below, you are asking the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to please add the proposed amendment to the Animal Welfare Act.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Mr. Sacks,

I fully support the proposed amendment to the Animal Welfare Act that will protect animals sold sight unseen from abuse and neglect. This proposed amendment will give buyers the assurance that the animals they are purchasing are treated humanely and not subject to abuses.

I encourage you to add this amendment as soon as possible, and to do more to protect animals from overbreeding and abuse seen at puppy mills and pet stores. This new amendment is long overdue, and is the beginning of the end of the abuse of any animal sold.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

joe paterno lung cancer john tucker must die uk basketball iowa state faroe islands faroe islands corso