Target: David Scott, Chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee
Goal: Support more comprehensive, robust animal welfare inspections and enact tougher penalties for violations.
Hundreds of young dogs apparently suffered horrifically at an Iowa puppy mill. While several of the animals were eventually rescued, some reportedly died while waiting for their moment of salvation. The memory of one of these puppies, whom the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals named Goldie, lives on in legislation meant to safeguard other defenseless pups from meeting her tragic fate.
Goldie reportedly died at the puppy mill, with the eyes of her potential savior—the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)—on her. The USDA is required to inspect and license such businesses. The Iowa puppy mill where Goldie was kept had been licensed by the agency, and they took note of Goldie’s seemingly declining health during the course of inspections. They apparently did nothing to help the suffering animal, however. She eventually succumbed to weeks of alleged neglect and untenable living conditions.
A House of Representatives proposal known as Goldie’s Act would strengthen the inspection standards the USDA performs, would impose much heftier penalties for reported violations, and—most crucially—would require the agency to take into their custody animals they have suspicions are being mistreated. The USDA, under this law, would also have a duty to report with expedience suspected animal cruelty to appropriate law enforcement for criminal investigation.
Sign the petition below to demand Congress take up this vital piece of animal welfare legislation.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Representative Scott,
Few causes can unite Americans like the plight of abused and neglected animals. The U.S. government, recognizing the importance of protecting all living beings, has encoded the Animal Welfare Act, the PACT Act, and other essential measures into its rules of law. Tragically, the lack of a strong framework for some of these laws prevents them from realizing their full potential.
As part of the Animal Welfare Act, the United States Department of Agriculture is supposed to conduct routine inspections on licensed animal caretakers. Too often, however, these inspections are sparse and shallow in their scope and depth. A young dog reportedly died at a licensed Iowa puppy mill (where hundreds of other dogs were later liberated), as the USDA evaluated this puppy’s deteriorating condition with no apparent action to save her. This horrible case inspired Goldie’s Act (named after the deceased pup), but currently this house resolution is languishing in limbo.
As the chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, please give this critical animal welfare reform the push it deserves and needs in Congress.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Catherin 888
This was a legal breeder? The Department of Agriculture should be both embarrassed and ashamed of those inspectors not doing the job nor getting anything done to help the animals they serve. The tear jerker is they stood there and watched the puppy, Goldie, die right in front of their eyes and did nothing about it, nothing to help her, nothing to save her or even ease her pain. This is callous. People of this caliber are not fit to work with animals. Where’s the compassion? Other animals were removed thus it was obvious this facility needed to be closed, permanently! A higher standard must be set for inspectors. Do into!
The USDA REPEATEDLY FAILS to do its sworn duties. They must be INVESTIGATED and those responsible for failing to act on THEIR OWN EVIDENCE prosecuted and fired immediately. SHUT DOWN ALL PUPPY AND KITTEN MILLS NOW. These places are nothing more than factory farms for dogs and cats. The result: sick animals forced to breed more sick animals. We already have TOO MANY IRRESPONSIBLE PEOPLE letting their dogs and cats breed, and our shelters are overcrowded. The result: EUTHANASIA OF HEALTHY ANIMALS.