[Doody]

I'm so ticked off about puppy mills and animal abuse in general! What's the matter with people!?

Maybe I should call this the ticked off thread, think I'll change that now!!!!

I support my favorite no-kill shelter in ways that I can, and I'm hoping I'll be able to help by going with their staff when they do rescues and go to auctions for puppy mill dogs.

Stoopid abusive people. This is Jussie (short for Justice). He can't be adopted out. Noone would adopt him because he would bite, so his rescuer kept him.



He got his name because he grew up in a puppy mill in Pennsylvania with almost 600 other dogs. They put a chain around his neck and as he grew the chain grew into his neck - into his skin, the muscle and the veins. It took four hours of surgery and 72 stitches to take the chain out of his neck.

They used Jussie to breed the female dogs. They don't give a rat's patoot about anything else but the bang of the bucks when the final product from Jussie is sold to a petstore or whatever unsuspecting person.

There are over 400,000 dogs across this country who are suffering just the way Jussie suffered. They never get out of their cages. They never get to play with a toy - EVER. They never get to sleep in a soft bed - they sleep on wires. Can you imagine that? My friend is a minpin rescuer. I've been with her dogs. Several are very crippled from growing up in a cage with nothing to walk on but the wire in the small cage! They don't get a blanket or a mat or anything. They sleep on wire. And it's so cold. The dogs suffer in the cold all winter, every winter. They are fed yukky food.

All that the bad breeders care about is the breeding and the making of the moolah. They make me sick to my stomach.

If you're not bored with me yet, wait til you see the following....from the web site of the Humane Society.

Puppy mills are breeding facilities that produce purebred puppies in large numbers. The puppies are sold either directly to the public via the Internet, newspaper ads, at the mill itself, or are sold to brokers and pet shops across the country. Puppy mills have long concerned The Humane Society of the United States.

The documented problems of puppy mills include overbreeding, inbreeding, minimal veterinary care, poor quality of food and shelter, lack of socialization with humans, overcrowded cages, and the killing of unwanted animals. To the unwitting consumer, this situation frequently means buying a puppy facing an array of immediate veterinary problems or harboring genetically borne diseases that do not appear until years later. In 1994, Time magazine estimated that as many as 25% of purebred dogs were afflicted with serious genetic problems.

Sadly, some dogs are forced to live in puppy mills for their entire lives. They are kept there for one reason only: to produce more puppies. Repeatedly bred, many of these "brood bitches" are killed once their reproductive capacity wanes.

Thousands of these breeding operations currently exist in the United States, many of them despite repeated violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is charged with enforcing the AWA; however, with 96 inspectors nationwide who oversee not only the thousands of puppy mills, but also zoos, circuses, laboratories, and animals transported via commercial airlines, they are an agency stretched thin.

The HSUS, along with other animal-protection groups, has successfully lobbied for increased funding for AWA enforcement. Although all 50 states have anti-cruelty laws that should prevent neglect and mistreatment of dogs in puppy mills, such laws are seldom enforced.

The Pet Store Link

The HSUS strongly opposes the sale, through pet shops and similar outlets, of puppies and dogs from mass-breeding establishments. Puppy-mill dogs are the "inventory" of these retail operations.[/B] Statistics from the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) indicate that approximately 3,500 to 3,700 of the 11,500 to 12,000 U.S. pet stores sell cats and dogs. PIJAC also estimates that pet stores sell 300,000 to 400,000 puppies every year. The HSUS estimates the number to be 500,000.

Purebreed registration papers only state the recorded lineage of a dog. Accuracy of the reported lineage cannot be guaranteed. The American Kennel Club (AKC), the most widely recognized purebred dog registry, readily notes that it "is not itself involved in the sale of dogs and cannot therefore guarantee the health and quality of dogs in its registry." Clearly, it is "buyer beware."

