Puppy Mill Law Just the Beginning

Tank is one of the many dogs at The Allen County SPCA. He enjoys nothing more than being outside; a simple luxury that many more dogs will soon have thanks to a new puppy mill law. “Hopefully this will help crackdown on the puppy mills” says Jill Borkenstein, Director of the Allen County SPCA. The new law, which went into effect yesterday, requires commercial breeders to register with the state. “The dogs in this state are just going to be better cared for and treated more humanely” says Borkenstein. Puppy mill dogs live in small, dark cages, unlike those at the local SPCA. “They’re in wire cages, their feces and urine goes through, and the floors are awfully hard on their feet” Borkenstein describes. But the new law restricts dogs from being in any cage with a wire floor. “Their claws can get caught in them” notes Borkenstein. Another change includes the amount of exercise a dog gets per day; at puppy mills usually its little to none. “They don’t get out. There has been no requirement for them to get out of those cages at all” says Borkenstein. Borkestein says Fort Wayne already has great ordinances with regards to cruelty and breeding, but outside the city limits not so much. Yet even at that, Allen County is still in better shape compared to other counties in Indiana. “There are some counties that have no animal welfare organization in the county at all” says Borkenstein. The SPCA has had close to a dozen puppy mill dogs in the past year. With more expected to come soon. “We’re kind of gearing up to be able to foster and take in some puppy mill puppies” says Borkenstein. Borkestein recalls one litter of Chihuahuas that came from a puppy mill. “One we had to have euthanized because it was so sick and another was so aggressive with the others” says Borkenstein. And while its not the final bow for puppy mills. “Ultimately the goal is no puppy mills” says Borkenstein. Yet, its certainly a good start. “Having to have them out of those cages at least for some of the time is a step in the right direction” says Borkenstein.