27 | October | 2011 | Be a Seed for Change

Call on Petland USA to stop supporting cruel puppy mills.

While the puppies in Petland USA stores may look cute in their cages, chances are the puppies have led miserable lives that threaten their health from the day they’re born.

Petland USA is the country’s largest chain of stores that sell puppies. Most of Petland’s animals come from puppy mills, where thousands of dogs are bred again and again to supply the pet trade. Dogs are kept in cramped, unsanitary conditions, and they often lack adequate vet care.

There’s hope to stop puppy mill sales at Petland stores. Last month Petland Canada ordered its stores to stop selling puppies, in part due to continuous pressure from animal protection advocates. So Mary Haight, a Change.org member from Chicago, wants Petland USA to do the same. She started a petition on Change.org asking Petland USA to end puppy mill sales in its stores. Click here to sign her petition.

Walk into any major pet store like Petco or PetSmart, and you won’t find puppies for sale. Those stores work with local animal shelters to find homes for the countless animals waiting to be adopted across the country. Yet Petland stores prioritize profit by selling animals from puppy mills, propping up this cruel business.

Puppies bred in puppy mills are often plagued with poor health. Kept in cramped conditions and often housed outside in all types of weather, animals in puppy mills lead a pitiful existence. Puppy mill operators are also known to in-breed puppies, leading to other health and behavior problems.

Each Petland store in the US is an individually-owned franchise, meaning Petland USA’s corporate headquarters can’t ban puppy sales in stores on its own. But Petland USA can stop any new stores from selling puppies, and a strong statement from the corporation would go a long way to putting a stop to its existing stores that buy animals from puppy mills.

Please join Mary Haight in calling on Petland USA to support adoption and speak out against its stores doing business with puppy mills. Sign the petition:

http://www.change.org/petitions/petland-usa-stop-selling-pets-fire-puppy-mills-petland-canada-has

Thanks for being a change-maker,

– Cristina and the Change.org team

The Senate will convene on Monday, October 24, 2011 at 3:45pm and on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 11am for pro forma sessions only with no business conducted.

Following the pro forma session on Thursday, October 27^th, the Senate will adjourn until 3:00pm on Monday, October 31, 2011. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 4:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #249, Stephen A. Higginson, of LA, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 5^th Circuit with one hour equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.

The next roll call vote will be at approximately 5:30pm on confirmation of the Higginson nomination.

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF OCTOBER 27, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

-The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on October 31, 2011.12:58:07 P.M

. -On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.12:58:00 P.M. -Mr. Gohmert moved that the House do now adjourn.11:55:06 A.M. -SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.11:47:31 A.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.11:47:30 A.M. -Mr. Thompson (PA) asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourn on Thursday, October 27, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 1 p.m. on Monday, October 31, 2011. Agreed to without objection.11:46:29 A.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.11:45:52 A.M. -H.R. 2576Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 448, H.R. 2576 is laid on the table.11:45:37 A.M. -H.R. 2576Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 448, the text of H.R. 2576, as passed by the House, is appended at the end of H.R. 674 as new matter.11:44:14 A.M. -H.R. 674Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.11:44:12 A.M. -H.R. 674On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 405 – 16 (Roll no. 815).11:26:53 A.M. -H.R. 674On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 183 – 235 (Roll no. 814).11:09:59 A.M. -H.R. 674The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.11:01:36 A.M. -H.R. 674DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Andrews motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek strike the entire bill and add language to deny relief to companies that are delinquent in paying their federal taxes.11:01:04 A.M. -H.R. 674Mr. Andrews moved to recommit with instructions to Ways and Means.10:57:59 A.M. -H.R. 674Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 674 — “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the imposition of 3 percent withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities.”10:57:36 A.M. -H.R. 2576Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.10:57:35 A.M. -H.R. 2576On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 262 – 157 (Roll no. 813).10:31:30 A.M. -H.R. 2576The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.9:46:12 A.M. -H.R. 2576DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 2576.9:45:56 A.M. -H.R. 2576Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2576 and H.R. 674 with 1 hour of general debate on each measure. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions on each measure. Measures will be considered read. Bills are closed to amendments. The resolution waives all points of order against consideration of both bills and directs the Clerk, in the engrossment of H.R. 674, to add the text of H.R. 2576, as passed by the House, as new matter at the end of H.R. 674.9:45:51 A.M. -H.R. 2576Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 448. H.R. 2576 — “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the calculation of modified adjusted gross income for purposes of determining eligibility for certain healthcare-related programs.”9:45:22 A.M. -H.R. 674Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule 19, further consideration of the bill is postponed.9:45:21 A.M. -H.R. 674The previous question was ordered without objection.9:15:10 A.M. -H.R. 674DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 674.9:14:18 A.M. -H.R. 674Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2576 and H.R. 674 with 1 hour of general debate on each measure. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions for each measure. Measures will be considered read. Bills are closed to amendments. The resolution waives all points of order against consideration of both bills and directs the Clerk, in the engrossment of H.R. 674, to add the text of H.R. 2576, as passed by the House, as new matter at the end of H.R. 674.9:14:13 A.M. -H.R. 674Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 448. H.R. 674 — “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the imposition of 3 percent withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities.”9:02:48 A.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 5 per side of the aisle.9:02:19 A.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Johnson, Sam of TX to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.9:02:16 A.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.9:01:28 A.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.9:00:52 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Steve Womack to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.9:00:38 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.