Indiana
Controversial ‘puppy mill’ bill passes Indiana House
The Indiana House on Monday passed a bill to prevent cities from banning the sale of dogs at pet stores, nullifying ordinances in 21 municipalities that sought to put a dent in unethical puppy mills and increase shelter adoptions.
House Bill 1412 was approved by a 59-36 vote and now moves to the Senate for consideration.
While nixing dog sale bans, the bill would also require pet stores to keep detailed records of the dogs they buy and sell and meet new maintenance standards. The stores, along with animal care and rescue operations, would register with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, which could make random inspections and fine retailers if they violate the law’s provisions.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Beau Baird, R-Greencastle, called it an “anti-puppy mill” law that increases “transparency and responsible breeding practices.”
“It centralizes and improves pet standards in the community,” said Jonathan Lawler, a spokesman for the Indiana Council for Animal Welfare, an organization representing animal owners and breeders.
It is the second attempt in as many years at restricting the cities from regulating pet stores. A bill last year failed to get a vote in the House. But that legislation didn’t include any industry regulations and it didn’t touch the cities that already had banned dog sales in stores. There is no such grandfather clause in this year’s edition. Indianapolis and Carmel are among the cities that stand to have their pet store bans revoked.
Critics said the legislation was another usurpation of local control by the Indiana legislature and the enforcement provisions are too much for the Board of Animal Health to handle because the bill provides no funding for additional inspectors.
“The board doesn’t have the manpower to handle all this,” said Adam Aasen, a Carmel City councilor. “The pet stores know this and are telling us what rules they want to follow.”
Rep. Kyle Miller, D-Fort Wayne called the legislation an “unfunded mandate on an already understaffed” agency.
The registration fees will go into the Board of Animal Health coffers, as will fines assessed for violations of the bill’s safety provisions. But Rep. Matt Pierce D-Bloomington said on the House floor the agency can’t collect the fines if it doesn’t have the workers — and there is no requirement — just the option — to conduct inspections.
“If you aren’t doing inspections you can’t collect fines,” Pierce said. “We will be chasing our tail, so to speak.”
Rep. Chris Campbell D-West Lafayette said the bill is not only “unfeasible,” it takes away the localities’ ability to address puppy mill profits with their own laws.
“We need to let them decide since it doesn’t look like inspectors will be funded,” he said at the House session.
Pierce and Campbell conceded the legislation was well-intentioned in cracking down on puppy mills but urged the house to delay consideration until next year’s budget session when the Board of Animal Health could be properly funded.
The bill’s supporters, which include pet stores, said the measure provides a much-needed crackdown on under-supervised puppy mills and helps to ensure breeders treat dogs well and that retailers purchase pets from reputable breeders.
Baird said it also “empowers consumers by providing them with essential information” because pet stores will be required to keep records of a dog’s health and purchase history.
Lawler said the bill requires stores to take back dogs that have been sold if the owners decide they can’t handle them.
“There needs to be some type of impulse protection in case the consumer doesn’t fully grasp the commitment required but also to protect them if the dog is unfit due to illness or disease,” Lawler said.
The Council for Animal Welfare said there are 26 pet stores in the state that sell animals and 14 of them sell dogs. A representative from Uncle Bill’s Pet Centers testified at a House committee meeting in favor of the bill as did a representative for the Ohio-based chain, Petland.
Uncle Bill’s has two stores in Indianapolis and one in Fishers, which sells dogs. Petland has a store in Westfield. Carmel passed its ordinance outlawing puppy mill sales even though it has no stores that sell dogs or cats.
The cities with sales bans argued they would increase pet adoptions at overcrowded animal shelters if people did not have the option to buy dogs at stores.
The Legislative Services Agency said there are 192 commercial dog breeders, 113 animal rescues, 107 private animal shelters, 32 public animal shelters and six commercial dog brokers in Indiana.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Humane Society and the Association of Indiana Municipalities were among those testifying against the bill.
