Bill allowing state to crack down on puppy mills faces uncertain future

DES MOINES - Animal rights activists are using horrifying pictures and stories of dogs mistreated or neglected at Iowa breeding facilities to try to convince state lawmakers to take action.Mary LaHay, a Des Moines resident who's taken up the cause, was again at the Capitol Monday, displaying photos she said help illustrate the problem in Iowa.

One depicted a Shar pei confined in a cage so long it was crippled and could barely walk, she said. Another showed a Kerry Blue terrier with matted hair, a missing eye, and a hole in the side of its face, revealing its teeth.

LaHay described to a state legislative committee about what she says is a lack of federal oversight of the breeding facilities.

"I think it's time to put our foot down and say enough is enough. The animals are the ones who are suffering, and we owe it to them as their stewards to help them. We are their voice," LaHay said.

She and other activists are pushing for legislation that would allow state inspectors to step in and respond to complaints against federally-licensed facilities in Iowa, saying the U.S. Department of Agriculture isn't doing its job.

LaHay said dogs at some of Iowa facilities are being shot instead of euthanized, and that she's heard multiple reports of dogs living in slurries of feces and swarms of flies.

"It goes on an on and on, and it's not getting better," LaHay said.

The legislation appears to be facing an uphill battle. Two out of three members of a House subcommittee are opposed to the bill as it is written. Even if it is approved in the subcommittee, it faces an uncertain future before the House Agriculture Committee. The proposal also is being considered in the Senate.

One of those opposed to the measure is Rep. Henry Rayhons, R-Garner. He notes that the Iowa Department of Agriculture already is seeing budget cuts and is under a hiring freeze.

Currently, the state has five inspectors already overseeing 2,300 facilities in the state.

"We have federal inspectors doing this. If there's a complaint filed against a puppy mill, let's let the federal ones take care of it," Rayhons said.

An inspector with the U.S. Department of Agriculture is flying in from Colorado to testify before the subcommittee Tuesday.

LaHay said Iowa governor Tom Vilsack, now U.S. agriculture secretary would be "sickened" to learn what is happening in his home state.

"He just doesn't know, and if he did know, he would do something," LaHay said.

Jill Altringer, a lobbyist who represents the Iowa Federation of Animal Owners, said the organization is worried about frivolous complaints.

Licensed facilities already have a thick book of regulations they have to follow, she said.

Rep. Elesha Gayman, D-Davenport, say estimates place the cost of adding this responsibility to state inspectors at about $250,000 per year.

"I think that's going to be the hardest thing right now at this point just with the budget that we're facing," Gayman said.

She said she hopes they can work with officials to eliminate some of the problem without having a huge fiscal impact to the state.

LaHay said she'll be back next year if legislators don't take up the cause this session.

"I think that the agribusiness community has a lot more weight in here now, but once we're better organized, that will be changing," LaHay said.