Local animal advocates question impact of proposed Puppy Protection Act

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

Il. (KBSI) — A proposed federal bill aimed at improving conditions for dogs in commercial breeding facilities is drawing mixed reactions from animal advocates, who say enforcement remains a major concern.

The Puppy Protection Act, introduced by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, would strengthen standards for licensed dog breeders regulated under the

Animal Welfare Act. The legislation includes requirements for routine veterinary care, daily socialization, and limits on how often dogs can be bred.

Under the proposal, dogs would be required to have more space in enclosures, access to outdoor exercise areas, and at least 30 minutes of daily interaction with humans or other dogs. The bill would also restrict breeding to no more than two litters in an 18-month period and no more than six litters over a dog’s lifetime. Additionally, it would require breeders to find humane placements for retired breeding dogs.

Supporters say the bill is designed to improve conditions in large-scale breeding operations, often referred to as puppy mills.

But some local animal advocates say the legislation may not address the biggest issues they see in their communities.

“This is a feel-good law. Laws are only good if you enforce them,” said Diane Doherty, founder and board president of Saint Francis Animal Shelter in Illinois.

Doherty said the shelter frequently takes in dogs from unregulated backyard breeders — operations that may fall outside the scope of federal oversight.

“We’ve taken over 60 goldendoodles from the same backyard breeder. She sells them for two or three thousand dollars when they’re eight or nine weeks old, and if she doesn’t sell them, she just turns them out,” Doherty said.

According to shelter staff, these types of cases are common and often result in neglected or abandoned animals.

“Backyard breeders are our biggest pain because they don’t have to abide by these laws, and they are not regulated in any way, shape or form,” Doherty said.

Advocates say that without stronger enforcement, laws aimed at improving breeding standards may have limited impact.

“If nobody’s enforcing it, it’s not going to change. Backyard breeders are what we deal with every day — it happens all the time. Every day, dogs are euthanized that don’t need to be, and cats are euthanized that don’t need to be. So they passed a law, but it’s a feel-good law,” Doherty said”

Doherty stated multiple times enforcement can be challenging, particularly when dealing with unlicensed breeders or situations that fall outside existing regulations. They say investigating complaints and proving neglect can take time and resources.

“I think it’s great that legislators are trying to improve how animals are treated, but without enforcement, it’s not going to make a real difference,” Doherty said.

Despite concerns, advocates acknowledge that efforts to improve animal welfare have progressed over time and say legislation can still play a role in setting standards.

Local animal control officials say they face similar challenges, particularly when it comes to overpopulation and limited resources.

“There are healthy, good animals that would make great pets that do get euthanized. But the truth is, there are simply too many animals and not enough homes,” said Dave Lyon, facility manager for Jackson County Animal Control.

Lyon said his department works to place as many animals as possible through rescues and no-kill shelters, sometimes transporting them outside the region. However, many organizations are already at capacity.

“We do our very best to get every animal we can into rescues, send them to no-kill shelters, even if that means transporting them out of the area — you go to places with less overcrowding. But the truth is, especially here in southern Illinois, there are so many unclaimed, unwanted animals that the rescues, a lot of times, are full,” Lyon said.

While Lyon said the proposed legislation could help in some cases, he does not expect it to solve the issue entirely.

“It’s not going to address the whole problem. But if it cuts down on the number of, let’s say, amateur breeders, then it’s going to cut down on the overpopulation problem overall,” Lyon said.

Officials say one of the most effective ways to address the issue is through responsible pet ownership.

“Spay and neuter, spay and neuter, spay and neuter — That is the number one thing that the public can do to try to help address that,” Lyon said.

The Puppy Protection Act has not yet been passed into law.