USDA finds some sense

The Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader: We are hoping common sense has prevailed in the Ozarks bunny skirmish.

The United States Department of Agriculture has presented a new offer after the department sought a $90,643 penalty based on the Dollarhites having allegedly sold rabbits and guinea pigs without a license.

It’s too bad that the USDA may have needed a push from Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., to finally find that common sense. And we thank the senator for interceding on behalf of the Nixa couple.

An original settlement from the department said John Dollarhite sold 619 animals from April 3, 2008, to Dec. 21, 2009, despite being told he needed a license. The business was called Dollarvalue Rabbitry and is now closed. A USDA spokesman, Dave Sacks, has said Dollarhites’ penalty per animal was about $146. The licensing is key to USDA enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act since it allows for the on-site inspections. We are not interested in Missouri being known for rabbit mills, too.

Now a new settlement offer sent to the Dollarhites’ attorney, Richard Anderson, seeks to have Dollarhite agree to permanently disqualify himself from getting a license ...

While we must agree the agency has the legal responsibility to enforce the animal act, the department getting all hopped up to the tune of $90,000 was overly zealous.