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Heard on the Hill: Dogs’ Best Friend

By Alison McSherry
Posted April 1, 2011 at 6:04pm

Puppies everywhere can now count Sens. Dick Durbin and David Vitter as allies.

The Illinois Democrat and the Louisiana Republican reintroduced legislation last week that aims to regulate puppy mills.

The PUPS Act — which stands for Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act — will amend the Animal Welfare Act by closing a loophole that allows large-scale commercial breeders to sell puppies online or directly to the public to avoid licensing and regulation.

Puppies have friends in the House, too. Reps. Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.), Sam Farr (D-Calif.), Bill Young (R-Fla.) and Lois Capps (D-Calif.) introduced a companion bill last month.

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