A former Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, Gary Garbrandt has spent the past six years as a conductor with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. The owner of two rescue dogs, Gary Garbrandt regularly donates to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
As a leading advocacy organization for the well-being of animals, the ASPCA received positive news in December as United States Representatives Charlie Crist and Brian Fitzpatrick introduced a pair of bills aimed to improving the lives of dogs owned by federally-licensed commercial breeders. The Welfare of Our Friends Act, which aptly spells out the acronym WOOF, would prevent breeders with suspended or revoked licenses from operating through another license acquired by another individual at the same address. As it stands today, breeders with suspended licenses can evade enforcement by pushing family members to apply for a license.
The second proposed bill, the Puppy Protection Act, would demonstrably upgrade the United States Department of Agriculture's care standards, most notably by mandating that all dogs have sufficient access to nutritious food, adequate exercise, and veterinary care, among other standards.
