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• Introduced by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, (D-Seattle) (D) on January 28, 2009, seeks to eliminate “puppy mills” by prohibiting a person from owning, possessing, controlling, or otherwise having charge or custody of more than twenty-five dogs with intact sexual organs over the age of four months at any time .
  • Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 28, 2009.
    • Referred to the Senate Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee on January 30, 2009.
      • Substitute offered in the Senate on February 23, 2009, removes all references to "puppy mill" and uses "large-scale breeding facility" in its place. defines "Large-scale breeding facility" as 50 or more dogs with intact sexual organs. Amends language to allow puppies to stay on the premises from four months to six months. Adds language clarifying the space, exercise and primary enclosure requirements are for dogs kept in an enclosure the majority of the day. Removes language requiring ground level kennels be of poured concrete sealed with an epoxy sealant. Remove language restricting the numbers of litters that can be whelped each year. Amend language to allow puppies and adult dogs to inter-mingle for purposes of socialization, as long as they are under immediate supervision. Removes language referencing law enforcements ability to enter and inspect a person's property. The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 23, 2009.
  • Referred to the Senate Rules Committee on February 23, 2009.
• Passed in the Senate (35 to 11) on March 11, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the House on March 13, 2009.
  • Referred to the House Judiciary Committee on March 13, 2009.
    • Amendment offered in the House on March 26, 2009, to prohibit a person from having more than 50 unaltered dogs that are more than six months old at any time. Establishes minimum housing, exercise, and other requirements for dogs when a person has more than 10 unaltered dogs more than six months old that are kept in enclosures for the majority of the day. Exempts retail pet stores, certain facilities, organizations, and other entities. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on March 26, 2009.
  • Referred to the House Rules Committee on March 30, 2009.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Judy Warnick, (R-Moses Lake) (R) on April 8, 2009, eliminates the underlying provisions of the bill and instead: refers to poorly managed dog housing facilities, rather than large-scale dog breeding facilities, in the declaration section, and states that the current law could better define conditions producing substandard animal care. Provides that a person commits animal cruelty in the second degree if the person fails to provide an animal with necessary shelter, rest, sanitation, space, or medical attention, or in the case of dogs, fails to provide adequate care, that results in serious illness to the animal. Amends the animal cruelty statutes by defining what adequate care, cleaning, exercise, food, shelter, space, and water means as it applies to dogs. The amendment failed in the House by voice vote on April 8, 2009.
• Passed in the House (74 to 23) on April 8, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the Senate on April 20, 2009. Passed in the Senate (43 to 4) on April 20, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Signed by Gov. Christine Gregoire on April 30, 2009, seeks to eliminate “puppy mills” by prohibiting a person from owning, possessing, controlling, or otherwise having charge or custody of more than fifty dogs with intact sexual organs over the age of six months at any time and requiring suitable housing with proper temperature control, space, exercise and sanitation requirements of animals..