MO HB131

Increases license fee range for animal facilities from $100-$2,500 per year and adds a $25 annual fee per licensee to fund Operation Bark Alert program.

Requires dealers purchasing animals from unlicensed persons to ensure those animals meet the same vaccination and health requirements as animals from licensed sellers.

Establishes care standards for large-scale dog breeders with more than 10 female breeding dogs, including provisions for food, water, veterinary care, housing, space, exercise, and rest between breeding cycles.

Creates criminal penalties for violations: puppy mill cruelty as a class C misdemeanor (class A for repeat offenders) and pet neglect as a class C misdemeanor (class A for repeat offenders).

Makes stacking cages without impervious barriers between levels a class A misdemeanor, with an effective date of January 1, 2012.