Missouri recently enacted a tough, new animal-cruelty law and officials have been busy enforcing it. The state this week brought action against a Richmond, Mo., dog breeder under the terms of the new law.
Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, filed a lawsuit against Jeannine Julian for violations of the Animal Care Facilities Act and the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act.
Koster said Julian owns JJ Kennel, a commercial breeder. Missouri Department of Agriculture inspections allegedly uncovered numerous violations of the law, including that Julian:
- repeatedly refused to allow Department of Agriculture inspections of her breeding facility;
- failed to provide adequate veterinary care to animals who were in obvious medical distress;
- failed to provide housing that protected the animals from injury;
- failed to ensure that interior surfaces were free of excessive rust and that kennel doors were properly maintained;
- failed to maintain adequate lighting, leaving some dogs in complete darkness;
- failed to prevent excessive accumulation of feces and food waste in the primary housing enclosures and to provide uncontaminated, wholesome food to the dogs;
- failed to have adequate employees to carry out the required level of husbandry practices, resulting in excessive feces throughout the outdoor runs; and
- failed to pay a $100 reinspection fee required in the case of repeat violations of the ACFA.
Seeks injunction
Koster is asking the court to issue injunctions and a temporary restraining order prohibiting Julian from any further violations of the Animal Care Facilities Act or the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act and from conducting any commercial breeding activity until further order of the court; assess a $100 ACFA license reinspection fee; assess a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per violation of the Animal Care Facilities Act; and pay court costs.
The lawsuit marks the third case in which the state has enforced the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act, sometimes called the Missouri Solution, which was approved by the Missouri legislature and signed into law by Governor Jay Nixon on April 27, 2011.
The Act, the result of an agreement between the Missouri Department of Agriculture, commercial dog breeding and farming interests, and Missouri-based animal welfare organizations, strengthens standards for veterinary care and living conditions for dogs in commercial breeding facilities.
The Act also gives the Attorney General’s Office the authority to file criminal charges for “canine cruelty,” the authority to seek civil penalties for offenders, and to seek enhanced penalties for repeat offenders.
Sharon Lambert (Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:30:15 +0000): Could we take a look at the prison and jail conditions? I have a dog and if anyone tried to hurt her I would go ballistic. However; I also have a grandson who has mental health issues. I had to watch as the Muscatine County Jail kept in in solitary confinement for nearly the three months he was there. No medication, no doctor, either for his mental health issues or physical concerns. Even as his legal guardian I was not allowed to visit or speak with him for weeks on end. His behavior which is escalated by the methods used buy police and correctional officers only serves to exacerbate his anger issues. I doubt Iowa is any different that any other state. How can we go to war to protect foreign countries when we offer only a cruel and dehumanizing climate for those who are poor and or mentally ill?
Gael R Murphy (Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:44:36 +0000): Stay on topic.
Terri Ann King (Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:54:18 +0000): if anyone hurt my dog I would send the person who did the wrong to the hospital.
Mary Matlock Bell (Sun, 04 Sep 2011 06:48:50 +0000): i don't look at it like that, I have bought several dogs and I have given a lot of strays a good home as well. i feel like the ones that I have bought were set free from the life as a breeder in a small cage for the rest of their life to sit on my lap and be loved. I can't buy all the dogs from all the puppy mills anymore than i can adopt all the dogs in shelters. It breaks my heart and I would if I could. I hate puppy mills. and I hate shelters just as much. People who don't spay and neuter their pets are the problem. i see nothing wrong with someone raising a few liters of puppies, but to mass produce puppies is cruel and wrong. I take care of mine, and I love them like family members, more than some lol. i strive everyday to be the person my dogs think i am. 
Lynn Turriff (Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:53:11 +0000): I'll try again.If you adopt from a shelter, the probability is VERY high that you are getting a dog from a breeder you would NEVER consider buying from. But because you persist in following the AR line of 'adopt from a shelter, don't buy from a breeder', YOU are keeping those sub-standard breeders in business, while breeders who do everything right and sell healthy, sound, well socialized puppies are going under. Those breeders are getting zoned out, having a harder time all the time placing their puppies, and of course - raided like this.
If you would stop patronizing the breeders you deplore, through shelter adoptions, they would have to give up breeding for lack of market.
