We are writing to express our sincere concern that the transfer of the Animal Welfare Section to the Department of Public Safety remain in the 2014 budget and that DPS be given the authority to regulate commercial dog breeders.

As you are aware, commercial breeding is an issue that has wide implications beyond the inhumane treatment of the canines. Animals are often sold to pet stores in diseased and poor conditions, which creates a significant financial burden on their adopters. When puppy mill raids take place, and North Carolina has had close to 20 since 2011, there is a substantial burden placed on already-overcrowded shelters around the state. Regulating commercial breeding and transferring that oversight to the Department of Public Safety would be a giant step forward for North Carolina.

Under our names, you will see the counties in which we reside. We include this information to allow you to see that this matter is important from the western, rural mountains to the eastern seaboard. This matter affects all North Carolinians.