MLAR interviews Bob Baker
Bob Baker is one of the top Animal Welfare investigators in the country and is currently a special consultant to the ASPCA. Mr. Baker was a member of the special committee created by Governor Rendell to study and make recommendations regarding Pennsylvania's Puppy Mills. Main Line Animal Rescue interviewed Bob Baker for this web site.
1.) Are most puppies sold in pet stores from puppy mills?
Yes. Pet stores generally buy from the cheapest sources available which will be puppy mills. In fact, puppy mills originated for the sole purpose of providing “cheap” puppies to pet stores. It also must be emphasized that no so-called responsible breeder would ever sell their puppies to pet stores. Pet stores don’t screen their prospective purchasers to ensure that they will provide a good home and are a good match for the particular breed they are purchasing. The dogs in pet stores are not socialized (stuck in a cage) and placed in contact with random source puppies before their immune system is fully developed. No respectable breeder would consider a pet store environment for the puppies that they bred and nurtured. Thus, pet stores either by choice or necessity have to acquire their puppies from puppy mills.
2.) Do you think that Pennsylvania’s Puppy Lemon Laws are effective?
The Dog Purchaser Protection Act was the best that could be passed in 1997. But it still falls way short of what is necessary to deter the sale of sick puppies in Pennsylvania. There are too many conditions and time restrictions for it to be practically enforced. The amount of reimbursement for veterinary fees also needs to be increased to reimburse the consumer and to deter pet dealers from selling sick puppies. And the public needs to be more informed of their rights under this law. The Attorney General’s office needs to be more aggressive in enforcing the Act and educating the public. One thing that would be helpful is for the AG’s office to make contact with the veterinarians across the state surveying them as to who is selling sick puppies in their area. Secondly, the AG’s office should provide the veterinarians with information that could be displayed in waiting rooms and also directly distributed to pet owners dealing with a sick puppy on what their rights are and to whom to file complaints.
3.) What role does the AKC play in growth of Pennsylvania’s Puppy Mills?
Initially the AKC played a very active role. The AKC sent field agents into Lancaster and surrounding areas in the early 80’s when the Amish and Mennonites were first establishing their kennels. The agents supported the commercial breeders in starting up their kennels in numerous ways including assisting them in doing their AKC paper work. The AKC saw this as a bonanza as AKC collected litter registration fees from all the new breeders. The AKC used these fees to help subsidize their dog shows including their Centennial show in Philadelphia in 1984. It was a beneficial arrangement for both the AKC and the commercial breeders. The puppy millers used the AKC name and prestige to sell their puppies and the AKC raked in money from registration fees. In the 90’s, the AKC began to have a change of heart and adopted stricter policies towards disreputable breeders. However, as registration fees declined significantly from such practices, the AKC has once again decided to take the low road and is now actively reaching out to puppy millers in an effort to increase AKC’s revenue base. The AKC has recently taken out full page ads in puppy mill trade magazines and a Board member from Pennsylvania was quoted in the Philadelphia Inquirer defending the puppy millers.
4.) How do you feel about animal rights activists in Pennsylvania being referred to as Agra-terrorists?
This is a scare tactic utilized by the agriculture industry to effect legislation to prevent the public from knowing how farm animals are raised in factory farm conditions – including puppy mills. In many state capitols this year there is pending legislation that would make it a felony to photograph animal facilities even from a public place. The agriculture industry hopes to achieve these legislative goals by playing on people’s fear of terrorism. When in fact all such activists are attempting to do is document the criminal activity of those abusing animals.
5.) Are there any breeds that seem to be more exploited by commercial breeders?
Whatever breed is popular at any given time is the breed that will be mass bred in the puppy mills and subsequently exploited. One of the first horrors I experienced when I started visiting puppy mills in 1980 was a breeder who was shooting his entire breeding stock of American Eskimos because they were not selling in pet stores.
6.) Do you see any reason to think that conditions will improve for these poor animals soon?
For the first time in years I am optimistic. I believe we have a real opportunity here in Pennsylvania. Governor Ed Rendell has taken a keen interest in the puppy mill problem and I believe he is sincere in his profess love of dogs and his desire to rid the state of puppy mills. The last time I experienced such interest in this problem from a high ranking state official was from the Attorney General in Kansas. Attorney General Stephen’s actions resulted in a 50% decline in the number of USDA licensed dealers in his state and criminal conviction of the thirty worst facilities. I have no reason to expect any less from Governor Rendell. I urge all reading this to write to the Governor and voice your support of his efforts. Many in the agriculture community will make it difficult for the Governor to succeed and he needs to know he has broad base support for his actions against disreputable breeders.