Harsher Penalties Considered For Those Who Target Animal Operations

The House Agriculture Committee considers a bill that would hand out harsher penalties for anyone who destroys an animal operation and intentionally brings in a disease that harms an operation. It would also ban photography on private property without the animal owners’ permission. Sara Mullen with the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation is in favor of many of the provisions in the bill. But she says restricting picture-taking could wind up contributing to a much more serious crime. Brenda Kemp with the Missouri Pet Breeders Association, and a dog breeder herself, says she has had to deal with people trudging through her private property, through her herds of cattle and horses, trying to get some “evidence” against her. The bill’s sponsor also argues the legislation allows pictures to be taken from a public area to expose any abuse or neglect.