As the holiday season rapidly approaches, with it comes a sharp rise in the number of pets given as holiday gifts. While it is heartening to see animals find homes and, it is hoped, caring families, far too many of these welcome additions come from pet stores—which by and large means puppy mills.
As Laurie Beacham, senior director of ASPCA Strategy & Campaigns, comments:
The image of an adorable puppy with a red bow is a familiar icon of the holiday season. Unfortunately, chances are that the puppy in your local pet store came from a puppy mill, and shopping for anything at those stores this holiday season only serves to perpetuate animal suffering.
Consumers who purchase a puppy from a pet store or website run the risk of taking home an unhealthy puppy in addition to the risk of unknowingly supporting a cruel industry. Operators of puppy mills breed dogs in unsanitary, overcrowded conditions where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs.
Convincing consumers not to shop for anything—including puppies and supplies—at stores that sell puppies is the most effective way to stop the demand for puppy mill dogs. With an eye toward accomplishing this goal, the ASPCA has launched a No Pet Store Puppies campaign. The organization will install 40 outdoor billboards in the Los Angeles area alone, to raise awareness about the connection between pet stores and puppy mills and encourage shoppers to give a new life to a homeless dog or cat by adopting from their local animal shelter or rescue organization. Billboards in other locations were posted earlier in the year.
Puppy mill issue aside, people who purchase, rather than adopt, pets are sealing the fate of approximately five to seven million companion animals in shelters, a fair percentage of which will be destroyed.
You can do your part by alerting prospective pet owners to the No Pet Store Puppies campaign and by taking the pledge at the NPSP website.
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