puppy mills - Investigate Midwest

Evans: Free Speech Is Sometimes Uncomfortable

The First Amendment isn’t long, but it certainly packs a lot of angst into those few words: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemb

By Randy Evans / Stray Thoughts

/ 1 May 2019

Evans: Free Speech Is Sometimes Uncomfortable

Opinion: Court gets it right in striking down Iowa ag-gag law

At some farming operation in Iowa animal activists may legally be running an undercover sting operation to reveal inhuman treatment of animals. That's because last month the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, and senior Judge James Gritzner, threw out a 2012 Iowa law that made it

By Dave Dickey, Columnist

/ 20 Feb 2019

Federal judge strikes Iowa 'ag-gag' Law

A federal judge has struck down as unconstitutional a 2012 Iowa law that banned undercover recording at agricultural production facilities in the state, saying the law’s primary aim is curbing speech critical of practices at those facilities.

By Lyle Muller/ Iowa Watch

/ 11 Jan 2019

Photo of dogs “Okie” (left), “Jenny” (middle) and “Foot” (right) at former dog breeding facility owned by Debra Pratt near Ne

Federal Judge Strikes Iowa Ag-Gag Law

A federal judge has struck down as unconstitutional a 2012 Iowa law that banned undercover recording at agricultural production facilities in the state, saying the law’s primary aim is curbing speech critical of practices at those facilities. IowaWatch was part of a friend of the court filing in thi

By Lyle Muller

/ 9 Jan 2019

Efforts To Bar Gun Possession by Those Convicted of Animal Cruelty Gaining Ground Nationally

Scientific and anecdotal evidence suggests that a person who abuses animals also has a higher likelihood of hurting other people. And that insight has begun fueling a push, at the state and federal levels, to slap a no-gun penalty on anyone convicted of animal cruelty, this Fairwarning.org report te

By Lynne Peeples/FairWarning

/ 24 Oct 2018

Efforts To Bar Gun Possession by Those Convicted of Animal Cruelty Gaining Ground Nationally

IowaWatch Connection Podcast: Bill To Let Iowa Inspect For 'Puppy Mill' Health Violations Must Wait Until Next Year

Iowa declined this year to give its Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship authority to inspect for animal health conditions large dog breeding facilities, particularly those suspected of having substandard conditions for animals at the facilities. Plus, link to new Horrible Hundred dog bree

By Jeff Stein

/ 29 Jun 2015

IowaWatch Connection Podcast: Bill To Let Iowa Inspect For 'Puppy Mill' Health Violations Must Wait Until Next Year

News Quiz: Taking Aim At Puppy Mills

A series of IowaWatch stories in late 2014 and early 2015 dug into concerns about how dog breeding facilities are inspected in Iowa. Animal rights advocates say not enough is being done to protect animals while breeders who talked with IowaWatch said inspections sometimes are unfair and aimed at the

By IowaWatch

/ 27 Mar 2015

IowaWatch Connection: Puppy Mills and Animal Care

We love our pets, but plenty of people are concerned about why some who raise dogs for sale to us get to keep animals, after being cited repeatedly for harming the dogs' health.

By Jeff Stein

/ 19 Jan 2015

IowaWatch Connection: Puppy Mills and Animal Care

Narrower Focus In 2015 Attempt To Legislate Dog Breeding Facility Inspections In Iowa

A renewed attempt will be made again this legislative session to strengthen Iowa’s ability to inspect and regulate large dog breeding facilities in the state, but with a scaled-down focus.

By Lyle Muller and Jacob Luplow

/ 12 Jan 2015

Narrower Focus In 2015 Attempt To Legislate Dog Breeding Facility Inspections In Iowa

More Dog Breeding Inspections In U.S., But Only 120 Inspectors Available In The Country

Federal inspectors say they have increased their dog breeding facility inspections after a critical 2010 review that said the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service was not doing enough. But the inspection service had only 120 inspectors to check some 10,000 lice

By Lyle Muller and Jacob Luplow

/ 28 Dec 2014

More Dog Breeding Inspections In U.S., But Only 120 Inspectors Available In The Country

Podcast: KXIC 'Your Town' Features IowaWatch Puppy Mill Story, Jacob Luplow

IowaWatch summer 2014 intern Jacob Luplow and executive director-editor Lyle Muller were the guests on the Tuesday, Oct. 21, “Your Town” show on KXIC radio, AM 800, in Iowa

By IowaWatch

/ 30 Oct 2014

Podcast: KXIC 'Your Town' Features IowaWatch Puppy Mill Story, Jacob Luplow

Serious Animal Welfare Act Violations Do Not Mean Quick Removal Of Dogs From Breeding Facilities

Dog breeders in Iowa who repeatedly do not comply with the Animal Welfare Act [http://awic.nal.usda.gov/government-and-professional-resources/federal-laws/animal-welfare-act]are allowed to continue raising and breeding dogs – sometimes in horrible conditions – while federal inspectors give the cited

By Jacob Luplow

/ 12 Oct 2014

Serious Animal Welfare Act Violations Do Not Mean Quick Removal Of Dogs From Breeding Facilities