Over the past 30 years, shelters have done an extraordinary job of ending dog overpopulation in many parts of the United States. Their success has created some empty spaces at shelters, which has led the people who run those organizations to scramble for pet inventory or risk going out of business. The lack of shelter and rescue oversight by federal, state and local governments has in turn led to many tragic outcomes of dogs being placed with families that have health and temperament problems.
Shelters and rescues now are the biggest source of dogs in the pet marketplace. Regulations would help protect the public from irresponsible shelter practices.
To learn more, read More regulations needed for animal shelters and rescues, by Patti Strand, President of the National Animal Interest Alliance.