USA: Support Goldie’s Act to Protect Dogs in Puppy Mills

Goldie’s Act

ASPCA Position: Support

Goldie’s Act is critical legislation that would ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is doing its job to protect dogs in federally licensed, commercial puppy-breeding facilities, also known as puppy mills.

We are expecting Goldie’s Act to be reintroduced in the coming weeks. But right now, Congress is choosing their priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill, and they need to hear that Goldie’s Act should be one of them!

The Farm Bill provides guidance for the USDA, so this is a huge opportunity to protect dogs in puppy mills. Decisions are being made NOW about what goes in—we need your voice!

Goldie’s Story

In a USDA-licensed dog-breeding facility in Iowa, a young Golden Retriever suffered without fresh food, water, or veterinary care. She lived and died in a dirty cage, and she never experienced a safe, loving home. She was even denied a name: the breeder who owned her merely referred to her as Golden Retriever #142. We named her Goldie.

Goldie was one of hundreds of dogs kept in horrific conditions by this breeder. USDA inspectors documented Goldie’s deterioration month after month, even filming her skeletal condition. They had the authority to help her, but USDA policies failed. Shockingly, her story is not unique. This is why we are calling on Congress to pass Goldie’s Act.

What You Can Do

Don’t delay: Use the easy form below to email your members of Congress to urge them to include Goldie’s Act in the Farm Bill. Thank you!

Advocacy Alert

Your Message

Subject Please Support Goldie’s Act to Protect Dogs in Puppy Mills

Dear Legislator,

Message

As your constituent and a supporter of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), I am writing to urge that you support Goldie’s Act, legislation to restore animal welfare to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), and ensure that this critical legislation is included in the Farm Bill. This bill would require better protection for dogs in puppy mills—a responsibility the USDA has long ignored. The USDA is responsible for enforcing the AWA, a law established to protect animals kept for commercial purposes, but over the years the agency has watered down its own programs and procedures with changes that erode protections for these vulnerable animals. Despite observing violations during inspections, the USDA is not taking action to penalize noncompliance or protect dogs that are suffering. No violators lose their license, and no one pays a financial penalty--even when dogs are left to suffer and die in their facilities.

The real-world consequences of the agency’s reluctance to take action are devastating. This bill is named after Golden Retriever #142 or, as she is now known, “Goldie,” a dog who suffered for a very long time in nightmarish conditions at a USDA-licensed puppy mill in Iowa, and eventually died there. The USDA issued a license to Daniel Gingerich’s puppy mill in 2019 but did not inspect his facilities until April 2021. When they finally inspected the property, dogs were in miserable condition. At that inspection, USDA inspectors found a Golden Retriever (Goldie) later described in a Department of Justice civil complaint as “extremely emaciated,” but they did not officially record this welfare violation. USDA inspectors saw Goldie a month later, taking note of her deteriorating condition but never recording these terrible welfare violations or helping her. Goldie died at this puppy mill, and even though her and other dogs’ suffering was rampant, and violations of the law were clear, the USDA still refused to act. In her memory, we need to pass Goldie’s Act to update the AWA to ensure that the USDA conducts high quality inspections, helps animals that are visibly suffering, issues penalties for cruelty, and shares information with local law enforcement. I urge you to support this critical bill and request that it is included in the Farm Bill to help ensure that no other dogs meet Goldie’s fate.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

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