The "Retail Pet Store" Exemption Problem

The USDA has never required dealers who sell their animals directly to the public to apply for licenses, regardless of the size of the operation. The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) excludes "retail pet stores" from its minimum humane care and handling requirements, and it is the USDA's position that these dealers are retail pet stores. However, many think that a person breeding animals on his own premises and selling them directly to consumers is not a "retail pet store."

Each year American consumers purchase dogs from unregulated dealers who sell animals from their premises. Many of the animals are sold through newspaper advertisements and via the Internet, which means the purchaser can't see the conditions in which the dogs live. A number of investigative reports, however, have revealed that these facilities can be horrific. Thirty-five years ago, Congress passed the AWA to, in part, ensure that breeders provide humane treatment to animals in their care. AWA requirements include adequate housing, ample food and water, reasonable handling, basic disease prevention, decent sanitation, and sufficient ventilation.

On May 11, 2000, a coalition of animal protection organizations and individuals filed a lawsuit charging the USDA with failing to halt cruel and inhumane practices at breeding facilities. The plaintiffs outlined the USDA's illegal actions in exempting pet dealers who were not retail stores from compliance with the humane treatment standards mandated by the AWA. The complaint also described how the USDA's lack of appropriate application of the AWA can lead to the injury, illness, and death of untold numbers of animals.

On July 31, 2001, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the language and history of the AWA clearly show that an individual who sells dogs and cats from his or her own premises is not a "retail pet store." Thus, the court found that USDA's exclusion of all commercial dealers who sell dogs and cats directly to the public is in violation of Congress' express intent under the AWA.

Upon appeal by the USDA, the decision was overturned. This strikes a huge blow against the effort to protect all dogs in large scale breeding facilities. Because of USDA's appeal, dogs who are used in such breeding operations, and whose puppies are sold directly to the public, have no protection under the Animal Welfare Act. Animal protection groups have petitioned the Supreme Court to request the case be heard.

The HSUS's Role

The HSUS has been fighting a relentless battle against puppy mills since the early 1980s, including monitoring the USDA's performance in this area and pushing for better AWA enforcement.

In 1984, the General Accounting Office, the investigative agency of the U.S. Congress, found major deficiencies in the enforcement of the AWA regulations concerning puppy mills. Despite improvements in its inspection process, the USDA lacks the resources to effectively enforce these regulations.

In 1990, frustrated by the apathy of federal and state officials, The HSUS led a nationwide boycott of puppies from the seven worst puppy mill states: Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. The boycott captured a great deal of national media attention, including numerous newspaper articles and television reports on shows such as 20/20, Good Morning, America, and The Today Show.

Raids on puppy mills subsequently took place in Kansas, where the state legislature, attempting to protect recalcitrant puppy mill operators by hampering investigators, enacted a law making it a felony to photograph a puppy mill facility.

Lemon Laws

As the horror of puppy mills gained attention, some states responded with "lemon laws" to protect consumers who buy puppies. As of August 2001, 17 states had enacted laws or issued regulations that allow consumers to receive refunds or the reimbursement of veterinary bills when a sick puppy is purchased. While these laws place a limited onus on pet stores and puppy mills to sell healthy puppies, and theoretically improve conditions at the breeding facilities, The HSUS feels that they do not adequately protect the animals who suffer in these establishments.

Latest Developments and HSUS Action

Facing an unreliable regulatory environment and legislatures unwilling to pass statutes that directly combat the problem of mass breeders and their nationwide network of dealers, The HSUS continues to target the consumer for its anti-puppy-mill messages. Consumer demand for purebred puppies, more than any other factor, perpetuates the misery of puppy mills.

Unfortunately, a dog's lifespan is often longer than a consumer's desire to maintain this "product." As a result, millions of dogs are sent to animal shelters every year, where roughly half will be euthanized. The HSUS estimates that one in four of the dogs that enter U.S. animal shelters is purebred.

What You Can Do

To close down puppy mills and ensure the safety and humane treatment of dogs trapped in commercial kennels, you can:

* Encourage state and federal officials to stop the mass production and exportation of sick and traumatized dogs. In addition to passing new laws, legislators can demand that existing laws be enforced.

