"Farming Mentality"

I have waited long enough, I can wait no more. The problem with county commissioners authorizing conditional use permits for dog breeding/kennels(puppy mills) is that most commissioners are or have been farmers of livestock, or raised on a farm.  What do I mean by "a farming mentality?"  Because animals used for food are thought of in terms of profit, if an animal doesn't  make a profit(like a dog or cat), they are many times not given vaccinations, proper veterinary care, decent shelter or humane treatment. Many farm dogs and cats are not spayed or neutered, for the same reason. Don't believe me? Ask any farmer in Morrison County(or anywhere else) and you will find out that most dogs and cats on that farm have not been spayed, neutered or given proper veterinary care.

 Contrary to what some folks believe, dogs and cats are NOT livestock, as the USDA seems to think they are. They are companion animals and should be regulated as such. This would make substantial differences in how they must be treated and the penalties for abuse.

Morrison County and all other Minnesota and U.S. counties have a huge overpopulation of dogs and cats.  Mandatory spay/neuter laws should have been adopted decades ago to prevent this.

The "farming mentality" is another "community norm" that desperately needs changing in Morrison County, if we are ever going to achieve what McRecord editorial board asked of us. In the January 23,2014 edition they wrote an editorial comment titled "make Morrison County The Caring Capitol Of The World" that is u achievable as long as we allow even ONE puppy mill to operate here.

http://mcrecord.com/2014/01/23/make-morrison-county-the-caring-capitol-of-the-world/