Puppy Mills Make Me Mad to the MAX!
September 23rd, 2008 by MaxIn today’s Arizona Republic, there was a story about local Valley volunteers who rescued 89 puppies from a puppy mill in Missouri. It made me sad that this country does not regulate this horrible practice, but also glad that there volunteers like Joey Penniston and Caron Lorber who were willing to drive more than 24 hours to rescue these puppies from certain death..
If you don’t know why puppy mills are so bad, let me tell you about the conditions under which these dogs live and often die. It is not unusual to find up to 1,000 dogs crammed into these commercial breeding facilities. In this environment, these animals are routinely neglected, abused–physically and emotionally–and do not receive vet care even when ill or injured.
In the puppy mill world, dogs are considered livestock and many are brutally killed just because they lack the desired physical characteristics or because they can’t breed. The rest are sold to brokers who sell them to pet stores and if the pet stores don’t buy them, they are put up for auction. If they are not bought at auction, they are euthanized.
Buying puppies at pet stores perpetuates this horrific cycle, so the next time you are tempted by a furry face in the window, remember that demand perpetuates supply and many more innocent puppy lives will be lost in order to replace the “inventory.”
Because of today’s bad economy though, shelters and animal rescue groups have no lack of “inventory.” So if you’re thinking of adding a fur friend to your family, go to a shelter or apply at a rescue. That’s what my family did and I will always be grateful to them! Also, I just happen to know that right now there are at least 89 little furkids who are looking for forever families.
For more information, check out the Republic article for the rescue organizations that are handling the adoptions of these puppies.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/09/23/20080923dogs0923.html
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:56 pm
The only way to stop this practice is to educate the public. Every time I hear someone say, “aww,” when being lured into a Pet Store, I say think again! There are so many awaiting rescue and adoption…and they’re just as cute! Thanks for picking this story up, Max. You’re a good citizen as well as a good teacher!