The Humane Society of the United States is highlighting a puppy mill shutdown in Wilson as further evidence of the need for a ban on the mass breeding operations.

The society pushed for legislation during this year's General Assembly that would have tightened regulations on dog breeders but the bill was weakened and ultimately never passed amid criticism that the organization was trying to turn the public vegetarian. The legislation could be revived in the spring.

In the Wilson case, 38-year-old Ranna (RAY-nah) Scott, of Lucama, has been charged with 13 counts of felony cruelty to animals. Authorities said she kept more than 230 dogs, many in need of medical attention for, among other ailments: insect infestation, rotting teeth, eye infections and intestinal parasites, according to the Associated Press.

"Had lawmakers in Raleigh passed puppy mill legislation earlier this year," the group said in a news release Monday, "authorities could have intervened (in Wilson) to stop the extreme suffering of the animals much earlier and with less cost to the taxpayers."

A weakened version of an anti-puppy mill bill is still alive and is scheduled for a House committee meeting at 4:30 p.m. today.

If approved, the bill would go to the full House Monday night or Tuesday morning. 

The bill drew intense opposition in the spring from commercial dog breeders, who saw it as intrusive regulation, and the pork industry, which saw it as a first step in a make-us-all-vegetarian agenda led by the Humane Society of the United States, which is separate from local humane societies. 

The bill headed for committee today has less oversight and lower fines than the original version.

N.C. among the fiscally tardy five...Produce public records or pay...Just say no to underage working...beer and puppies.

Happy first day of the new fiscal year!

FUSS BUDGET - North Carolina is one of five states -- along with Arizona, California, Mississippi and Pennsylvania -- that did not have its budget written on time. (New York Times)

DOCUMENTATION OR LITIGATION - The House Finance Committee today takes up a bill that would require government entities to pay the legal fees of anyone who has to sue to obtain public records.

IPODS, NOT ASSEMBLY LINES - The Senate today will consider a bill that doubles penalties for violation of state child labor laws, now among the weakest in the nation, according to the National Consumers League.

WOOF! SLURP - The anti-puppy mill bill advances, as does legislation allowing beer tastings. As Homer Simpson would say: "Mmmmm. Beer."