Who can be against a bill called the Puppy Protection Act? Apparently, Congress

We’ve written over the years about U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and his support for a bill that keeps getting introduced in Congress under the title Puppy Protection Act.

The reason we have to keep writing about this as a bill and not as a law is that, it gets introduced, sent to a committee, and then, nothing happens.

I know that Congress has a lot going on, but they can chew and walk gum at the same time up there, can’t they?

See what I did there.

“For many of us, dogs are a part of our families. They should be raised in safe and humane conditions throughout their lives,” Warner said, in a press release touting the latest effort, such as it is, to protect puppies.

“As an animal lover, I’m proud to support this legislation that helps ensure breeding facilities are treating their puppies with respect and care,” Warner said.

The legislation, per the release, would create stronger standards for veterinary care, housing and breeding for dogs – ensuring that dogs within breeders’ care have suitable and safe enclosures, access to outdoor areas, and regularly interact with other dogs and humans.

Similarly written legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House in recent years by a Pennsylvania Republican, Brian Fitzpatrick, who is the co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, which I am happy to be aware exists.

That House group includes, from Virginia: Don Beyer, Jennifer McClellan, Bobby Scott, Eugene Vindman, James Walkinshaw.

Noticeably missing: Ben Cline.

C’mon, Bennie: you’re not for protecting puppies?

Specifics of the Puppy Protection Act 

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1. Caging and space requirements: Expand enclosure requirements to allow dogs to stand on their hind legs without touching the top of their enclosure and increase the number of square feet of their enclosure based on the dog’s size.  Enclosures may not be stacked on top of one another.
2. Exercise: Offer dogs over the age of 12 weeks unrestricted access from their primary enclosures to a ground-level, enclosed outdoor exercise area.
3. Socialization: Set a 30-minute requirement per day for dogs to socialize with humans and compatible dogs outside of the time spent in veterinary care.
4. Breeding: Require a screening by a veterinarian prior to each attempt to breed and prohibit breeding of two litters in any 18-month period or more than six litters in a dog’s lifetime.  Breeders must also find a humane placement for retired breeding dogs, such as with adoptive families or rescue organizations.