The USDA responded by citing court rulings and privacy laws that evidently were the result of what they called a year long “comprehensive review.” From now on the documents that were removed (records of enforcement actions against violators of the Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act) will only be accessible via the Freedom of Information Act. (If you’ve ever needed info from the government you know that machine moves slowly.)
Previously, the department’s online database was used by various members of the public, including animal welfare organizations, to search for information. In fact, there are seven states who currently require pet stores to buy puppies from breeders that have clean USDA inspection reports. And now that all looks like it might be in jeopardy. This means that animal abuse will go unchecked.
From the article:
“’The USDA action cloaks even the worst puppy mills in secrecy and allows abusers of Tennessee walking horses, zoo animals and lab animals to hide even the worst track records in animal welfare,’ said John Goodwin, senior director of the Humane Society’s Stop Puppy Mills Campaign, which uses the federal records, as well as state inspection reports, to publish its annual ‘Horrible Hundred’ dog breeding operations that have been cited for welfare violations.”
The truth is that many facilities in this country have a terrible, truly despicable, record of violations against animals and now the public will be prevented from knowing who those groups are. While we aren’t sure if the missing information is permanent, we hope the situation is taken care of soon for the sake of the animals.
Source: The Washington Post
