Tyson Smith plans to prefile legislation on dog-breeding facilities; woman appears in court for Columbia animal abuse care
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A representative for Columbia in Missouri’s state house plans on prefiling legislation about dog-breeding facilities.
Democratic State Rep. David Tyson Smith wrote on his social media on Thursday that he plans on prefiling a bill that would require regular inspections at dog-breeding facilities.
The announcement comes after Melissa Sanders, 26, of Columbia, was charged last week with three counts of felony animal abuse and 15 counts of misdemeanor animal abuse. Sanders runs Magnum Opus German Shepherds and a large number of dogs were found either dead or in poor condition when officers served a search warrant last week.
“Based on the events in recent weeks surrounding the local dog breeding facility, I am planning on filing legislation requiring regular and thorough inspections of all classifications of dog breeding facilities,” Tyson Smith wrote on his social media.
Tyson Smith made the announcement to prefile the bill, an hour after ABC 17 News anchor Meghan Drakas spoke to him about viewer concerns surrounding the case.
The probable cause statement stated that Animal Control had previously asked Sanders about doing a “walkthrough” of the facility, but claimed Sanders was hesitant. Officers found the dogs while serving a search warrant.
Sanders appeared in court on Thursday by video from the jail. The defense argued her bond should be reduced to $5,000 because she’s not a flight risk, but that motion was denied. A hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26. A preliminary hearing was set for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30.
“The issue of animal cruelty is something for which the people in Missouri have absolutely zero tolerance. It is time to pass legislation that will require transparency from all animal breeders regardless of how big or small,” Tyson Smith wrote in a text message to ABC 17 News.
The Central Missouri Humane Society announced on Wednesday that it could not accept any more dogs and it was looking for more foster families after several dogs from the case were brought to the facility.
The prefiling deadline in the Missouri Legislature is Dec. 1.