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
Jefferson City, MO

Marshall Smith of Jefferson City is Director of Investigations for California-based In Defense of Animals.

In Defense of Animals
131 Camino Alto
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Tel. (415) 388 9641 / Fax (415) 388 0388
ida@idausa.org