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NewsAlso see Upcoming Events. Exotic AnimalsKMOV aired a news story on November 6 about the exotic animal trade in Missouri and it's potential dangers to the public. It included an interview with our Executive Director, Julie Leicht. Read the online version, watch the video and respond with your comments at Danger of big cats in wrong hands. News 4 Investigates: Exotic Animal Trade has more information. Holiday CardsSupport the Aliance by purchasing your holiday cards at The Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation Store. The cards come in 4 designs featuring cats and dogs and were created exclusively for the Alliance by artist Ken Farris.    
Hurry! The holiday season is fast approaching! Order your holiday cards today! Puppy Mill Survivor of the MonthWe've added a new feature to our homepage - the Puppy Mill Survivor of the Month. Each month we'll feature the true story of a dog who has survived one of Missouri's puppy mills. 2008 Candidate SurveyEvery two years, the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation surveys candidates running for state office. The informational survey asks candidates their stance on various animal welfare issues relevant to Missouri. To view the results of the survey, see 2008 Candidate Survey. For a copy of the survey see 2008 Candidate Survey Questions. Tshirts Are Now Available at Our New Online Store
Our gift store is now at The Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation Store. You can purchase tshirts, buttons, bumper stickers, plush animals, jewelry and more for yourself or gifts and support the Alliance. The store also includes a link to our current auction items at eBay. Thanks to Framations for providing free hosting and staff for our online store. Misery in MissouriMissouri has earned a reputation as the “Puppy Mill Capital of the United States” due to its many, filthy, overcrowded, and poorly regulated pet breeding locations where animals suffer a miserable existence. “Misery in Missouri” is an art exhibit sponsored by the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation. The goal of the exhibit is to shed light on the Missouri puppy mill problem through a visual means. The show was displayed in St. Charles from October 6 to November 2. It was previously displayed in Springfield, MO from September 1 to 12 and Columbia, MO from September 15-21. Unsold works will be available for display at other events through February 2009. We had great press coverage for the show in Springfield and Columbia - see "Misery in Missouri" Press Coverage. Judges for the show announced the top ten winners: 
 
 Click a picture to enlarge it and read the artist's statement.
See "Misery in Missouri" 2008/2009 for all 38 entries and watch Upcoming Events for announcements of future venues for the art show. Photographs from Springfield "Misery in Missouri" exhibit
Photographs by Kris Hegle: Pool Art Center at Drury University, Visitor registering, Visitors view some of the art, Reading about puppy mill survivors, The horror of Missouri puppy mills, Artist Emily Saltsgaver poses next to her "Basset Hound #597", Interior of Drury Pool Art Center Gallery, Puppy mill survivor photos and stories Press Release: Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation Calls for Better Enforcement and Regulation of Missouri's Puppy MillsSt. Louis, MO - July 18, 2008 - An audit released by the Missouri State Auditor this week exposes one of the main factors contributing to the state's reputation as the "Puppy Mill Capital of the United States." On Wednesday, State Auditor Susan Montee issued an audit of the Department of Agriculture and the Animal Care Facilities Act Program. According to the audit, the Department of Agriculture is not meeting its statutory responsibility to inspect annually all of the licensed commercial pet breeders in Missouri. In 2006, the audit revealed that the department failed to inspect 40% of the known licensed commercial breeders. Approximately 1,100 commercial breeders were not inspected that year. This number does not reflect the many pet breeding facilities in Missouri that are unlicensed and currently evading proper registration. "Three negative audits over the last seven years (2001, 2004 and 2008) each highlighted the Department's failure to comply with the law requiring annual inspections of commercial breeding facilities. A lax regulatory environment is one reason why there are so many puppy mills (substandard commercial breeding faculties) in our state. How many more audits will be issued before this horrendous problem will be addressed?" stated Julie Leicht, executive director. Founded in 1990, the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation is a non-profit organization that strives to bring about positive change for animals through legislative means at the state level. The Alliance works in conjunction with concerned citizens, humane groups, and other