These rescued dogs were denied hands-on veterinary care.

Urgent: Your Action Needed by September 30 to Stop Breeders From Eliminating Critical Veterinary Care

Write a Letter Today to Protect Missouri's Dogs

Earlier this year, the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act was signed into law, guaranteeing necessary protections for dogs in commercial breeding facilities. One of the most significant and necessary improvements was the requirement that every animal receive an annual, hands-on veterinary examination.  

Now breeders are pressuring the Missouri State Veterinarian to eliminate the requirement of a hands-on veterinary exam by weakening the regulations designed to fully implement the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act.

Your help is urgently needed to ensure these helpless animals receive the hands-on veterinary care they were promised.

Please write a politely-worded letter to Dr. Taylor Woods, State Veterinarian, with a CC to Dr. Jon Hagler asking them to stand firm on the requirement of annual, hands-on veterinary exams for dogs in commercial breeding facilities, as required by the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act. Dr. Woods is in charge of the regulations on which these breeding dogs are depending.

Ask them to clearly define “veterinary examination” in the regulations in order to ensure that each dog covered under the CCPA is provided an annual “hands-on physical veterinary examination.” The requirement that an annual hands-on physical veterinary examination is mandatory for each dog must be specifically included in the regulations so that it is abundantly clear to attending veterinarians, facility owners, and inspectors to avoid misinterpretation and ensure that both the requirements and intent of the law are met.

Take action as soon as possible. All letters must be received by September 30, 2011. Please also commend the new regulations in general and specifically the improved requirements for space, shade, drainage, temperature and the elimination of tethering as primary confinement.

If the breeders' pressure tactics are successful, only walk-through, visual inspections of the animals will be required. These "inspections" are not acceptable. Without physically touching the animal during an exam, there is no way for a veterinarian to detect that a dog is suffering from:

• Malnourishment and dehydration
• Heart defects
  
• Ear infections
• Pneumonia
• Fever
  
• Skin lesions and external parasites such as fleas and ticks
• Dental diseases, loose teeth and gum issues
• Hernias
• Many other painful conditions
  

The Humane Society of Missouri has rescued thousands of suffering animals from substandard breeding facilities. Virtually all of the terrible health conditions we have witnessed could have been eliminated with a hands-on veterinary exam.

Please, be the voice for these animals and write a letter today. Let Dr. Woods and Dr. Jon Hagler know that each dog and puppy deserves a thorough examination at least once a year.

Thank you for helping to provide a voice for Missouri's puppy mill dogs.

Kind regards,

Kathy Warnick
President
Humane Society of Missouri