Call IndyStar reporter John Tuohy at 317-444-6418 or email him at john.tuohy@indystar.com. Follow him on Facebook and X/Twitter.
I am writing regarding legalization of online poker in Indiana. It is ludicrous for Indiana to have sports betting and lottery and no online poker.
Many residents love playing poker recreationally and have played in home games all their lives, but they have disabilities or mobility issues, or they do not enjoy the casino atmosphere.
I know there has been a recent scandal involving a representative and the gaming bill, but really that is nothing new to voters who are adults and know that corruption exists. The answer to corruption is to root it out and deal with it. I believe voters are mature and intelligent enough to continue to back online poker legislation.
Legislation should be brought up in the next Indiana General Assembly session. Adult residents of Indiana have waited long enough to do something they should already be able to do.
Paula Bishop lives in Terre Haute.
On Sunday evening, the Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks by a score of 130-109 to win Game 7 of their second-round playoff series.
All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton led the way with 26 points, four rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block while shooting 10/17 from the field and 6/12 from the three-point range in 33 minutes of playing time.
With the victory, the Pacers are now headed to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the 2014 season.
HEADING TO THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MP4WU3zEey
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 19, 2024
After the game, Basketball Hall of Famer (and Pacers legend) Reggie Miller sent out a post on Instagram that got a lot of attention.
Miller captioned his post: “When the series CHANGED!! Jalen Brunson you’re a true BALLER, been the best player in these playoffs, but you and your boys can all heal up together on some beautiful beaches in Cancun, please enjoy!!#PacersKnicksRivalryLives#GodDontLikeUgly“
Miller spent his entire 18-year career with Indiana, and led them to the 2000 NBA Finals (they lost to Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers).
The five-time NBA All-Star had career averages of 18.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while shooting 47.1% from the field and 39.5% from the three-point range in 1,389 regular season games.
As for the Pacers, they will now face off against Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics (who beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round).
Game 1 of the series will be on Tuesday evening in Boston, Massachusetts.
(WNDU) – The postseason is officially here for high school softball teams in Michiana!
Sectionals begin across the Hoosier State on Monday and continue through Saturday. Winners advance to a one-game regional next Tuesday, May 28.
Here’s a look at the sectionals involving schools in our viewing area. For a full look at sectional pairings and scores across the state, click here.
SECTIONAL 3: South Bend Adams
Game 1 (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. EDT): Plymouth vs. South Bend Saint Joseph
Game 2 (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT): Michigan City vs. Mishawaka
Game 3 (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. EDT): South Bend Adams vs. Game 1 winner
Game 4 (Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT): LaPorte vs. Game 2 winner
Championship (Friday, 7 p.m. EDT): Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
SECTIONAL 4: Northridge
Game 1 (Monday, 5 p.m. EDT): Concord vs. Penn
Game 2 (Monday, 7 p.m. EDT): Warsaw vs. Elkhart
Game 3 (Wednesday, 5 p.m. EDT): Northridge vs. Game 1 winner
Game 4 (Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT): Goshen vs. Game 2 winner
Championship (Friday, 6 p.m. EDT): Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
SECTIONAL 19: Mishawaka Marian (at Newton Park)
Game 1 (Monday, 5:30 p.m. EDT): South Bend Clay vs. Jimtown
Game 2 (Monday, 7:30 p.m. EDT): New Prairie vs. South Bend Riley
Game 3 (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. EDT): Mishawaka Marian vs. Game 1 winner
