Join the effort to stop puppy mills in our lifetime.
A lot of people first learned about puppy mills by watching Oprah’s show on the subject. They were appalled at the conditions these sweet animals had to face. So what can you do to stop puppy mills? The best way to put an end to puppy mills is to make puppy mill puppies no longer profitable. To do that we need to stop pet stores from selling puppy mill dogs and stop people from buying these unfortunate pets.
For those of you who didn’t see Oprah’s show, puppy mills are places that factory-farm dogs for sale to pet stores and online. The dogs are kept in stacked cages with wire bottoms and are only removed to mate. They have no interaction with humans or other dogs during their lives nor do they receive any vet care. They often suffer from problems like splayed feet and damaged foot pads (from living in the wire-bottomed cages), badly matted and filthy coats, congenital defects such as heart murmurs, extra teeth, dry eye, and more. Once they are no longer able to bear puppies, they are killed (not always humanely). Puppy mills are legal in most states in the US.
Some lucky dogs are rescued by organizations like Best Friends Network’s Puppies Aren’t Products and Pup My Ride campaigns. For example, here is the story of two dogs rescued by Best Friends.
When two puppy mill dogs, Beatrice and Beauty, arrived together at Best Friends’ temporary care center on a Midwestern farm, the pair hung out in their new kennel as if they were long-lost cousins, sleeping and resting against each other. But Beatrice, who had pyometra and a hernia — common afflictions in overbred females — was rushed to a local veterinary hospital for emergency surgery.
Best Friends’ volunteer caregivers, in the meantime, took Beauty under their wing, spending time with her in Beatrice’s absence. Beauty is missing most of her lower jaw (an affliction that’s caused by drinking from water bottles common in commercial facilities), but because she’s able to eat and drink with no signs of discomfort, she’ll move on to foster care and then into a forever home.
Beatrice and Beauty are poster-dog examples of the throw-aways — the ones brokers and breeders can’t sell, the ones scheduled to die. “They’re the ‘scraps’ they can’t sell at auction that get killed afterward,” says rescuer Lisa, who requested that her last name not be used. “No one wants to buy them.” from an article at Best Friends Network.
Organizations like the Puppy Mill Awareness Meetup Group and Best Friends Network, among others, are actively involved in the fight to end puppy mills. Through legislation, puppy mill busts and prosecution, and peaceful demonstrations at stores that sell puppy mill puppies, these organizations hope to end the factory farming of dogs.
How can you support these organizations?
- Never buy a puppy online or in a pet store or from classified ads.
- Adopt your next dog or puppy from a well-known shelter or rescue group (check out petfinder.com for shelters and rescues near you).
- Have your dog spayed or neutered. (FYI, dogs don't need to have a litter before being spayed.)
- Join the Puppy Mill Awareness Meetup Group of Southeast Michigan or other organization and stage your own pet store protest.
- Donate to the Puppies Aren’t Products campaign.
Comments
This article is nonsense. Do you have any idea of which you are writing about. Now it seems to me you either are an employee of PETA or HSUS, or maybe a frustrated old maid.. Nonetheless you are promoting domestic terrorism, creating a false politically correct environment and are endangering thousands of animals lives in the process.
Rescues and shelters make their money from selling dogs, they are second hand Pet Stores" except they always sell sick and vicious dogs who may actually harm or kill your children.
How about making the local officials enforce existing laws and then we will see an over all improvement in the kennels. But f
first you must understand the federal Govt sets the standards and they are simply too low.
We must insure we have great dogs to buy in America, so how about supporting your licensed, Legal and Reputable Breeder.
Thank you
PS AND IF YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL DOG HANDLER ADOPT FROM A SHELTER.
Jack: What are you talking about?!
Rescued pets are the best (I have 3)! And rescues and shelters are non-profit organizations that don't even come close to making the money back that they spend on vet care for the homeless pets that are in their care. Vet care for a new puppy or kitten costs way more than the $95 to $115 dollar adoption fee of the Wake County shelters. In fact they have a great deal coming up this labor day at the SPCA where all adoption fees will be in half!
And exactly what laws are not being enforced? I'm guessing you're not going to come up with any... because they're aren't any.
This law is absolutely needed - any rescue group or shelter that has seen dogs that have come out of a puppy mill will tell you that. Why are "repuutable
Last year 250,000 animals died in NC shelters. So - I say "don't shop - Adopt!"
Claudia, thank you for this article. Only good can come from more people learning about the atrocities of puppy mills and how they are propped up by pet stores. For people who want to buy rather than adopt, make sure you go to a good breeder! For tips on how to find a good breeder visit: www.humanesociety.org/goodbreeder
I have to agree - Jack, you've got too much time on your hands and you're talking crazy. I agree about the legislation, and it's fine to get a dog from a reputable breeder, but getting a dog from a shelter or rescue is one of the best gifts you can give another living being (and yourself). They are wonderful dogs.
I'm actually a foster mom and forever mom for ex-puppy mill breeding dogs. You can't really understand the pain and suffering they experience in their little lives until you've spent some time with them. It's terrible, but the good news is that dogs are resilient and they can often bounce back (sadly, there are some who don't).
A few months ago I came up with a new way to protest these mills by raising awareness through books. The "Lost Souls: Found" series of breed-specific books showcases the love and joy these distraught dogs bring to their new homes through the eyes of their guardians. If you have a story or want to know more, please visit us at happytailsbooks(dot)
Thank you for the awareness... Money is the bible for few like Jack. But if we can educate the rest of unbiased public, hopefully we can stop puppy mills. If we treat "our best friend" like this, there is hope for humankind.
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