Ind. Senate OKs 'puppy mills' bill

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indiana Senate has approved a bill to regulate large-scale dog breeding operations -- a move supporters say could help crack down on so-called puppy mills.

The Senate voted 46-3 on Tuesday for the bill, which requires people to register as breeders if they have more than 20 adult female dogs able to be bred. The bill also requires those who sell at least 500 dogs a year to register as commercial dog brokers.

Under the proposal, breeders would have to provide their dogs with cages large enough for them to move inside and give them a chance for exercise at least once a day.

The House passed a different version of the proposal, so the bill now heads to a conference committee of House and Senate members who will work to find a compromise.