Local lawmaker targets puppy mills

Two Illinois area lawmakers are pushing legislation aimed at cracking down on puppy mills.

Chicago Rep. John Fritchey and Sen. Dan Kotowski of Mt. Prospect announced the legislation over the weekend. It's called "Chloe's Bill" after a dog rescued from an unlicensed puppy mill in downstate Macon County.

The bill would regulate large-scale dog breeders and pet stores. It also would prohibit breeders from having more than 20 dogs that haven't been spayed or neutered, prohibit those with felony animal cruelty convictions from obtaining dog-breeding licenses, and require pet stores and breeders to provide potential buyers with dogs' full medical histories.

The bill is being backed by the Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention for the Cruelty to Animals.