Humane Society takes custody of 70 dogs

ST. LOUIS, MO (ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO) - The Humane Society of Missouri has officially taken custody of more than 70 dogs from a breeder in southwest Missouri. 
Attorney General Chris Koster filed suit against the breeder, Linda Brisco, in June. The dogs, which arrived in St. Louis Thursday, are the first seized under Missouri’s new Canine Cruelty Prevention Act.

Koster says he will prosecute Brisco for the new crime of canine cruelty.

“But we are very pleased that the defendant in question was willing to sign a consent judgment to give the Humane Society the authority to bring these dogs to provide them with the kind of veterinary care, the safe haven that they deserve,” Koster said.

Koster says Brisco was not providing adequate food and water for the dogs, and would routinely use gunshots as a method of euthanasia.

There are currently 12 active investigations into violations of the new law, and Koster says a lawsuit should be filed in one of them next week.

Rachel Lippmann, St. Louis Public Radio

Photo: Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster (left) with rescued puppies.

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More funding for dog breeder oversight

ST. LOUIS , MO (ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO) - Missouri’s budget for next fiscal year includes 1.1 million dollars more for oversight of dog breeders.

Governor Jay Nixon highlighted the funding at a press conference Tuesday at the Humane Society of Missouri in St. Louis.

The move comes after the governor helped craft a compromise bill this spring that toughened state oversight of dog breeders… but scaled back some provisions of the voter-approved initiative Prop B.

Humane Society of Missouri president Kathy Warnick says the group has no regrets about the compromise.

“This is a monumental step forward towards improving the quality of life for these animals that in many instances have been suffering in exceptionally substandard conditions,” Warnick said.

The increased funding will be used to hire more veterinarians, inspectors and other enforcement agents.

Attorney General Chris Koster says his office has created a Canine Cruelty Protection Unit and has already used new authority to shut down two dog breeders in the state.

Maria Altman, St. Louis Public Radio

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Mo. House rolls back Puppy Mill law

When voters approved the “Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act”, commonly called “Proposition B”, few guessed the issue of puppies would so divide state lawmakers….they were wrong.

The dog-breeding issue has pit urban vs. rural, with rural lawmakers largely opposed to greater regulation.

The House voted to on Wednesday roll back portions of the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act, commonly called “Proposition B”.

Barbara Schmitz is the Director of the Missouri Humane Society. She says the move is slap in the face of state voters.

"Well, it’s a travesty that both the House and the Senate have voted in support of a measure that would roll back something that the voters just spoke to a few months ago," Schmitz said.

Schmitz says the bill remove requirements for cage size, access to water, and regular veterinary care. "SB113 unfortunately goes through and systematically strips away the increased protections that Prop B provides," she said.

Governor Nixon’s office has given no indication if he will approve or veto the measure.

Adam Allington, St. Louis Public Radio

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Animals taken from Bonne Terre shelter

BONNE TERRE, MO (KRCU) - Animal care inspectors from the Missouri Department of Agriculture worked with the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department to remove more than 120 dogs and 60 cats from a Bonne Terre facility on Tuesday.

The facility operated under the name The St. Francois Society.

The Animal Care Facilities Act license was revoked after inspections revealed gross negligence for animal welfare.

The animals were taken to the Humane Society of Missouri’s Headquarters in St. Louis.

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