The campaign for YES! on Proposition B, the Prevention of Puppy Mill Cruelty Act, officially kicked off today in Missouri, as the coalition supporting the statewide ballot measure launched its first TV ad of the election season. The 30-second spot, titled “Bad News,” began running today in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia/Jefferson City, Joplin, and Cape Girardeau. A 60-second radio version is also running statewide.
Prop B would amend Missouri law to require large-scale dog breeding operations to provide each dog under their care with sufficient food, clean water, housing and space; necessary veterinary care; regular exercise and adequate rest between breeding cycles. The measure would also prohibit any breeder from having more than 50 breeding dogs for the purpose of selling their puppies as pets and create a misdemeanor crime of “puppy mill cruelty” for any violations.
The TV ad features video footage from large-scale puppy mills in Missouri, including one in Tuscumbia where more than 100 dogs were removed from filthy conditions, and another in Rolla where more than 100 dogs and puppies were rescued and which had 103 violations in less than two years, according to the Better Business Bureau. The ad shows a U.S. map with puppy mills concentrated in Missouri and tells viewers, “We have approximately 3,000 puppy mills in Missouri—30 percent of all puppy mills in the nation. Prop B will stop puppy mill abuses by enacting common-sense standards for the care of dogs."
I hope you’ll watch the TV ad, and help communicate this positive message for the humane treatment of dogs to Missouri voters in every corner of the state, by making a donation to Missourians for the Protection of Dogs/YES! on Prop B. With your help, voters will see the images of puppy mills and learn about the large-scale cruelty to dogs in the nation’s top puppy-producing state. And please spread the word to your friends and family in Missouri, and urge them to vote YES! on Prop B to help dogs on election day.
Paid for by Missourians for the Protection of Dogs/YES! on Prop B, Judy Peil, Treasurer.
