An episode of “Animal Cops: Philadelphia” that aired on Animal Planet at the end of April carried a viewer discretion warning, and for good reason.
The scenes it included of conditions at a recently raided puppy mill, including graphic footage of dogs suffering from illnesses and injuries they received there, shone a bright light on a dark problem. For anyone with half a heart, horrific doesn’t begin to describe the conditions under which countless dogs live and die at many large-scale puppy operations.
The sad fact is that hundreds, maybe thousands, of puppy mills exist in the United States, despite federal animal protection laws. The federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA), enacted in the mid-sixties, stipulates minimum standards of care for dogs, cats, and certain other species used for research. In 1970, this law was amended to include animals sold in pet stores. Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the agency charged with enforcing the AWA, is woefully understaffed, considering that it is responsible for monitoring zoo and circus animals and research facilities, as well as pet breeders and dealers.
Many states have laws that regulate puppy mills, naming their agriculture departments as the enforcing agencies. But at the state level, too, ag inspectors are often in short supply, and many turn a blind eye to dog-breeding operations they may encounter while performing their other duties.
The 2008 Farm Bill includes provisions that address puppy mill issues – for instance, prohibiting movement of puppies under six months of age across state lines to be sold – but the detailed regulations needed to make the law enforceable have yet to be finalized.
All humane organizations and rescue groups, not to mention millions of dog-loving voters, wants to see puppy mills banned, but passing laws that would further regulate the breeding and sale of dogs is no easy task. There is a huge demand for puppies, particularly purebred ones, and many consumers don’t care to know whether or not the puppy they fall in love with is from a puppy mill. Furthermore, the commercial pet industry spends a lot of money on lobbyists who fight hard against any new animal protection laws that come before state or national lawmakers.
In recent years, well-funded and –publicized campaigns by The Humane Society of the U.S. and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, among others, have brought media attention to the plight of the breeding dogs who live on puppy farms, not just their offspring, and such efforts are having an impact. Puppy mill raids have become a top priority in some areas, and the courts are punishing their owners with hefty fines and even jail time, as well as demanding financial restitution for duped pet owners.
Public education is a key component of these campaigns, because most people are horrified when they learn how puppy mill dogs are treated – constantly caged, often in dark and damp conditions; kept continually indoors or outdoors, without protection from extreme heat and cold; bred throughout their lives and killed as soon as they stop producing offspring; deprived of adequate food, water, exercise, and medical care, not to mention the solace of kind human companions; their puppies often sick and destined to die soon after they are purchased by unwitting pet consumers.
Strengthening and enforcing laws are important steps, but the only way puppy mills can be stopped is for demand for their “products” to go away, so raising consumer awareness is essential. You can become part of the solution by adopting your next furry family member, rather than buying from an unreputable pet store or breeder.
To have an even greater impact, become an outspoken advocate for humane treatment of dogs and other animals by talking to your family, friends, and other associates about the awful truth of puppy mills. Contact your state and national lawmakers to support pending legislation in your area that would help put an end to puppy mills. If no bills are currently pending, join forces with others and lobby your lawmakers to sponsor and support anti-puppy mill legislation.
The items on page 11 will tell you more about how you can join the fight against puppy mills, and why you should. For more details, visit www.hsus.org/puppymills and www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/puppy-mills.
Looking for a Puppy?
from www.hsus.org
The first step on the road to pet ownership is to ask yourself some tough questions: Why do you want a puppy? Can you afford one? Are you prepared to take care of a dog every day for his entire life?
If you’ve decided you’re ready for a dog, follow The HSUS’s top five puppy-buying tips and you’ll be far more likely to secure a healthy, well-socialized dog who doesn’t drain your emotions or your pocketbook. One, in other words, who doesn’t come from a puppy mill.
Consider adoption. Adopting a dog instead of buying one is the surest way to strike a blow against puppy mills. To find the perfect match, you’ll want to choose the right one for you and your lifestyle. Animal shelters have dozens of dogs, many of them purebreds, just waiting for homes. There are also breed specific rescue groups for every breed of dog, including “designer” or “hybrids” like Labradoodles and Puggles. Mixed-breed dogs also make wonderful pets.
Find a responsible breeder and visit their premises. Responsible breeders provide a loving and healthy environment for their canine companions, but don’t take their word for it. Never buy a puppy without seeing where they and their parents are raised and housed with your own eyes.
Don’t be fooled by common claims made by pet stores when pushing their puppies. Despite what they may tell you, pet stores do sell puppy mill puppies.
Don’t be swayed by a great website or ad. Just because a website says great things about their “home raised” or “family raised” puppies doesn’t make it true. Many puppy millers pose as small family breeders online and in newspaper and magazine ads.
Avoid the temptation to “rescue” a puppy mill puppy by buying him. Even though your intentions may be good, don’t buy a puppy with the idea that you are “rescuing” him or her. Your “rescue” opens up space for another poor puppy mill puppy and puts money into the pockets of the puppy mill. Pet stores won’t leave their cages empty and websites won’t leave their pages blank. The money you spend on your puppy goes right back to the puppy mill operator and ensures they can continue breeding and treating dogs inhumanely. If you see someone keeping puppies in poor conditions, alert your local animal control authorities instead of buying.
How Many dogs Are Suffering?
No one knows how many puppy mills there are in the U.S., but it’s safe to say that many thousands of dogs are involved as breeding stock, producing countless puppies every year. The statistics below from some of this year’s major raids suggest the magnitude of the problem. The dogs picked up in such raids are often sick, filthy, and malnourished. Other neglected and abused animals are frequently recovered during these raids, as well as evidence indicating that dogs have been killed. Many canines seized at raids are pregnant, which puts an even greater burden on local animal shelters and rescue groups when they give birth.
JANUARY 2009
Gold Bar, WA
More than 600 dogs seized
FEBRUARY 2009
Wayne County, NC
About 300 dogs seized
White County, TN
More than 250 dogs seized
MAY 2009
Kennewick, WA
More than 400 dogs seized
JUNE 2009
Emmaus, PA
About 250 dogs seized
Harrison County, IN
More than 200 dogs seized
Lyle, TN
Nearly 700 dogs seized
Some Health Issues Puppy Mill Puppies Develop
From www.aspca.org
Illness and disease are common in puppies from puppy mills. Because puppy mill operators fail to apply proper husbandry practices that would remove sick dogs from their breeding pools, puppies from puppy mills are prone to congenital and hereditary conditions, including:
- Epilepsy;
- Heart disease;
- Kidney disease;
- Musculoskeletal disorders (hip dysplasia, luxating patellas, etc.);
- Endocrine disorders (diabetes, hyperthyroidism);
- Blood disorders (anemia, Von Willebrand disease);
- Deafness; and
- Eye disorders (cataracts, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy, etc.).
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