BRAVO Representative Smith!!! It's about time...

Clark County (WQOW) A dog auction draws a big crowd in Clark County Wednesday, but not everyone was there to buy a dog.
Wednesday was the annual Thorp dog auction. The auction is held twice a year. Wednesday 150 dogs were sold, anywhere from $80 to $350.
Before the auction started an inspector from the USDA was on hand to inspect the dogs, some were pulled off the auction block. Among those left, a dog with a missing ear, one with an open wound, and many older dogs that appeared to have not been maintained, and fearful of human contact. News 18 was also told some mothers that were being sold were at the end of their breeding cycle.
Protestors also showed up to Wednesday's auction. Among the group was the executive director of the Clark County Humane Association, Chuck Wegner. Wegner told News 18 he protest the auctions because many of the dogs present are severely mistreated.
"Tails should be wagging they should be happy they're scared to death of grass, a lot of un-socialized problems," said Wegner. He continues, "The real problem is everybody sees those puppies and that's why they sell like hotcakes in pet stores, behind the scenes is the true suffering and the misery and it goes on for years and years."
Also on hand, Rep. Jeff Smith, he is working on legislation to regulate large breeding facilities in the state of Wisconsin. Smith says lawmakers have been working for many years at trying to pass legislation, and says now is the time to pass something.
"We have better legislation for the livestock that we consume in two years, than we have for mankind's best friend and that's just not right," said Smith.
Smith says in talking to breeders, some fear legislation will put them out of business, but says regulation should be looked at as giving reputable breeders a stamp of approval.