Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy and U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson hosted a Farm Bill Listening Session in Portland. I want to thank Rep. Langworthy for hosting this event and urge him to draft a Farm Bill that contains Goldie’s Act (H.R. 1788) to protect dogs suffering in puppy mills.

Cruel commercial dog breeders maximize profits by producing the highest number of puppies as quickly and cheaply as possible.

They often keep dogs in tiny, filthy cages without adequate access to veterinary care, grooming, or socialization. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for ensuring that animals raised in commercial dog breeding facilities, known as puppy mills, are afforded basic care under the Animal Welfare Act. Unfortunately, the USDA has repeatedly failed to uphold this responsibility, leaving vulnerable dogs and puppies to pay the price.

Goldie, known only as Golden Retriever 142 when she was still alive, died in a federally licensed puppy mill in Iowa. Over the course of several months, USDA inspectors took note of Goldie’s deteriorating physical condition and the inhospitable conditions where she lived, but they did nothing to help her.

After months of suffering, Goldie was found in a barn surrounded by dead dogs. Her emaciated body was covered with pressure sores and her bones were protruding from her body. Soon after, she had to be euthanized due to her poor condition.

Goldie’s Act, which would ensure that the USDA properly enforces the Animal Welfare Act–intended to protect dogs in puppy mills–could be the difference between life and death for dogs like Goldie.

I urge Rep. Langworthy to include Goldie’s Act in the 2023 Farm Bill so no other dog is forced to suffer Goldie’s fate.

Kathleen Makolinski, DVM, is an Orchard Park resident.