Lawmaker unleashing plan to crack down on New Jersey puppy mills

A New Jersey lawmaker wants the state to crack down on the cruel treatment of dogs and cats at large-scale commercial breeding facilities.

Sen. Ray Lesniak, who intends to introduce legislation to that effect, said puppy mills have a notorious reputation for putting profits ahead of concern about the animals.

“What my legislation will do will shut most of them down and allow the purchaser to have a face-to-face transaction with the breeder, if they wish.” said Lesniak, D-Union. “Better yet, go to a rescue kennel and rescue a dog from being destroyed.”

Amy Jesse with the Humane Society of the United States supports the legislation. More than 10,000 puppy mills operate across the country, she said, and the animals there often are mistreated.

“As dog in a puppy mill, a breeding dog, can spend its entire life in a cage — a small, dirty wire cage,” she said. “They don’t need to be given exercise. They don’t need to be given proper veterinary care.”

Jesse said dogs from those facilities are prone to illness, and the people who buy them end up with big veterinary bills.