OTTUMWA, IOWA -- A new bill proposed in Iowa legislature plans to crack down on puppy mills.
If passed, the law will raise the licensing fee for breeders from $20 up to $100.
With the additional money raised, Iowa plans to fund an inspector to follow up on complaints.
Currently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture deals with inspections.
Beth Doggett of Eastview Animal Hospital says that the good breeders should not worry about the new legislature.
"I think it's probably justified. If people who are raising ... are good breeders, and there are good breeders, are able to sell those nice puppies for enough to cover the licensing fee,” said Doggett.
Roughly 400 breeders produce about 20,000 dogs annually in Iowa, which ranks third in the nation behind Missouri and Oklahoma.
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