Huffman playing big role in protecting animals

Rep. Jared Huffman, our district's elected official in Washington, D.C., recently signed on as cosponsor of a very important bill that aims to amend the Animal Welfare Act. The bill is called Goldie's Act after a golden retriever who was raised in a facility licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Goldie died at this “puppy mill.”

Even though her and other dogs' suffering was rampant and violations of the law were clear, the USDA still refused to step in. Goldie's Act is an important piece of federal legislation which would ensure that the USDA starts fulfilling its mandate to protect dogs in USDA-licensed facilities.

The USDA is required to inspect commercial breeders to ensure compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, yet the agency fails to act, allowing horrific cruelty to unfold in large-scale operations like the one in which Goldie perished. Goldie's facility eventually surrendered more than 500 dogs and puppies in 2021 after racking up more than 190 Animal Welfare Act violations documented by inspectors.

To date, the USDA still has not levied any penalties for this treatment of vulnerable dogs and puppies.

The bill Huffman is cosponsoring would ensure the USDA does its job to prevent the suffering and death of dogs like Goldie trapped in the commercial breeding industry. Please join me in thanking Huffman for working on this must-pass legislation.

— Johan Broen, Tiburon