Letter to the Press
To be published by the Jefferson City News Tribune
Dear Editor,
The Missouri Legislature
is expected to pass some form of the "Animal Research and Production
Facilities Act" which among other things would criminalize the act
of photographing or videotaping animal facilities without "express
written consent." Proponents of the bill are once again playing the
"terrorism" card to protect animal producers from exposé's
that serve the interests of the general public. Missouri's notorious "puppy
mills" are frequently investigated by the media and photographs or
video footage are crucial to their efforts of reporting living conditions
these helpless animals are forced to endure.
Passage of the bill with
the provisions intact that criminalize photographing or videotaping animal
facilities will severely impact activities intended to improve the plight
of animals housed in these facilities. Animal welfare and advocacy organizations
also rely on photographs and videotape to produce educational material.
The media and animal protection organizations will face criminal penalties
simply for taking pictures or videotape of conditions the pet production
industry would rather keep out of public domain. It is obvious that supporters
of the pet production and distribution industry place more value on revenue
generated by these enterprises than the welfare of animals.
It appears that Missouri
lawmakers will allow State and Federal inspectors to photograph noncompliant
items discovered during inspections, however, their photographic evidence
would be permanently sealed and not available to the public under Missouri's
Sunshine Law. This is contrary to the principals of our free society and
again only serves to protect a select few. By protecting the pet production
and distribution industry with certain provisions included in the "Animal
Research and Production Facilities Act" the Missouri Legislature
adds another veil of secrecy to an already tainted and obscure industry.
Missouri leads the nation
in the production of puppies accounting for 1/3 of all puppies bred in
the country. The extensive breeding and distribution network ships thousands
of puppies each month throughout the United States and foreign countries
such as Mexico, Canada, Panama, Puerto Rico, Spain, Japan and South Africa.
The majority of puppies are shipped to pet stores where unsuspecting consumers
have no information regarding the conditions in which they were born.
The retail pet stores skillfully paint pictures of puppies romping in
the grass instead of the cramped cages at breeding facilities housing
sometimes hundreds or even thousands of dogs.
Pet industry leaders consistently
complain that they are treated unfairly by the media and animal protection
organizations. They argue that the horrible conditions disclosed by the
media and animal advocacy organizations are not typical of their industry.
Why then are they striving to hide their industry under such false and
ridiculous pretenses? Could it be that they realize that the general
public would be sickened by their "factory farms" for puppies?
Is the "Show Me" state ashamed of what we might see? Evidently!
I am a Missouri resident
and thankful to have such a beautiful place to live and enjoy life.
I'm ashamed, however, that Missouri has the dubious distinction as the
"Puppy Mill Capitol of the World" thanks to those motivated
by power and greed rather than respect for all living creatures.
Respectfully,
Marshall G. Smith
Director of Investigations
In Defense of Animals
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