Urge lawmakers to back 'Chloe's Bill'

Kudos to Illinois state Rep. John Fritchey and Sen. Dan Kotowski for sponsoring "Chloe's Bill," which would help improve living conditions for dogs in Illinois' commercial breeding kennels.

The bill's namesake, a cocker spaniel named Chloe, was rescued from a puppy mill in central Illinois. She was found crawling with fleas, covered in feces and urine, infested with roundworms and whipworms, and suffering from conjunctivitis and ear infections.

"Chloe's Bill" would help crack down on puppy mills-which often confine dogs in tiny, feces-filled cages without any exercise or socialization; deny them proper food and veterinary care; and kill females when they can no longer produce puppies. Puppy mills and breeders keep on producing puppies while thousands of healthy dogs must be euthanized every year in Illinois' shelters for lack of homes.

If these operations insist on contributing to our state's companion animal overpopulation crisis, they should at least be required to meet reasonable minimum standards of animal care. Let's make Illinois a state where every dog has the loving home he or she deserves. Please, adopt animals from shelters instead of supporting the cruel breeding industry, and urge your Illinois legislators to support "Chloe's Bill".

Cari Heller

Chicago