NEWINGTON (WTIC News) -- A bipartisan measure in the U.S. Senate aspires to a goal most Americans can surely get behind: protecting puppies.
"It's basically Congress saying, USDA, do your job," says ASPCA Senior V.P. for Government Relations Nancy Perry.
Perry and other animal welfare advocates say the USDA (U.D. Department of Agriculture) is falling short in its responsibility to oversee puppy mills-- mass breeding facilities where, they say, many dogs are kept in subpar conditions.
"We're seeing gross violation of their welfare," according to James Bias, executive director of the Connecticut Humane Society. "Violations are rampant, with very little, if any, penalties being given."
Goldie's Act, co-sponsored by senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Rick Scott (R-FL), would direct the USDA to step up its enforcement of existing federal animal welfare law. It says inspections must be held at least once a year, with detailed records made of violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Those records must also be reported to local law enforcement.
The advocates say federal inspectors are being turned away from facilities before inspections, or inspections are being pre-announced so facilities can fix or hide problem areas beforehand.
Even when violations are found, the USDA rarely issues penalties, according to Perry, who says, "We were very disappointed to see that last year, after thousands of violations were documented, only four dog dealers were penalized in any way, shape or form."
The advocates appeared at a press conference with Sen. Blumenthal at the Connecticut Humane Society in Newington (800-452-0114, info@cthumane.org), where a pup named Snoopy and other dogs up for adoption were invited guests.
"Reprehensibly, the USDA in 2022 found 800 violations. Guess how many penalties? Zero," says Blumenthal. "Unacceptable."
Blumenthal adds that the new law requires a penalty of $10,000 per dog if a violation of the Animal Welfare Act is found-- whether the violator is a breeder, a research facility or a dealer.
"What we're pursuing through this law is abuse and cruelty on an industrial scale," says Sen. Blumenthal. "These are puppy mills, these are breeders, dealers, exhibitors who do it to make money, and they're increasing their profit through cruelty to animals."