ST. LOUIS — Missouri's attorney general and agriculture director are teaming up to launch the next phase of a program designed to crack down on unlicensed dog breeders.
Attorney General Chris Koster and Department of Agriculture Director Jon Hagler announced Monday that the state's top law enforcement agency will join the effort to stop unlicensed and substandard dog breeders from operating in Missouri.
Koster and Hagler are holding news conferences around the state to discuss the new initiative — Prosecution Bark Alert.
Since taking office in January, Hagler has taken steps to better enforce a 1992 program for protecting animals raised by breeders.
The state has come under fire for being the "puppy mill" capital of America. Missouri is trying to shed its reputation, and Hagler has pledged to do more to crack down on bad breeders.