There is a growing worldwide awareness of the puppy mill situation in the United States right now. However, the spotlight today is on the state of Missouri as a result of the sheer number of puppy farms and the poor scruples of Missouri puppy brokers. Quite simply, it is a place of puppy mass production. Pedigree and trend-breed dogs will live out their lives as breeding machines until they can no longer make money for the farmer. The resulting offspring are sold to brokers who will then distribute them by the truckload all around America to pet shops.
Business is business and it goes on in extreme heat and coldest of chills year round.
The sales tax on food imposed by local governments is now four cents per dollar in some places in Missouri, with the highest total tax on food at 5.225 cents per dollar. Legislation to end the local sales tax on food and replace the lost revenue to local governments has been ignored by our legislative leadership and the governor this session.