Update: The Tennessee legislature has adjourned without passing these bills that proposed to regulate commercial dog and cat breeders. For more on these bills, read Animal Law Coalition's original report below.

Original report: Currently, under Tennessee law state licenses are required only for dealers who buy, sell, transport or board more than 25 dogs or cats annually for research facilities, or who  buy or sell them for resale within or transport outside the state.  TN Code §44-17-102.

Also, dealers who buy or sell dogs or cats at flea markets must be licensed.

The USDA only regulates those millers who sell to pet stores or other breeders.

All of this means most Tennessee pet dealers also known as puppy or cat millers, are unregulated.

Tennessee state Rep. Debra Maggart and state Sen. Diane Black hope to change that with H.B. 2914 and S.B. 3147 which would regulate commercial dealers with 20 or more breeding dogs or cats.

All such commercial dealers aka puppy or cat millers, would be required to obtain a license, cooperate with inspections, create a fire emergency plan and install fire safety measures, keep records of breeding history, sales, purchases and veterinary care; and dispose of dead animals and waste according to law. 

Under H.B. 2914/S.B. 3147, these commercial breeders would be limited to 50 adult dogs.

This bill might help stop puppy mills like the one operated by Irene Meuser in Bethpage, Tennessee that authorities raided a little over a year ago. After an undercover investigation revealed puppies covered in lice, urine and open sores, 100 local officials, humane society and other volunteers and veterinarians met at Meuser's farm and removed hundreds of dogs, cats and other animals.  The stench was so bad they were forced to wear masks and many threw up when they saw the horrid conditions.

Animals were stuffed in filthy cages where they had lived 24/7. Most had injuries or illnesses such as skin infections, sores, broken bones and teeth, parvo, diarrhea, and dehydration.   Some were found dead and others had to be euthanized.

Authorities  had raided the same mill 10 years earlier and seized 280 dogs and cats.

Meuser pleaded guilty to 4 counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals and was put on probation. She was allowed to return to the business of breeding animals.  She even was given back 5 of the poor dogs taken in the raid.

WHAT YOU CAN DO  

It's time at least to regulate puppy mills like Meuser's and hopefully shut them down. Give the Department of Agriculture and law enforcement some authority to inspect and otherwise regulate these places.  The limit of 50 dogs will go a long way to slowing this terrible business of breeding, buying and selling dogs.

Click here to read a copy of the bill.

Click here to find your Tennessee legislators and also members of the House and Senate. Urge them to support these bills.