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Puppy mills may continue a strong presence in Iowa if a House bill doesn't gain approval Monday.

The "Puppy Mill" bill, or House File 486, will allow state inspectors access to federally licensed breeding facilities if a complaint is made against them. Right now, the law says that federally licensed facilities can be inspected by only federal officials.

The bill already received a 12 to 8 vote of approval from the Public Safety Committee on Feb. 24. It was scheduled to go to the House floor, but made a sideways jump to the House Agriculture Committee instead.

State Rep. Dolores Mertz, D-Ottosen, requested that the bill be reviewed by a subcommittee chaired by state Rep. Elesha Gayman, D-Davenport.

There are some who saw the request as an attempt to kill the bill before it makes it to the House floor.

"I'm not trying to kill the bill," Mertz said. "Everything needs a hearing."

Asked if she thinks puppy mills are a problem in Iowa, Mertz said, "The bad ones, yes."

Mertz said she would like to see the bill focus on unlicensed breeders who have no oversight whatsoever.

The bill doesn't need the approval of the Agriculture Committee to go to the House floor, since it's already gotten the approval of the Public Safety Committee, she said.

Gayman wants the bill to be reviewed a second time by the House Agriculture Committee because the inspectors who would be responsible for enforcing the new law work under the Iowa Department of Agriculture.

She said this proposed change has raised questions among existing breeders.

"There is a lot of concern from good breeders, who are following the licensing rules, that this would make it difficult for them and would create more loop holes in the industry," Gayman said. "We just want to take the opportunity to hear all sides and understand the issues."

She said the first meeting, scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday in room 103 of the state capitol, will also focus on how the bill is going to be regulated and its implications.

The meeting is open to the public.

"Iowa is the third largest dog-breeding state and we want to make sure that the animals get the respect that they deserve," Gayman said.

The bill was scheduled to be reviewed by the House Agriculture Committee since its initial proposal, but state Rep. Jim Lykam, D-Davenport, requested that it be reviewed by the Public Safety Committee.

"I was the sponsor of the bill and I would make the argument that dogs are companion animals, not livestock" Lykam said. "They could end up being service dogs for the blind or law enforcement and that makes it a public safety issue."

He said the bill could face an uncertain future by being reviewed again in the Agriculture Committee.

"The bill is so watered down as it is," Lykam said. "I don't know what else could be done to it without killing the bill."

He said he just wants to give dogs proper care.

"This is an animal welfare issue," he said. "I'm all for people in business and making a living, but you can do that and be a responsible breeder."

Dustin Vande Hoef, communications director for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, said he is concerned that the bill will overwhelm state inspectors who are already feeling the pinch of a diminishing budget.

"Five inspectors handle over 2,300 facilities and this bill would probably add 400 or so more," he said. "The concern at this time is that we will have $2.3 million less in our budget than we previously did."

Inspectors would also have to be trained in the different rules that federally licensed breeders adhere to, Vande Hoef said.

He said the combined problem of less money, a hiring freeze and added responsibilities that the bill might bring could impact all the facilities they inspect.

Contact Katie Williams at (515) 573-2141 or katie@messengernews.net