INDIANAPOLIS – A bill to establish regular inspections for pet stores, commercial dog breeders or brokers and certain animal rescue operations got the green light from senators Monday morning but lawmakers continued to punt on the question of funding.
Local elected officials objected to a provision of the bill that would usurp local control. The bill would void ordinances in 21 communities across the state that ban stores from selling pets from breeders.
Rep. Beau Baird, R-Greencastle, said he authored the bill to raise the standard of care and combat unethical breeding practices.
“I know you’ll probably hear … that House Bill 1412 could inadvertently lead to the creation of puppy mills. However, it is essential to clarify that this bill is, in fact, anti-puppy mill,” Baird said. “… what this bill is attempting to do is reset state standards.”
Cities like Indianapolis, Carmel, and Columbus passing bans on retail sales of pets only shifted that demand to “unregulated areas in Indiana,” Baird said.
One lawmaker said he believed those cities wouldn’t have sought those bans under the stricter standards of this bill. Senators also added in a maximum $10,000 civil penalty for operators who knowingly or intentionally fail to register with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.
Read the complete story by Whitney Downard in the Indiana Capital Chronicle, here.