Moseley calls for increased protections for our animal friends

Monday, Jan. 29, House Bill 1412 passed through the House of Representatives, aimed at regulating the retail sale of dogs. The legislation would increase the responsibilities of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) and strip communities of the mandate to regulate puppy mills. State Rep. Chuck Moseley (D-Portage) released the following statement regarding the passage of the bill:

“As an animal lover and dog dad, I am outraged that members of this legislature would support legislation that allows bad actors to return to the puppy mill industry. House Bill 1412 replaces local control with underfunded oversight, uprooting the years of progress made in cities and towns around Indiana, including in my own, where communities like Valparaiso are taking steps to crack down on the abusive puppy mill industry. Twenty-one of our Hoosier communities have already addressed unethical breeding, wielding the local mandate to uphold the duty of care we owe to our animals. This legislation would have the Indiana General Assembly override that mandate from local voters.”

“The bill’s proposed plan for oversight ignores infrastructural needs by drastically increasing BOAH’s responsibilities, yet it doesn’t allocate funds to expand its operations. This lack of oversight will make it impossible to ensure pet retailers and breeders treat their animals humanely. If this legislation becomes law, the local groups around Indiana who work tirelessly with local officials to protect our pets will be powerless to prevent the abuse animals will endure at pet stores and unregulated breeders. House Bill 1412 is just another in a long line of legislation stripping localities of their power. We elect our local officials to govern. Why don’t we trust them to do their jobs?”