Buy your next pet from a breeder who will support you. Worst case, if for some reason you can't keep that pet, the breeder will take it back. That pet will never have to endure the shelter experience.
John Doppler Schiff (Fri, 14 Oct 2011 02:10:34 +0000): Gael, please excuse Lynn's insanity. She believes that shelters are money-making scams that import diseased animals from overseas to meet the "demand" for adoptable dogs. She thinks shelters are in competition with breeders for profits, and doesn't seem to grasp the concept of a nonprofit shelter.
You can't argue with crazy, and I don't recommend trying. 
Lori Pierson Stauffacher (Fri, 14 Oct 2011 02:26:48 +0000): John Doppler Schiff , I understand Lynns perception. I also disagree with Gaels remark of 'If you bought a dog, you are resposible for this cruelty'...excuse me? I have bought dogs from breeders and I have 'adopted' (bought) dogs from shelters. I keep a dog till it dies of old age. The dogs I bred and raised & sold were all working cattle dogs that would never end up at a shelter because the people that buy dogs from reputable breeders are responsible dog owners and value their dogs. I do not think the problem is 'breeders' I think the problem is irresponsible people dumping their no longer wanted mutt or the people that let their dogs run the neighborhood getting bred or raping other dogs & having un planned pregnancies.
Cristy Caraballo-Colón (Sun, 04 Sep 2011 04:02:33 +0000): Tremendo! Aqui contamos con la Ley 154, solo le falta un pequeño detalle: ENFORCEMENT! Podria ser un interesante punto de partida!
Ricardo J. Negron Almodovar (Sun, 04 Sep 2011 04:08:49 +0000): aqui critican cuando los jueces condenan los que maltratan... todavia hay gente que dice que los 12años al que arastro la yegua fueron demasiados... yi digo: PA QUE APRENDA!
Emily Erickson-Sandstrom (Sun, 04 Sep 2011 05:43:16 +0000): another industry the fuggerment is destroying, like ranching, farmers, dairy ... oh so many. With regulations, just like Hitler did with the Jews.
Claire Costello Haggerty (Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:52:48 +0000): Lori, you are probably a good breeder. Doesn't it bother you that breeders such as JJ don't even do the minimal to ensure these animals are not suffering? I know that there are many horrible shelters out there...doesn't that also beg the question...Why keep adding to the pet overpopulation problem? 
Diana Krygowski Logan (Sun, 04 Sep 2011 05:07:44 +0000): My sincere congratulations to Governor Nixon for the Missouri Solution, which should bring Missouri from the dark ages into the 21st century regarding animal issues. I'm very pleased to learn that they are enforcing this legislation. For too many years people have looked the other way in manners of puppymill neglect and abuse. Prosecute - prosecute - prosecute!
Pearl Boosinger (Sun, 04 Sep 2011 05:07:54 +0000): I am so very saddened to see my true home, Missouri, following the whims of animal rights activists and spending money desperately need for humans on animals that have owners to care for them while simultaneously putting money in the pockets of activists to further harass animal owners and kill their animals. Oh, yes, $$ is what this is all really about. You see, the activists who get these dogs make their profit by portraying the dogs in as poor of condition as possible and asking for donations. That portrayal increases income. They often kill the animals which reduces costs. They call it euthanasia but it isn't. It's just killing for efficiency. Nice business model to maximize profits (or revenue over expenses since they claim to be non-profits most of the time; non-profit except for their leadership which has extraordinary income and retirement and bennies and...) Yes, nice business model if one can stomach the killing and obviously they can.
The activists claim animal abuse leads to human abuse. Quite the contrary, it is their "solution" which leads to human abuse and animal abuse too as they cart off, traumatize, butcher and/or kill the animals which had homes and owners and were at least alive. Death is NOT better. Death is the end of hope and possibilities; unnecessary death or torture by "saving" is the ultimate animal cruelty.
Stephanie Riggio (Mon, 05 Sep 2011 23:18:25 +0000): just like Hitler did to the Jews? what he did is in its own category, given ALL that he did. seriously. pick another analogy.
Amina Fairouz Zebboudj (Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:58:46 +0000): Missouri should vote for better and tougher laws to protect its animals. Besides, pets should be adopted not bought. When people understand that, may be, those scum bags won't make a profit and will stop torturing living creatures.