On Tuesday, 25 March 2008, Eilene Ribbens, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project; Deb Lewis, President of Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies; and Dr. Yvonne Bellay of the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection met with Representative Steve Wieckert at Fox Valley Humane Association. Ms. Lewis is also the Executive Director for Fox Valley Humane Association located in Appleton and is a constituent from Rep. Wieckert's district.

     At the meeting, Rep. Wieckert confirmed that puppy mills WILL NOT be selected as one of the Legislative Council Studies. However, we did talk at length about a plan to continue our work on a bill draft with his office, with the Legislative Council and with the working group of stakeholders interested in the legislation.

     Unfortunately, Rep. Wieckert has decided NOT to seek re-election this fall. That would leave our current workon the "Puppy Mill Bill", lead by Rep. Wieckert, without a legislative leader and advocate.

      During our meeting, Representative Wieckert suggested a plan to complete the review of proposals by the working group, review a proposed draft, and ask interested parties to sign a joint letter of support. Once that work is completed, the draft and its support will be passed on to a team of legislators selected by Rep Wieckert. This legislative team will then work the draft through the system.

     We will keep you posted on progress.

     For more details on Rep. Wieckert's work and decision not to run for relection, please see the article links below:

    Legislator Seeks to Increase Breeder Oversight   

    Rep. Steve Wieckert Won't Seek Re-election