Dog Breeding Regulation Changes Signed Into Law

Rep. Marsha Haefner voted in favor of a “compromise” last week to alter the state’s dog breeding regulations.

For months, lawmakers in the Missouri General Assembly have been debating whether to substantially change or completely repeal a voter-approved measure placing stiffer restrictions on dog breeding facilities. The ballot item--known as Proposition B--narrowly passed in last November’s election.

The legislature sent to Gov. Jay Nixon a bill--Senate Bill 113--in April that, among other things, would have stripped away the proposition’s 50 breeding dog limit and the breeding restrictions. It also would have changed standards for veterinarian care, exercise and living space, and increased the maximum amount of money that the state’s Department of Agriculture could change to pay for bolstered enforcement.

Soon after that bill came to his desk, Nixon announced a deal of sorts with agriculture groups, some animal welfare organizations and state lawmakers to make revisions to Senate Bill 113. Those revisions included increases to the amount of daily food and making sure water is “generally free” of debris, feces, algae, and other contaminants. The compromise would also phase in requirements increasing space for dogs and require an examination at least once yearly by a licensed veterinarian.

After a furious combination of executive and legislative action, the compromise was ultimately signed into law by Gov. Jay Nixon on Wednesday. Haefner, R-Oakville, ended up voting for the measure when it passed through the House by a 108-42 margin.

“[The compromise] is good for dogs, good for agriculture and good for the future of our state,” Nixon said at a signing ceremony for the compromise bill.

Haefner joined numerous state lawmakers from St. Louis County in voting against Senate Bill 113. Proposition B passed with 69.8 percent of the vote in St. Louis County, prompting many lawmakers from both parties to oppose any alterations.

But Haefner said in her latest Capitol Report that the compromise brings back “many of the regulations outlined in Prop B and will be a much better alternative than SB 113.” Nixon signed Senate Bill 113 into law on Wednesday as part of a deal to get the compromise through the legislature.

“I realize I have said I will not support changes to Prop B. I still think Prop B is best,” Haefner said in her report. “However, now that SB 113 has been signed into law by the Governor I believe we need to preserve as much of Prop B as we can. I love my puppy, Oscar who was a rescue dog, and would never support anything that would hurt any puppy anywhere.” 

While the compromise was backed by some animal welfare groups – such as the Humane Society of Missouri and the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation – national organizations were not as enthused.

A blog post from the ASPCA said the group is “poring over new language to determine our next steps.” That could include anything from legal challenges to a new ballot initiative to alter the state's dog breeding laws.

“The ASPCA was not part of the negotiations and does not support the agreement,” says Cori Menkin, ASPCA Senior Director of Legislative Initiatives, in a statement. “The language crafted by the participating groups is far from an actual compromise—instead, it guts many of the core provisions to protect dogs in commercial breeding facilities passed by voters last November.”