Laws for Paws e-Newsletter
MAY 2019
PLEASE THANK LEGISLATORS WHO SUPPORTED THE ANIMALS IN 2019!

Please show your appreciation to one or more of these
Missouri legislators who defended the animals during
the 2019 legislative session!
Senator Scott Sifton
(573) 751-0220
Senator Jill Schupp
(573) 751-9762
Senator Lauren Arthur
(573) 751-5282
Senator Mike Cierpiot
(573) 751-1464
Senator Karla May
(573) 751-3599
Senator Jamilah Nasheed
(573) 751-4415
Senator Gina Walsh
(573) 751-2420
Senator Brian Williams
(573) 751-4106
Representative Doug Beck
(573) 751-9472
Representative Deb Lavender
(573) 751-4069
Representative Tracy McCreery
(573) 751-7535
We believe these legislators are deserving of special appreciation for fighting to ensure the humane treatment of animals and especially for standing up to the puppy millers, the cattlemen, and corporate factory farms.

Thanks to their efforts our animal welfare laws were preserved this year in the Missouri General Assembly. Attempts to prohibit the enforcement of the state anti-cruelty statutes, efforts to eliminate local laws protecting animals, and undertakings to eliminate the disposition process for abused and neglected animals, were all thwarted by these dedicated legislators.

Please show them your appreciation!

View all animal related bills in the Missouri Legislature this year
and their final outcome:

MISSOURI LEGISLATURE HAS ADJOURNED
FOR THE YEAR
All Animals Can Come Out of Hiding
The Missouri Legislature was relentless and merciless in its attack against animals during the 2019 legislative session. Rural legislators, with the aid of their suburban colleagues, mounted an all-out assault on animals as they tried to prohibit the enforcement of the state's anti-cruelty statutes and attempted to abolish all local laws protecting animals.

The Legislature was doing so at the behest of the puppy millers and agricultural trade groups. Instead of addressing the many real problems facing agriculture, the industry instead took its angst out on the animals. Incapable or unwilling to tackle the actual issues affecting agriculture, corporate agriculture sought to blame all of their woes on animal welfare laws.

Congress Takes Action Against USDA
USDA WANTS TO KEEP THE PUBLIC IN THE DARK
ABOUT PUPPY MILLS

In an effort to shield from public scrutiny those who abuse and neglect their animals, the USDA has been refusing to post inspection reports of commercial dog breeders on its website for public viewing. USDA has argued that such inspection reports can still be obtained by making a formal request for them under the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Yet, when these documents are requested, all of the pertinent information is redacted – blacked out (see above).  

Instead of addressing abuses in the industry and initiating effective enforcement measures to ensure the health and welfare of dogs in commercial breeding operations across the country, USDA has chosen to cover-up the industry’s wrong-doings. USDA is doing so in an effort to present a false narrative of commercial dog breeding in the U. S. for the sole purpose of protecting the economic interest of substandard dog breeders.  One USDA official candidly admitted that the Agency “lost its most effective deterrent” when it purged inspection reports from its website.  
CONGRESS WANTS THE PUBLIC TO KNOW ABOUT PUPPY MILLS

Fortunately, the House of Representatives has taken notice of USDA's malfeasance in covering-up abuses at puppy mills. In a draft bill released this week, the Agriculture Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee included language in their FY20 Agriculture Appropriations bill that would require USDA to once again post inspection reports on their website for public viewing "in their entirety without redactions." This is very encouraging news.

We will keep you posted as the House FY20 Agriculture Appropriations bill makes its way through Congress.  
WHO VOTED WHAT AND HOW
To see how your legislators voted on key animal bills this session (HB 204, HB 559, SB 391, and HB 951), we've included a hyperlink "How Your Legislators Voted" under those specific bills: 2019 Legislation

If you have any questions about the legislative process, please visit our web page where we outline a bill's journey into law ( Legislative Process ) or email us at admin@maal.org .

Thank you to everyone who used his/her voice for the animals this past legislative session. It truly makes a difference!
AUGUST

Pool Paws for Humane Laws Dog Swim / St. Charles
Mon, Aug 5: 6 - 8pm / McNair Park Pool
Thur, Aug 8: 6 - 8pm / McNair Park Pool
To volunteer, email admin@maal.org

OpSpot's "Hope for the Animals" Day / St. Louis
Sun, Aug 18: 9 - 11am / Tower Grove Park (Sons of Rest Pavilion)
For more info click here
To volunteer, email admin@maal.org


SEPTEMBER

Pool Paws for Humane Laws Dog Swim / Kirkwood Aquatic Center
Tue, Sep 3: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Thur, Sep 5: 5:30pm - 6:00pm (small dogs only), 6 - 7:30pm (ALL DOGS)
To volunteer, email admin@maal.org

Pool Paws for Humane Laws Dog Swim / O'Fallon
Sat, Sep 7: 9:30am - 11:30pm / Alligator's Creek Aquatic Center
To volunteer, email admin@maal.org

Greentree Festival / Kirkwood (Kirkwood Park)
Sat, Sep 14: 9:00am - 7:00pm
Sun, Sep 15: 10:00am - 5:00pm
For more info click here
To volunteer for a 2.5 hour shift, email admin@maal.org


Visit our website for more events, news, legislation and general info!
HELPING ANIMALS!

If you find yourself in a situation where you question the treatment of an animal, or the conditions, or maybe you're wondering about helping wildlife or assisting in a rescue, or you have witnessed something that needs to be reported - go to our website because chances are you will find a number and/or a link that can help address it.

A Great Way to Support the Alliance
With so many people shopping online these days, you can now support the Alliance each time you make a purchase on Amazon. Click here or on the icon. Once you've identified "Missouri Alliance for Animals" as your charitable organization of choice, a portion of your purchase will be donated by Amazon to the Alliance each time you shop on Amazon! What a great way to contribute!
Schnucks eScrip Card

Another great way to support
the Alliance!
Did you know that every time you shop at Schnucks, they'll donate a percentage of your purchase to the Alliance? It's an awesome way to support the Alliance's mission and it doesn't cost you a thing! We'll even register your eScrip card for you so you don't have to!

Simply email us at admin@maal.org with "Schnucks eScrip" in the Subject line, no message required - and we'll send your registered Schnucks eScrip card to you within 7 days.

Once you receive it, you can start using it (we've already registered it for you!) - put it on your key fob to remind the cashier to scan it at check-out!

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
ALLIANCE SWAG

The Alliance has T-Shirts available!