Pooch law still divides

Almost a year after Virginia’s puppy mill bill became law, restricting the size of breeding operations and stiffening inspection and recordkeeping practices, canine advocacy and breeding groups remain divided on its impact.

Fueled by a Humane Society investigation into Virginia breeders, the state last year became the first to limit kennel operators to no more than 50 dogs older than 1 unless approved under local ordinance.

The law made it a Class 1 misdemeanor for breeders to fall short of business license, veterinarian certification and recordkeeping requirements.

The Humane Society and the Virginia Animal Control Association backed the bill. The Virginia Federation of Dog Clubs and Breeders, the American Kennel Club and other hunting dog groups opposed it.

Leaders of many of those groups say puppy mill raids have not increased in number or scope since passage of the bill and that investigations continue similarly as before.

Local attention on the effort to ensure the proper care of man’s best friend has heightened recently as a result of the case of Kyle Brydge, a Stuarts Draft breeder who pleaded guilty in September to more than 100 misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty. Authorities seized 99 dogs from his kennel. Brydge today is scheduled to request that Stuarts Draft officials allow him to keep a modified kennel permit.

Proponents call the state’s puppy mill law a good but underutilized tool for law enforcement. Detractors call it an unnecessary law passed on trumped-up puppy mill allegations, and one which puts the focus on the number of dogs instead of the quality of care.

“It’s created a climate of fear for breeders in the state,” said Sharyn Hutchens, legislative liaison for the Virginia Federation of Dog Clubs and Breeders. “They don’t know what’s expected of them ... I don’t believe most breeders or animal control officers in this state know what the law is any more.”

Hutchens, a Lexington-area whippet breeder, said some breeders euthanized dogs in attempts to come into compliance — when retirement of that dog from breeding would have sufficed — and that even upstanding breeders have made plans to leave the state.

“Because the law is so vague and badly written,” Hutchens said.

Not so, said Kathleen Summers, manager of the Humane Society puppy mills campaign.

“This makes it very specific for [animal control officers],” she said.

Two million to 4 million puppies from puppy mills are sold each year in the United States, according to the Humane Society. Though mass breeding operations have been around for decades, they have received increased attention over the last 15 years and more recently in Virginia.

“[The law] is a really useful tool in helping localities limit the number of animals to levels that don’t get out of hand,” said Kathy Strouse, legislative liaison for the Virginia Animal Control Association.

Strouse, who lobbied for the law, has heard few questions about its implementation.

“Is it every single thing we wanted? Of course not,” she said. Still: “This was a good piece of legislation.”

Summers said law enforcement officials could become better versed in the law.

“It’s only as good as the enforcement,” she said. “There’s always going to be a problem with people who don’t comply with the law.”

Hutchens said Virginia never had a puppy mill problem.

“If we do have these giant breeders, we don’t know where they are,” she said. “We already have cruelty and neglect laws and if they’re not being enforced, that’s another problem.”

Large licensed breeders that sell to pet stores undergo state inspection. The American Kennel Club dedicates $6 million annually to inspections of purebred registry member kennels.

Stuarts Draft’s Brydge only underwent local animal control inspections while he operated.

“It’s not the numbers, it’s the care,” Hutchens said.

“As we’ve seen in cases in Virginia, there can be an unfortunate relationship between numbers and care,” Strouse said.

Stuarts Draft veterinarian and breeder June Cohron said some of the area’s largest kennels provide better treatment than smaller operations.

But generally the best facilities -- those with air conditioning and the best shelter and food -- are on the smaller end of the spectrum, she said.