YOU BREAK IT; YOU BUY IT!
I will never forget the adoption profile; a Yorkshire Terrier puppy only a few months old with special needs. The puppy, we’ll call him Walter, was up for sale in a pet store. An unsupervised toddler saw the cute puppy and picked him up to play with him and accidentally dropped the puppy on his head. Walter suffered severe neurological damage. The breeder (Puppy Mill) would not take back the damaged goods from the pet store owner. As the pet store owner was unable to sell ‘broken merchandise,’ Walter was taken into care by a rescue organization. It breaks my heart to think of this story and how, poor little Walter became yet another victim of greed. I hope that by sharing his story it will shed some light on the ugly truth about Puppy Mills and the Mill dogs that end up in pet stores – all for the purpose of profit.
Although Walter’s condition is not treatable, and he will never be ‘normal,’ he will be loved. Thankfully, the rescue organization came through for Walter, and he is running around in circles in a loving home.
As well as not purchasing a puppy from a Puppy Mill or Pet Store, it is also important to know about Broker’s and the role they play in the inhumane production and sale of dogs. Yes, brokers also profit from the sale of older, retired mill dogs.
WHAT IS A PUPPY BROKER?
A middleman who buys puppies from a puppy mill usually in large quantities instead of breeding dogs themselves. Brokers will then sell their stock of puppies to pet stores or through newspaper and online ads (Craigslist and Kijiji). The puppies are sold at a house masquerading as a loving home where no adult dogs will be present. Often no application is required, or very few questions asked. References are almost never checked. The dogs you see in cages at markets are being sold by brokers or backyard breeders.
Brokers are also known to masquerade as a rescue group!!!
I had my suspicions about two ‘rescue organizations’ posting adoption profiles on a well-known rescue site. Things just did not add up. As a result of these nagging suspicions, I reported the organizations to the SPCA. It turns out, I’m not the only one who felt this way. I’m not at liberty to share further information. However, I thought it was important to share my experience. We have the right to report suspect behavior – it is one way we can make a difference!
– See more at http://www.shutdownpuppymills.ca/inside-a-mill/what-is-a-puppy-broker/#sthash.nQvedIX9.dpuf
BACKYARD BREEDERS
Backyard breeding is the leading cause of pet overpopulation in North America. The conditions in which these animals live, and their treatment often drawing the attention of animal welfare. In some cases, animal control may determine the situation so deplorable and the animal to be in danger and relocate some or all of the animals to a shelter. Rescue groups may step up to assist with socialization and medical care (often more than shelters can fund) to save them from euthanasia.
A backyard breeder is someone who is not registered, who breeds dogs or cats for the purpose of making money or is just irresponsible and just lets them breed. Backyard breeders are irresponsible pet owners who do not bother to have their animals spayed or neutered and are not concerned about breed standards, genetics, socializing the dogs, and maintaining their health.
Backyard breeders are different from “hobby breeders,” who breed a small number of animals and provide the best care and socialization for them.
THE FACTS ABOUT PUPPY MILLS
Puppy mill dogs are always kept away from the scrutiny of the public eye as the years of neglect and abuse will be quite apparent.
99 percent of all pet store puppies are from puppy mills.
Approximately 2.5 million puppies are born in puppy mills annually and more than 400,000 breeding stock dogs are
imprisoned in these kennels.
An estimated 3 to 4 million shelter dogs die every year.
The Puppy Mill Project Background
The Puppy Mill Project (TPMP), a non-profit organization based in Chicago, was founded by animal rights activist Cari Meyers
in 2009 when she realized that no one was talking about puppy mills – one of the largest, most systemic forms of animal
cruelty and a huge source of our pet overpopulation problem. TPMP’s mission is to raise public awareness about puppy mills
and their direct connection to stores and internet sites that sell dogs.
Their goal is simple: to put an end to puppy mill cruelty. TPMP is currently active throughout metro Chicago with associates
from coast to coast.
Key Programs
Education Program – Making age-appropriate presentations at schools, summer camps and community organizations in hopes
that audiences will embrace the “adopt, don’t shop” philosophy.
Millie’s Mission – Named after Meyer’s adopted dog who was rescued from a mill, a fund-raising campaign to defray medical
costs of rescues that save puppy mill dogs.
Chicago Pet Project – Book project featuring prominent Chicagoans and their pets, funds to support Millie’s Mission.
Rescue Fund. A tax-deductible initiative to help pay the vet bills for rescued mill dogs.
Accomplishments
- Instrumental in passage of Companion Animal and Consumer Protection Acts outlawing sale of commercially bred animals in pet stores.
- Worked with metro area pet stores to help stores go humane with adoption models.Staged peaceful protests outside pet stores to raise awareness of pet store/puppy mill connection.
- Launched Education Program (see above).
- Launched National Puppy Mill Project to help groups across the country share resources and information.
- Gathered 2 years worth of evidence leading to pet retailer lawsuit.
- Launched Millie’s Mission (see above).
- Launched Chicago Pet Project (see above).
- Provided states attorney with evidence leading to closing puppy mills in Kankakee County and southern Illinois and facilitated rescues.
- Facilitated rescue and rehoming of 93 dogs from another downstate Illinois puppy mill.
Please take the time to review the following resources:
http://www.shutdownpuppymills.ca/
http://www.nopuppymillscanada.ca/byb.htm
www.ThePuppyMillProject.org
www.Facebook.com/ThePuppyMillProject
www.Twitter.com/PuppyMillProj
www.Pinterest.com/TPMP |
www.YouTube.com/ThePuppyMillProject
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