organizations to enact, strengthen and protect Missouri's animal welfare laws. For more information on the Alliance, contact executive director Julie Leicht at 314-361-3944 or visit www.maal.org. NewsletterOur summer Newsletter is now online. Dog Fighting Bill Does Not Pass, but Alliance’s Legislative Agenda Moves ForwardAfter many years of struggle in which the Alliance fought valiantly to prevent numerous legislative measures that would have harmed animal welfare in Missouri, the tables have begun to turn. In 2008, the Alliance was proactive in introducing several pieces of legislation that promoted animal welfare, including three dog fighting bills. In a dramatic shift from the dynamics of past years, it was our opposition that was scrambling in a defensive mode, trying every procedural move possible to prevent any law which would have made it easier to prosecute dog fighting. The issue also helped many legislators view the Alliance in a more positive and mainstream light, and to understand that our opposition (which actually defends animal fighting) represents a dangerous and extreme fringe. The session began with Sen. Scott Rupp introducing SB 819, which would have increased the penalties for being a repeat spectator at a dog fight. This bill would have also required an early hearing where a judge could decide the fate of the innocent dogs victimized by this brutal crime, and it would have made it easier to seize the property of those involved with dog fighting. SB 819 passed unanimously out of the influential Senate Judiciary Committee in March; however, it was combined with another bill that had a sponsor who did not favor our bill. Therefore, the combined bill languished on the Senate calendar and never came up for a vote on the Senate floor. In April, Rep. Jane Cunningham filed an identical House bill--HB 2416. Despite some opposition in the committee hearing on increasing the penalties on dog fighting, a “compromise” bill (requiring an early disposition hearing for the dogs) did pass out of the House Special Committee on General Laws. In the final days of the session, this "compromise" version of the bill was attached to a large omnibus bill relating to many, various topics (SB 976) and was passed out of the House by a floor vote of 105-42. Unfortunately, this omnibus bill was sent to a conference committee on the next to last day of the session where most of the provisions, including our dog fighting disposition hearing, were stripped out. Although it was disappointing that our dog fighting bills did not pass this year, it is extremely difficult to pass any legislation the first year it is proposed. The Alliance's entire lobbying team worked every angle of the dog fighting issue and has laid the groundwork for passing this important legislation next year. The Alliance will continue to work with key leaders in both chambers to ensure that laws relating to dog fighting prosecution will be given a higher priority in 2009. Open Your Heart PicturesThese photographs are from the Kansas City event. Click a picture to enlarge it. 
Photographs by Josie Kern. Winner of the 2008 Pet Presidential election
"A Cause for Paws...We Need You" was the theme of the fifth annual Open Your Heart St. Louis fundraiser held on February 10, 2008. In keeping with the election year theme, the Alliance featured a pet presidential election. For a registration fee of $10, Alliance supporters could submit a photo of their favorite pet. The photos were displayed at Open Your Heart and attendees were encouraged to "buy" votes for their favorite candidate. Over 35 dogs and cats participated in the election. The evening of the fundraiser, owners feverishly campaigned for their pet to win the election. By a landslide victory, "Seymour" Moen was elected the Alliance's 2008 Pet President. "Seymour's" proud owner is Amanda Moen. Past EventsView pictures and read about past events:
Missouri "Pet Friendly" License Plates Now Available!Tell Everyone You're "Pet Friendly": The Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation is proud to announce the arrival of Pet Friendly license plates in Missouri, with proceeds going to spay and neuter services throughout the state. We would like to thank all our supporters who helped the Alliance pass legislation to make this possible and encourage each of you to order these plates to help wipe out pet overpopulation. This specialty plate is just $25 - and $20 from the sale of each pet-friendly license plate is deposited into a fund that pays for spay and neuter services for dogs and cats across Missouri! This program is administered by the Missouri State Humane Association. More information can be found at http://www.mostatehumane.org/ Animal LegislationThe Missouri General Assembly for 2008 ended on May 16, 2008. Read more about the Missouri Alliance's 2008 legislative priorities, the 2008 Missouri animal legislation and the 2008 End of Session Report. |
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