[PyrNet-L] SECOND Dateline NBC Special on Puppy Mills To Air May 10

[PyrLove214@aol.com]

PERMISSION TO CROSSPOST
 -----Original Message-----
 SECOND Dateline NBC Special on Puppy Mills To Air May 10 ATTENTION: please
 mark your calendars and notify others that "Dateline NBC"
 is scheduled to air a SECOND AND NEW one-hour expose' about puppy mills
 and pet breeding this coming Wednesday, May 10, at 7PM CSDT and 8 PM EST.

 Following the April 26 show on puppy mills, Dateline received an
 overwhelming response -- including 100,000 website "hits," and 9,000
 letters and e-mails!

 Check your local listings to be sure not to miss the May 10 show.  If
 possible, tape the show to allow others to see it later.

 Contact your local paper, TV or radio news station if you have relevant
 story information about puppy mills (ex: you've adopted a dog rescued from
 a puppy mill; you know of specific complaints about breeding facilities
 that have not been responded to or corrected, etc.) The media will be much
 more receptive to this topic during the week surrounding the "Dateline"
 special.

 The Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation promoted the passage of the
 Animal Care Facilities Act (ACFA) in 1992 on the heels of a national
 boycott of Missouri's puppy mills.  At the time, there was plenty of
 publicity about the numbers of sick and poorly-bred puppies being shipped
 from Missouri to pet stores in other states.  Since 1992, this state
 program has failed to vigorously enforce the regulations which were
 intended to ensure that dogs and cats in certain facilities receive
 adequate care, shelter, veterinary treatment and proper socialization.

 It's hoped that renewed publicity about conditions in puppy mills will
 help strengthen existing laws and assure their enforcement.  The Alliance
 is currently opposing a bill in the Missouri Legislature (SB756) which
 would grant automatic general revenue funding for the commercial breeding
 industry, rather than requiring the facilities to contribute fees
 according to the volume of animals they produce and sell each year.  Let
 your state senator and representative know you oppose this bill too.

 According to the sponsors of SB756, pet breeding is now a $37 million per
 year industry in Missouri.  One third of all the Class A licensed
 commercial pet breeders in this country are located in Missouri!  It's not
 just about a few farmers or senior citizens looking to "supplement their
 income".

 For more information on puppy mills, SB756, or what you can do to fight
 this problem in Missouri, please contact:
 The Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation at 877/444-6225 (toll-free)
 or by e-mail at <mail@maal.org>.

 Every voice counts for the animals!

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