A Catastrophic Failure for Animal Protection in Oklahoma

The feeble attempt to regulate puppy mills in Oklahoma has hit a new low. With the amendments to the law approved by the legislature, and signed by Governor Fallin, the regulations have become nothing more than a process for obtaining an essentially pointless piece of paper that puts the State of Oklahoma's stamp of approval on inhumane and shoddy practices.

In weakening already weak regulations, the legislature has essentially eliminated any need for a puppy mill operator to make any concession to humane and sanitary practices. In addition to this, the legislature has eliminated the ability of any parties who are actually interested in enforcing the law to be involved in the process.

The only thing that remains for the legislature to do at this point is pass a bill that will help explain to the child that receives an abused and diseased puppy how, exactly, the issuance of a pointless piece of paper from state agency makes the experience of watching your puppy die a better one.

Chalk this up as a double loss for animal advocates in Oklahoma. Not only have we failed to create any meaningful regulation of puppy mills in Oklahoma, we have handed them a state "seal of approval" that they can point to in future debates over the issue.