Help me stand up and tell our elected officials now is the time to protect those with no voice. Call your elected officials and ask them to support HB 608, The Commercial Pet Protection Act. 

Pet stores have been able to hide the fact that they get their puppies from puppy mills, but the public is increasingly becoming more educated on the issue of puppy mills and their impact on local communities. 

It is now almost common knowledge that puppy mills fuel pet overpopulation and subject countless dogs to a lifetime of misery in over-crowded, filthy wire cages. Not only does law enforcement sometimes shut down puppy mills that keep their animals in cruel conditions, but puppy mills are sometimes abandoned entirely, with no regard for the dogs left behind. 

The truth is that although irresponsible commercial dog breeders should be held accountable for the unbridled animal cruelty at their facilities, animal shelters and local communities ultimately pay the price and carry the burden of caring for puppy mill dogs seized in these situations. 

There is currently no law in Montana that protects puppy mill dogs, but Montana has an opportunity to make a change this session with the Commercial Pet Protection Act, HB 608. This bill would lessen animal suffering and help ensure that the community does not have to clean up the mess by tending to seized animals from puppy mills that have spiraled out of control because of lack of state oversight. 

Please make your voice heard by urging your state legislators to support this bill — they work for you and want to hear from you. —Denise Michel, Kalispell