Dear Editor,
Despite research industry denials, the theft of family pets across America is inextricably linked to the demand for their use in experiments. Congress has repeatedly tried to combat this problem via amendments to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The USDA’s record of former pets sold to research institutions is rife with fraudulent, incomplete and missing documentation, despite the passage of the Pet Theft Act of 1990. The Pet Safety and Protection Act of 2006 seeks to correct deficiencies by prohibiting Class B dealers from supplying “random source” (i.e. stolen) dogs and cats for research. Most stolen pets are sold to research labs. The rest are sold to puppy mills as breeders or are abused in other horrific ways such as bait in dog fights and gator hunts.
The Pet Safety and Protection Act reduces profitability for pet thieves who roam neighborhoods looking for trusting, but unattended, family pets. I urge you to immediately contact Senators Byrd and Rockefeller to co-sponsor S. 451 and Representative Capito to co-sponsor H. 5229 to help keep our pets from being stolen and criminals from profiting over our losses and the suffering and death of animals.
Another way to protect pets is to only place an animal who needs
a home in the home of someone you know who has proven to be responsible
and caring or someone who you can screen and check on for these
critical qualities. In many cases, the people who answer “free to good home”ads
work for Class B dealers posing as potential adopters. When placing
an animal, screen the applicants carefully and have the adopter
sign an adoption contract that makes provision for you to visit
the prospective new home before and after the adoption.
Let's do everything we can to protect our pets. They give
so much and ask so little.They are depending on us.
Susan Kemenyas
