State Auditor Blasts Missouri Dept. of Agriculture's Animal Care Program

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JEFFERSON CITY, MO - On February 15, 2001 Missouri's State Auditor, Claire McCaskill, released a report that was highly critical of the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) and its management of the Animal Care Facilities Act (ACFA). The report disclosed that "…management's philosophy favors commercial breeders and effective procedures for inspecting facilities do not exist." Revelations in the report confirm accusations levied by animal welfare and advocacy organizations over the past several years. Public disclosure of the severe shortcomings of MDA's performance is a long overdue beginning to redress years of gross mismanagement.

"Although I am encouraged by the release of the Auditor's report I remain skeptical that significant changes will follow for a number of reasons" according to Marshall Smith, IDA's Director of Investigations. "Most disturbing is that MDA's Director of Animal Health, Dr. John Hunt, has retained his position in spite of management and personnel decisions that were criticized in the Auditor's report. Additionally, the Auditor's report naively relies on the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal Care Program as a standard for comparison although USDA's own internal audits and reviews disclose major deficiencies," according to Smith who was employed by USDA for nearly 19 years prior to joining IDA.

According to the Auditor's report MDA officials failed to fine, revoke or suspend any licenses at facilities licensed by both federal and state agencies during the last two years. On the federal side, however, $14,640 in fines were levied during the last fiscal year. While federal enforcement is a slight improvement over the state program, both demonstrate policies that favor the economical vitality of a multi-million dollar industry in Missouri alone. Tens of thousands of breeding animals are housed their entire lives in commercial facilities that have been characterized as "puppy mills". In USDA's 1998 "Report to Congress" only 55.7% of the facilities licensed in the US were in compliance with the minimum standards.

To stem the tide of suffering and misery that abound in puppy mills across the country, IDA is leading a national boycott of Petland and other pet stores that sell puppies and kittens. Consumers are instead encouraged to adopt from pounds, shelters and breed rescue organizations. Nearly 15 million healthy adoptable animals are euthanized each year, one-fourth of which are pure bred.

Read the Auditor's report to find out more about the disgraceful performance by the Missouri Department of Agriculture under Dr. John Hunt's bias leadership. http://www.auditor.state.mo.us/saohome.htm.