In Iowa, our dogs are a part of our families which is why I am proud to lead on two critical pieces of legislation, the Goldie’s Act and the Puppy Protection Act, that will increase protections for dogs from puppy mills and ensure our USDA inspectors do their jobs of getting dogs immediately out of bad situations.
Both the Goldie’s Act and the Puppy Protection Act, will enhance protections for dogs in USDA licensed facilities and allow more oversight to ensure every dog is in proper care.
Why these bills matter to our four-legged family members:
-
More Adequate Records: better record keeping will help ensure it does not take multiple violations and inspections before action is taken.
-
Empowering USDA Inspectors: inspectors will have better authority to remove dogs from bad situations sooner.
-
Better Operating Procedures: updating standard procedures so every kennel adheres to best practices when it comes to the care and wellbeing of dogs.
Goldie’s Act was named after Goldie, a golden retriever, that faced neglect and abuse from a USDA-licensed puppy mill in Wayne County, Iowa. That puppy mill had received 120 USDA violations over the span of 6 months as more dogs like Goldie were suffering. It took the USDA over a year to remove the remaining 514 dogs. I am fighting to move this bipartisan legislation forward because every dog deserves a safe and loving home.