A bill introduced in the Iowa Senate, SF 168, will address the ongoing issues of neglect and abuse in large-scale commercial dog breeding operations. Commonly referred to as “puppy mills,” these USDA-licensed and monitored facilities mass-produce puppies for the retail pet trade, including for resale online and at pet stores nationwide. Currently, Iowa harbors approximately 220 of these large-volume breeders, with high concentrations in northwest and southeast Iowa. A total of 15,000 adult dogs are kept in them solely for the purpose of breeding.

USDA inspection data indicates that in 2014, at least 47 percent of Iowa’s puppy mills violated the minimum care standards set forth in the federal Animal Welfare Act. Of these violations, 18 percent were considered severe, directly affecting the health and well-being of the dogs. In spite of this disturbing statistic, the state of Iowa currently does not perform routine welfare inspections of USDA licensees. Curiously, though, the state does collect revenue from them in the way of operating permits. Iowa’s legislators have an opportunity this session to make meaningful changes to the way puppy mills are inspected. SF 168 will require that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship shares the responsibility for inspecting USDA-licensed facilities. This would give IDALS the authority to enforce our state animal neglect and cruelty statues to better protect dogs from serious and preventable harm. Iowa needs this, and the dogs deserve this.