* Urge other people not to buy puppies from pet stores, over the Internet, or from newspaper ads.

* Write letters to the editor about puppy mills and pet stores. Explain the mills' inhumane treatment of puppies and their contribution to pet overpopulation.

* Visit a local pet store to determine where it obtains its puppies. Don't be misled by claims that its dogs were not bred in puppy mills. Insist on seeing breed registry papers or the interstate health certificate for each puppy. The papers will list the breeder's and/or wholesaler's name and address.

* Contact your member of the U.S. House of Representatives and your two U.S. Senators, asking them to urge the USDA to strictly enforce the Animal Welfare Act and to support efforts to increase funding for USDA/Animal Care. Members of Congress can be contacted at: The Honorable _______________, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC 20510.

* File a Breeder Complaint Form if your new puppy appears to be suffering from a medical condition.

AND from the ASPCA ...

Puppy Mills
Thinking of giving a dog as a holiday gift this year? We’ve all been tempted by that cute little puppy in the pet store window. Before you give in to the temptation and buy that furry bundle of joy, there are some things you should know.

For one, that cute little puppy most likely came from a large-scale, substandard commercial breeding operation, commonly known as a puppy mill. Puppy mills usually house dogs in overcrowded and often unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, water and socialization. The breeding stocks at puppy mills (possibly your new puppy’s mom and dad) are bred as often as possible in order to increase profits. Unlike your lucky puppy, the mom and dad will probably never make it out of the mill.

Harsh Realities
The result? By buying a pet shop puppy, not only are you likely perpetuating and supporting a cruel industry, you—the consumer—run the risk of taking home a sick puppy! Dogs from puppy mills have been reportedly diagnosed with ailments such as respiratory infections and pneumonia, as well as hereditary defects like hip dysplasia. They may also be poorly socialized to people and other animals. Also, your new “purebred” puppy might not really be a purebred. Dogs at puppy mills are often bred indiscriminately, and lineage records are sometimes falsified to misrepresent that the dog is a purebred, when in fact, the animal is a mixed breed. Responsible breeders do not sell their dogs through pet stores.

How You Can Help
If you’re looking to make a puppy part of your family, check your local shelters first. There are so many amazing dogs who need homes. If your heart is set on a specific breed, keep in mind that one in four shelter dogs is a purebred. Additionally, you can do an Internet search for breed-specific rescue organizations. If those attempts still don’t give you the purebred puppy you’re looking for, you’ll need to learn how to choose a responsible breeder.

I know 3 "brood bitches", my friend's rescued minpins I told you about. Their paws and legs are bent and crooked and they obviously hurt. The were raised in very small wire cages. They are scared to DEATH when you come near them. Janice, my friend, is the only one they trust now. She also has 2 males, used as breeders.

Okay, take a deep breath doody. They are 'only animals'.

[Doody]

I would post pictures of puppy mills and the videos, but they are so horrifying as to be unbelievable. These babies not only live in cages, but they live STUFFED in small cages with several other dogs.

Lord have mercy on humanity, we've all lost our minds.

[Lara]

Wow, what a shocking state of affairs that is.

Doody, I've found myself saying a couple of things over and over lately. Almost every day I say it at some stage. 'good grief. has the world gone mad???' I think people get sick of me saying it. It's become a bit of a habit.

The RSPCA here has been running a campaign (they have very little funds to do so, but it's needed) suggesting people basically "adopt" a pet rather than buy one. We can also adopt wild animals that have been injured or orphaned. Seeing this is the ticked off thread, I want to complain about the treatment of pets in pet stores here. There's one in particular that my daughter told me about. She goes past it twice or more times a day when she's at her holiday job. They had very large husky puppies in this display cage thingie ... made of perspex I guess, and in the very next cage was one tiny lonesome little kitten petrified out of its wits. My daughter said she went past it after the shop had closed for the day and the lights were out and they were all still in there in the cages in the shop. I was thinking to myself all the what-if's. What if the air-con. broke down. It's so hot here anyway and they're stuck for weeks in this tiny place. List goes on and on.

