Those who breed cats and dogs could soon have to abide by a new law.
It's the latest effort from the Texas legislature to put a stop to puppy mills.
Opponents of the bill claim it could even end up putting some responsible breeders out of business.
Mark Smith has been in the business of breeding dogs with his wife since 1999.The couple runs Alphatex Kennels, breeding and raising German Shepherds and Collies.
However, Smith fears his business, which has quickly become a full time job, could be in jeopardy if Governor Perry signs a new bill into law, aimed at cracking down so-called puppy mills.
Under the proposed law, breeders would have to be licensed and undergo yearly inspections, as well as provide basic grooming, annual veterinary exams and cleaning.But Smith is convinced these new rules and restrictions won't be enough to stop puppy mill operations.
"I've seen actually puppy mills in Arkansas. I haven't been to any in Texas, but I have seen them in Arkansas. The way they're set up they can just pick up and leave overnight with there equipment and trailers and set up somewhere else. It's not going to stop them. They'll just change names every year so when they come to inspect they no longer exist," he said.
Smith's concerned added costs, brought on with new fees, could also just be too much for breeders to keep up with.
"It brings a lot of legislation and controls put on small business people like us, the backyard breeders that raise a few puppies a year to help supplement income. We've set up people to breed in the past to build there college funds. It's going to limit a lot of that or do away with it because they won't be able to afford the licensing fee," Smith said.
On average Smith says he sells and delivers one to two dogs a week.
According to the bill, those targeted by the new rules are those who sell or exchange 20 or more animals yearly and have 11 or more breeding females.
Bill Morris of Morris Safe House Foundation says this is all more than just a matter of numbers and a few new requirements.
"You can sit there and say wonderful we passed the law, but if we don't have someone there enforcing it and regulating it, I don't care if you sit there and say they can only have two dogs. It doesn't make a whole lot of difference unless you put some kind of enforcement into it," Morris said.
He says even if the bill's signed into law, he believes responsible breeders shouldn't face any problems.
