Waimanalo puppy mill

The Hawaiian Humane Society removed yesterday more than 150 puppies and dogs — some in poor condition — from what the society described as a dirty puppy mill in Waimanalo.

The society also seized a litter of pups born yesterday from the commercial dog-breeding kennel, which the agency investigated but said had complied with the law. Two more litters were born at the humane society, and several dogs were pregnant.

"Their puppies may be adorable in the pet shop window, but their mothers are in hell (from bad breeding conditions)," said Pamela Burns, executive director and president of the Hawaiian Humane Society.

The agency is citing the owner for animal cruelty. Its investigators found excessive waste that affects the animals' welfare, deplorable conditions, a lack of necessary food and water, as well as health issues with some dogs associated with the poor conditions, said Jacque LeBlanc, another society spokeswoman.

The land on which the kennel sits is owned by a woman who owns The Pet Spot at Pearl Highlands Center, according to city and state records. Calls to the pet shop yesterday were not answered.

The manager of the Waimanalo kennel declined an interview.

At 9 a.m. today, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear Senate Bill 1522 on regulating and licensing large-scale breeders to cap the number of breeding animals to 50 and limiting the number of breeding to twice in an 18-month period.

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The timing could not have been better to give a nudge to necessary state legislation to improve regulations for the large-scale breeding of dogs in what have been called puppy mills. Police were called Monday morning about a barking dog in Waimanalo, and the Hawaiian Humane Society came to the rescue of more than 150 puppies and dogs at a commercial dog-breeding kennel.

They would be required to provide each dog under their care with basic food and water, shelter, veterinary care and enough space to turn around and stretch their legs, based on the dog's size.

A licensee would be limited to no more than 50 dogs over the age of six months.

The issue was hotly fought last year in Missouri, the birthplace of more than one-third of dogs in pet stores nationwide. That state's law was made at the November polls, with about 52 percent of the vote, and legislators now are arguing over a proposal to repeal the voter-approved restrictions.

The effort is being pushed by the Missouri Republican majority whip, whose mother happens to own one of what the Humane Society branded the "Dirty Dozen" puppy mills in Missouri.

Legislation has been proposed in Congress to set minimal standards of care for breeding dogs in puppy mills, which too often are forced to live their entire lives in small cages. The Humane Society notes that those dogs have little if any opportunity for exercise, socialization and human interaction.

The inspector general of the U.S. Agriculture Department issued a report last year criticizing the department's inadequate oversight of dog dealers under the Animal Welfare Act.

Hawaii has been graded as one of the nation's cruelest states to animals. It has the weakest penalties of all states for dog-fighting, and is one of the few states that have yet to classify cockfighting as a felony.