I am not against breeding dogs. I purchased my gorgeous, well behaved German Shepherd Dog from a breeder that takes care to breed dogs for breed improvement. Breeders that strive to make the breed what the GSD should be--stong willed, smart and agile--have my full support. My boy is not over 100lbs, thank goodness. Traditional GSDs that Max von Stephanitz bred were not huge beasts, they were agile herding dogs. If you'd like to learn more about the working GSD here is a great site:

http://www.nsgsdc.com/breedhistory.shtml

Puppy mill dogs are rarely healthy and bred in deplorable conditions. Puppies in pet stores are often from puppy mills as well. The problem with the law is that puppy mills fall under farming. Now I do not support calves being kept in the same conditions and we should all know where our food comes from, but one step at a time. if we can stop puppy mills we can move onto farm animals.

The HSUS posted this on their website. If you are from PA please contact your representative.

The HSUS Commends the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee for Passing Important Anti-Cruelty Legislation
HARRISBURG, Pa. (June 24, 2008)

The Humane Society of the United States commends the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee for approving a bill addressing some of the cruelest practices employed by puppy mills today.

The legislation now advances to the full House of Representatives. Introduced by Rep. Thomas Caltagirone (D-Berks), HB 2532 seeks to outlaw abusive practices employed by breeders in Pennsylvania's puppy mills, including debarking, performing surgery on pregnant dogs to remove the puppies, and tail docking.

Under current law, it is completely legal for commercial breeders in Pennsylvania to perform surgical births by slicing open the stomachs of pregnant dogs, removing the puppies, and sewing the dogs back up. There is not any requirement that the breeders have any veterinary training, use anesthesia, or conduct the operations in sterile conditions. Breeders may also perform painful debarking by ramming a metal pipe or other object down a dog's throat to rupture the vocal cords and render the dog mute, again without anesthesia and while the dog is fully conscious.

The provisions of HB 2532 are common sense to anyone. Only licensed veterinarians should be authorized to perform surgery on these dogs, says Sarah Speed, The HSUS' Pennsylvania state director. "For too long, commercial breeders have abused the laxity in the law to maximize profit at the expense of the well-being of the dogs and the unwitting consumer."

HB 2532 will also close a loophole in the law that allows commercial breeders to escape prosecution for animal cruelty. Under the current law, only a Humane Society Police Officer has the ability to cite a breeder for animal cruelty. In counties where there is no such officer, a breeder may escape citation. Currently there are three counties in Pennsylvania that do not have a Humane Society Police Officer. HB 2532 will close this loophole by allowing Dog Law Wardens in the counties without officers to issue citations for animal cruelty within the limited scope of performance of their inspection duties.

The Humane Society of the United States is working in conjunction with The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Pennsylvania Legislative Animal Network to pursue this important legislative effort in Pennsylvania.