Thank You!

On Monday, March 1, Senate Bill 1712 passed the Oklahoma senate with an overwhelming margin of 38 to eight. This will begin the road to ending the tax evasion, consumer fraud and animal cruelty that have become big business in Oklahoma.

SB 1712 will enable the state to finally collect the taxes it is owed by unlicensed dog breeders and it will also create standards of care to stop the rampant cruelty and neglect.

Please be sure to thank your own senator if they are on THIS LIST.

Find out your legislator at: www.capitolconnect.com.

Puppy Mills...

...produce as many puppies as possible for as little investment as possible and everyday animals pay the price. Substandard food, sheltering, socialization and little to no veterinary care are common treatment for the dogs that make the money for these places. Dogs subsist in tiny cages, often with filth from one dog pouring through the cage floor onto the poor animal underneath it. Their eyes are scalded out by the ammonia in the urine and the pads of their paws are cut on the wire mesh. Infected, hungry and in pain they produce puppies for several years before being shot, abandoned or sold for a dollar or two to someone who will try to get, "One more litter out of her.”

Oklahoma is a haven for these houses of horror.

Together we can stop the cruelty.

Educate yourself about the issue and let your state senator and representative know:

• That you want passage of a law that will end the cruelty in puppy mills.
• That will tax the producers who rake in millions of dollars of cash.
• That you want an end to the lack of laws making Oklahoma into a default zone for these thugs.

OK Puppy Mill Truth Supports Senate Bill 1712...

SB 1712
The Black Market Breeder Bill

What does the bill do?
SB 1712 creates a State Board that will be charged with creating rules and regulations regarding large commercial pet breeders. It requires breeders who have eleven (11) or more female dogs or cats, which are kept for breeding purposes, to obtain a license from the Board and obtain a sales tax permit.

Who is affected?
Only those people who are engaged in the business of selling dogs and cats and have eleven (11) or more female dogs or cats which they breed. Your neighbor who breeds their pet cocker spaniel and then sells the puppies is not affected by this bill. Why do we need the bill? Oklahoma is the second largest State in the nation when it comes to commercial dog production – but we have zero regulation. Estimates place annual dog sales in Oklahoma at between 70 and 200 million dollars.

Why was SB 1712 assigned to the appropriations committee?
Under current State law, a seller of dogs and cats must collect and remit sales tax to the State of Oklahoma. Therefore, dog sales should bring three to nine million dollars in sales tax revenue to the State each year. However, unlicensed dog producers operate a cash business, often transferring animals in parking lots or late at night. Is there a fee for the license? Yes, but the amount of the fee will be set by the Board. The fee will be used to pay for the expenses of the Board. There will not be any State appropriated dollars allocated to this Board.

What other requirements are being placed on dog breeders?
They will have to file an annual report with the Board stating the number of animals that they have. They will be required to maintain health records for the animals (i.e. shot records). The Board will have the authority to establish minimum standards for care of the animals at these facilities. These standards, at a minimum, will meet the standards which already exist under the United States Department of Agriculture guidelines.

What about violations?
A violation of the Act would be a misdemeanor offense and the breeder could be fined or thrown into the County Jail – as harsh as that sounds it is the same punishment you are subjected to if you get ticketed for speeding.

Why is SB 1712 an important bill?
One does not have to be an animal rights activist to understand that we need to do something to regulate this industry. The approach this bill takes is to treat this measure as the profession that it truly is. It insures that the taxes owed to the State are collected. It protects consumers by helping to assure they get a quality product. And it will ultimately help the industry by eliminating those breeders that are not providing proper care and treatment for their animals.

What can I do to support SB 1712?

Call, write and e-mail your senator and representatives to let them know how important this bill is to you.

There are sample letters and phone calls on this website. Click on how to make contact.

Then, call your friends--the ones you know will make the call...let them know that only by hearing from constituents will legislators

support this measure.

Write a letter to the editor of your local paper and inform people of the cruelty and fraud in puppy mill sales.

Create a phone tree to respond quickly to any action in the legislature.