Game 4 (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. EDT): South Bend Washington vs. Game 2 winner
Championship (Thursday, 6 p.m. EDT): Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
SECTIONAL 20: Kankakee Valley
Game 1 (Tuesday, 4:30 p.m. CDT/5:30 p.m. EDT): Knox vs. Tippecanoe Valley
Game 2 (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. CDT/7:30 p.m. EDT): Kankakee Valley vs. John Glenn
Game 3 (Thursday, 4:30 p.m. CDT/5:30 p.m. EDT): Rensselaer Central vs. Game 1 winner
Game 4 (Thursday, 6:30 p.m. CDT/7:30 p.m. EDT): Culver Academies vs. Game 2 winner
Championship (Saturday): Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
SECTIONAL 21: Fairfield
Game 1 (Monday, 5:30 p.m. EDT): East Noble vs. Lakeland
Game 2 (Monday, 7:30 p.m. EDT): West Noble vs. Fairfield
Game 3 (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. EDT): Wawasee vs. Game 1 winner
Game 4 (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT): NorthWood vs. Game 2 winner
Championship (Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT): Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
SECTIONAL 34: South Central (Union Mills)
Game 1 (Monday, 5 p.m. CDT/6 p.m. EDT): LaVille vs. Bremen
Game 2 (Tuesday, 5 p.m. CDT/6 p.m. EDT): South Central (Union Mills) vs. Hebron
Game 3 (Wednesday, 5 p.m. CDT/ 6 p.m. EDT): Wheeler vs. Game 1 winner
Championship (Saturday, 12 p.m. CDT/1 p.m. EDT): Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner
SECTIONAL 35: Central Noble
Game 1 (Monday, 5:30 p.m. EDT): Westview vs. Churubusco
Game 2 (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. EDT): Eastside vs. Central Noble
Game 3 (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT): Prairie Heights vs. Game 1 winner
Championship (TBD): Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner
SECTIONAL 36: South Adams
Game 1 (Monday, 5:30 p.m. EDT): Manchester vs. Whitko
Game 2 (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. EDT): South Adams vs. Adams Central
Game 3 (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. EDT): Fort Wayne Bishop Luers vs. Game 1 winner
Game 4 (Thursday, 5:30 p.m. EDT): Bluffton vs. Game 2 winner
Championship (TBD): Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
SECTIONAL 37: Rochester
Game 1 (Monday, 5 p.m. EDT): Winamac vs. Pioneer
Game 2 (Monday, 7 p.m. EDT): Lewis Cass vs. Rochester
Game 3 (Tuesday, 5 p.m. EDT): Wabash vs. Game 1 winner
Game 4 (Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT): North Judson vs. Game 2 winner
Championship (TBD): Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
SECTIONAL 49: Tri-Township
Game 1 (Monday, 4:30 p.m. CDT/5:30 p.m. EDT): Tri-Township vs. Kouts
Game 2: Washington Township 7, DeMotte Christian 0 (Forfeit)
Game 3 (Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. CDT/5:30 p.m. EDT): Morgan Township vs. Game 1 winner
Game 4 (Thursday, 4:30 p.m. CDT/5:30 p.m. EDT): Hammond Science & Tech vs. Washington Township
Championship (Friday, 4:30 p.m. CDT/5:30 p.m. EDT): Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
SECTIONAL 50: Westville
Game 1 (Monday, 4:30 p.m. CDT/5:30 p.m. EDT): Westville vs. Marquette Catholic
Game 2 (Tuesday, 4:30 p.m. CDT/5:30 p.m. EDT): Oregon-Davis vs. Argos
Game 3 (Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. CDT/5:30 p.m. EDT): Triton vs. Game 1 winner
Game 4 (Thursday, 4:30 p.m. CDT/5:30 p.m. EDT): Culver Community vs. Game 2 winner
Championship (TBD): Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
SECTIONAL 51: Fremont
Game 1 (Monday, 5:30 p.m. EDT): Lakewood Park Christian vs. Hamilton
Game 2 (Monday, 7:30 p.m. EDT): Fremont vs. Elkhart Christian
Championship (Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT): Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
SECTIONAL 52: North Miami
Game 1 (Monday, 5 p.m. EDT): Caston vs. West Central
Game 2 (Monday, 7 p.m. EDT): Northfield vs. Southwood
Game 3 (Tuesday, 5 p.m. EDT): North Miami vs. Game 1 winner
Game 4 (Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT): North White vs. Game 2 winner
Championship (TBD): Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
Copyright 2024 WNDU. All rights reserved.
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