LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska’s Agriculture Committee heard testimony Tuesday on four bills designed to overhaul state supervision for commercial cat and dog breeder operations, with some speakers saying tougher oversight is needed but others arguing the legislation doesn’t go far enough.
Concern about the conditions in the facilities arose in 2013 after a dog breeder in Malcom continued to operate even after inspectors found severely malnourished dogs with open wounds and hypothermia. The conditions led one county judge to liken the facility to a Holocaust concentration camp.
The state has 236 commercial cat and dog breeders, according to Christin Kamm, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, the majority of which easily pass the state’s bi-yearly inspections. No one in the room opposed punishing perpetrators of neglect and abuse, but some committee members voiced the necessity of shining a light on many breeders who do operate compliant facilities.
“This term puppy mill gets thrown around, and we paint people with a really broad brush when, in reality, we have a number of exceptional breeders who take really good care of their animals,” said Sen. John Kuehn of Heartwell. “We need to not be swept up with the bad actors that are out there.”
One bill sponsored by Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward would allow the state to impound animals that are treated poorly, with costs of care paid for by owners. A similar policy is already in place for livestock.
Clem Disterhaupt, president of the Nebraska Professional Pet Breeders Association, opposed the bill, saying it places a burden on pet breeders before requiring proof that any laws were broken. Instead of removing the animals from the facility, Disterhaupt recommended leaving animals on location under the care of state officials.
“I’m for a confiscation bill; I just think this one needs some work,” Disterhaupt said.
Another bill, sponsored by Sen. Jerry Johnson of Wahoo, would clarify language allowing the department to intervene in cases where the safety of dogs and cats are at risk.
Agriculture Director Greg Ibach testified in support of it, saying he supports the clarifications. Ibach, who was reappointed to his post last month, promised then that he’d work with animal welfare groups to strengthen enforcement for animal neglect.
Representatives from Hearts United for Animals, a nonprofit dog rescue in Auburn, opposed the bill, saying the language sets standards too low to prevent harm, but Nebraska Humane Society President Judy Varner said the bill is an important step moving forward.
Kuehn introduced a third bill that would increase licensing fees and require a re-inspection fee for operations with 11 or more animals. Another bill by Johnson would increase pet license fees from $1 to $1.25 to help fund the oversight program.
The committee took no immediate action on the bills.
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The bills are LB377, LB360, LB389 and LB359.
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