As an animal activist volunteering internationally, I'm aware that the USA is leagues ahead of many countries as far as animal welfare goes. And this makes me proud. But, we still have a long way to go. Shelters are full across the country. Dumping of many of these store-bought animals, many of whom have health issues that the owners simply cannot afford to manage, is a main reason for that.

A simple solution is to regulate for-profit establishments in a way that benefits the state (tax them!), the community, and the animals. Take the Netherlands, for example. A government-funded sterilization coupled with a spike in taxes for store-bought dogs resulted in them becoming the first country without stray dogs. While we may not be this advanced yet, we certainly can do the bare minimum: hold these for-profit establishments to the same standards as animal shelters.  I'm hoping my home state of Virginia continues to prioritize animal welfare over nonsensical, archaic legislation. We're better than this, and we can do more to protect those without a voice. I, as a voter, will certainly be watching.