Raids on puppy mills subsequently took place in Kansas, where the state legislature, attempting to protect recalcitrant puppy mill operators by hampering investigators, enacted a law making it a felony to photograph a puppy mill facility

Why on earth did they do that?

I hear you.

[Julie]

Woo hooo you go Doody. Can't stand this! Hate it.

After our dear Papillon died last year, all I wanted was another one for Christmas. I fell in love with one from a pet store, but knew that that 1200 bucks could be spent elsewhere. We stuck with Poochy our rescue dog who was the result of a breeder of Chows and Collies leaving a cage open.

This has to stop!!!!

[hsiw]

oh my... my mind is rambling and i hope i can say everything i am thinking, doody. i agree with you completely, and i always say that if i had my own house i would have so many pets you couldn't count. and all would come from the animal shelter. Two out of the three beagles I have owned have had epilepsy, including my dear Lucy who is now 14 and has been seizure free for a few years now. I am afraid since we are leaving Saturday to NY that the animal kennel I found may not treat them nicely, but I have no choice since the 5star place has been booked since last February . So they will get no human contact for 10 days and i will worry to no end about them. Ok back on topic...

I have actually never heard of pet mills before and didnt know that the pets in pet stores came from breeding factories! I somehow was under the illusion that most breeders were family owned and inhumane but that was all i knew. Thanks for all that info now. I will never buy a pet from a store when so many are being killed each day at the animal shelter. Which also ticks me off... I found a kitten last month under a dumpster and called the animal shelter and they said they do not pick up strays and I would have to pay someone from another company to get it. I tried my darnest and ended up getting an infected scratch from it- so i gave up. I called tons of numbers, pet stores, vets and no body cares to pick up strays because they are too busy breeding purebred puppies.

Which also reminds me... this sounds very familiar to me. With animal rights for the production of food. I know this is a touchy subject since most of us eat meat and poultry but you would not want to know or even believe the conditions the cows and chickens in US factories go through. I have seen films also Doody that are too gruesome to post or links to pictures too nasty. I read Fast Food Nation for a class which is turning into a movie soon, but I recommend it also. Cows eating other ground up hamburger, dirty conditions, cages too small, terrible terrible conditions. And why do they get away with it? Because they have strong political persuasion.

Well enough of what ticks me off. I was vegitarian for a long time and many times but unfortunately we are carnivores and well.. i dont have enough willpower for it, but i completely agree that the conditions for these animals should be better. i am there with you doody.

[Curious]

in the spirit of giving....

shelters and rescues need donations of blankets and towels this time of year. stuff to keep the animals warm. they can always use cash...and pet food.

[Alffe]

I keep trying not to read this thread because it is so heartbreaking to think about it. Doody this is your cause....this and breast cancer and you really step up to the plate, are really involved and I admire that.

I keep thinking about all the starving children in this world..I can do little about that but I can take blankets and towels to the Humane Society and I will do that today. They just opened a dog park in Mishawaka and you have to be a Society member to use it so I need to get that info also.

[Doody]

Triggering Yes, there are puppy mills out there, and a pet store puppy doesn't necessarily mean he came from a mass breeder. It's best to check their papers before buying.

If I could get through to a couple people that these things are out there and make 1 tiny difference, well... And of course we all worry about all different kinds of things!

But, these people are just cruel. Get a real job people and quit abusing these poor animals!!!!

[hsiw]

Another ticked off thing popped in my head... do you all have as much pet roadkill as we do here in South FL? It makes me angry to see all those pets on the road every day. I wish there was something about that that we could do.

[Doody]

Oh yes, in Iowa deer is the most. You have to be really careful. Everyday you hear about the deer/car collisions. The warning signs are everywhere. And then there's the poor little squirrels who get all twitterpated and run across the road when they shouldn't.