The Signs Are Everywhere: |
All over Wisconsin, back yard breeders and puppy millers sell dogs. They operate under the radar screen of the tax man. They operate free of regulation, licensing and inspection. Current Wisconsin "Crimes Against Animals" Statutes are vague and open to interpretation, making enforcement difficult, if not impossible — frustrating citizens and law enforcement investigators alike. Federal law states that only those who sell pets wholesale (to pet stores, research facilities, etc.) are covered by the federal Animal Welfare Act which regulates breeders. Thus, backyard breeders and millers who sell directly to the public, like the one profiled in Interview with a WI "Puppy Farmer", cannot be put out of business because, by the existing statutes, they aren't breaking any laws! |