That puppy in the window
The Humane Society of the United States has proclaimed next week “Puppy Mill Action Week,” and is urging consumers to avoid buying dogs from pets stores or over the Internet – both of which often sell dogs from puppy mills.
“Holiday shopping time is the worst for these animals. Puppy mills are about supply and demand, with no greater demand than during the holidays,” says Stephanie Shain, director of The HSUS’ Stop Puppy Mills campaign. “When consumers stop ... shopping for puppies in pet stores and online, these mills will go out of business.”
She adds, “People think they are rescuing a dog from a pet store, when that purchase is only making room for hundreds more puppy mill dogs to be bred and sold. The public should be concerned not only with that one puppy in the window, but also for the mistreated breeding dogs caged for years back at the puppy mill. Because people buy the puppies, these dogs will spend their lifetime confined, churning out puppies.”
The HSUS encourages consumers instead to deal with animal shelters and purebred rescue groups that have thousands of dogs that need homes. When buying from a breeder, the HSUS says, consumers should investigate and make sure they are dealing with a reputable and compassionate breeder.
The HSUS has been working for years to stop puppy mills – using the courts, the legislative process, undercover investigations and public awareness campaigns. Earlier this month, an HSUS investigation spotlighted shocking conditions in Virginia where more than 900 unlicensed commercial puppy dealers operate.
During Puppy Mill Action Week, which starts Nov. 25, the HSUS is asking people to follow five steps:
1. Sign the “Stop Puppy Mills” pledge on the website, www.stoppuppymills.org.
2. Write to government officials and ask for an end to the inhumane treatment of dogs in puppy mills. Urge members of Congress to make a priority of puppy mill dogs and enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act.
3. Download free “Stop Puppy Mills in 2008” HSUS card inserts for holiday greeting cards.
4. Download free flyers from The HSUS website to post in veterinary offices, health clubs, dog parks and other public places.
5. Spread the word about puppy mills by sending one e-mail to five friends with a link to the website.
Comments
The sick thing about these puppy mills is that their corruption extends beyond abusing dogs.
They cheat consumers by selling sick puppies. They spread disease in communities. Their mills pollute groundwater supplies with dog feces.
And most of them either don't report or underreport their income. They don't pay any taxes!!
They also don't hire appreciable numbers of people.
Puppy mills are an all-around negative.
That's why these mills don't want to be licensed and inspected. They want to keep running as underground, off the records, corrupt enterprises.
And the problem is that in some states and some counties, local authorities let them!
Just a lot of corruption all around, and it needs to be exposed to daylight so all can see.
Posted by: J | November 19, 2007 5:52 PM
I'd like to add another action to the list: Tell every nice person you and your shelter dog meet about your dog's roots so that people will see what great dogs can be adopted from shelters. Promote adoptions from shelters every chance you get in hopes of shrinking the market for puppy mill victims.
Posted by: Mary Schmidt | November 20, 2007 9:26 PM
I posted about this on my own blog about 3 years ago. Thanks for the reminder to drag that post out and highlight it again.
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/mahlu002/oneday/2004/10/the_darker_side_of_dog_ownership.html
Posted by: danielle | November 21, 2007 9:43 AM