By Adam Allington, St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis, MO – Proponents of tougher laws regulating Missouri puppy mills are stepping up their media campaign to reach Missouri votes. As St. Louis Public Radio's Adam Allington reports, the Humane Society of the United States says Missouri is the worst offender in the nation.
According to a report from the Humane Society, Missouri produces 40 percent of all puppies sold in the United States.
Wayne Pacelle is President of Humane Society of the United States. He says Proposition B would help insure bad dog breeders are closed down.
"When you have a mom and pop operation, a two-person operation, caring for 800 or 1000 dogs at these puppy mills, you see why the animals never get out of the cage, why they never get any vet care," says Pacelle. "The mothers are breeding machines and the puppies are a cash crop."
Prop B would prohibit any breeder from having more than 50 breeding dogs for the purpose of selling their puppies as pets.
Opponents of the measure say the state's current regulations on dog breeders are sufficient.