Heartbreaking Connection Between Pet Stores and Puppy Mills
Published May 20, 2010
Many of us think that there is hardly anything more appealing and alluring than the soulful eyes of the cute little puppies staring out from the pet store display window. We can be riveted to these darling babies as we enjoy watching them play with apparent abandon, showing off their high energy, intelligence and fetching antics. After all, they would instantly melt the heart of any animal lover.
We may pause for awhile to "awww" and "ahhh" and even if we are not be in the market for a new puppy, these little canines who scratch at the window, beckoning us to play with them have already cast a spell upon us. It is very easy to rationalize that when all is said and done it is certainly no "accident" that we were chosen to take one of them home. Out comes the wallet and voila, another pet store puppy is sold.
Many of us also may think that we have "rescued" a needy puppy in desperate need of a loving home. And while there is some truth to that assumption, at the same time, in the majority of cases we have simply supported a back-yard breeder or much worse, a puppy mill breeder or Internet outlet, whose only interest is making a quick profit by selling their stock to pet stores in huge numbers.
So, in an effort to educate the public about this thriving business, on May 17, Animal Planet premiered the second in a series of investigative specials, "Animal Planet Investigates: Petland" The program featured the tireless work that the Humane Society of the United States is doing to help eliminate puppy mills.
The program demonstrated the dark and heartbreaking connection between pet stores and puppy mills, exposing the deceit made to unknowing consumers when they purchase puppies from pet stores, and also through the Internet. Sadly, many of these puppies are not at all healthy; some even die after days or weeks of purchase.
What is most alarming is that it is estimated that in the United States there are approximately 10,000 puppy mill facilities operating today. This means that there are hundreds of thousands dogs bred in conditions that are completely appalling. These unfortunate dogs receive little or no human attention, exercise or veterinary care and are often kept in tiny wire cages trapped in their own filth. Many of them are even unable to walk properly when removed from their cage and placed on solid ground. The only concern of the puppy mill breeders is the bottom line profit they can make at the expense of the health, safety and disposition of their "product".
And while The HSUS has rescued over 5,000 puppy mill dogs over the past two years and 13 states have already passed legislation to regulate these distressing facilities, there remains much more that must be done to once- and- for- all completely abolish all puppy mill operations.
A recent AP-Petside.com poll showed that people are beginning to become more educated about the conditions of puppies sold in pet stores. However, much of the public remains clueless about the plight of pet store puppies and kittens. They fall in love with the little ones that adorn pet store windows. Watch this short video snippet titled, "Meringue Dancing Dogs", which clearly demonstrates just how naive people can be, thinking this behavior as ever so cute. This "dancing" in reality can easily be compared to prison "psychosis".
Please consider signing the HSUS pledge to stop puppy mills
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Shortly after retiring as a social worker and psychotherapist, I discovered my "writer's voice"…
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Comments (7)
Just an fyi sidebar...There's a terrific new piece of fiction on the market entitled "A Cold Breed." The story focuses on the vivid shutdown of a realistic puppy mill. A portion of every purchase goes to the ASPCA. Swing by the author's site for more information: caseyoryan.com Thank You
While I do not agree with the idea of "puppy mills" and do think that they should be illegal, I think people aren't looking at the big picture here. Yes, people are becoming more aware and educated on puppy mills, but this still doesn't stop them from buying them. Puppy mill owners hide where their dogs come from very well. It's very hard to know whether or not you are getting a dog from a puppy mill or a reputable reeder. People say that if they don't let you come to their home then they are a puppy mill ..not true. Because of society these days, I don't think I would allow a stranger to come to my home even if I was finding a new home for my dog. Also, I've bought a puppy from a puppy mill (this was yesterday) I had no idea it was a puppy mill but when I got there I realized that it most definetely was. I bought my puppy, and here is why. Some puppies there are only 6 weeks old, but there are also puppies there who was 4-6 months old. These puppies have a smaller chance of finding a home because they are older. To think that maybe one could be put down just because puppy mills cannot advertise so much thinking nobody will buy, they have to do it very lightly and sometimes miss an opportunity to find a home for the dogs. Now, when I brought my puppy home yesterday she was very scared, pretty much just sat there or layed there and when she did walk you could tell she wasnt used to the ground since she had been walking on a wired cage from the she was born. Within a few hours, we gave her food, water, treats, toys, a bed, lots of stuff ..she absolutely LOVED it, she was running around and jumping and playing, she never knew about toys or a flat ground or air condition or clean water or a comfy play to lay n put her head on or how it felt to be held and given a bath and feel clean. It gives you such a good feeling, I can't even explain it. I guess what I'm trying to say, is that although I am completely against puppy mills, and think that they should be illegal ..people should really think harder about those puppies and those dogs instead of their owners, they did not ask to be born into a puppy mill, it's not their fault, if those puppies dont find homes, they are put to sleep as well, whether it is in a humane or an inhumane way. Until puppy mills are made illegal completely, people should not completely rule out getting their dog from a puppy mill, you're saving a life, too, the only difference is ..you dont get a high five for it when u tell somebody where its from, these dogs and puppies need homes too ..
While I'm completely in agreement that people need to stop supporting dog (and cat, and other animal) purchases at pet stores, I'd truly draw the line at ANY support of HSUS, or any of their so-called 'help' of the problem. The only thing HSUS 'helps' is their goal of ending the relationship between people and animals, as part of their camouflaged animal rights radical agenda.
HSUS claims to be a 'humane society', yet they do not run any shelters. They claim to help homeless animals, yet send less than one percent of what they collect from people thinking they're helping shelters back to any shelter. They are dishonest ill-intentioned people, taking advantage of animal lovers to line their own pockets and advance their radical views.
It needs to be addressed that the key word is "most" pet stores, and that the store that was investigated in the Animal Planet documentary is the largest chain of puppy stores in the country. There are plenty of reputable pet stores that purchase their dogs from legitimate breeders. The point of this story is: DO YOUR RESEARCH! Ignorant pet owners are the main cause of overcrowded shelters, and you should always do your homework before investing in anything, ESPECIALLY an animal's life!
The only way to stop puppy mills is to for people to STOP PURCHASING LIVE ANIMALS AT PET STORES!!!!! These people can't stay in the business of mass breeding if nobody is buying what they produce. They think animals are a disposable commodity, and they have no regard for the lives of the animals that are forced to breed litter after litter to supply pet stores. Only shop at pet stores that do NOT sell animals. Go to the local animal shelter to get your pets. The pets there are desperate for homes.
THANK YOU!! Same goes for the "pet brokers" who buy puppies from back-yard breeders and sell to pet stores. Six to eight MILLION animals are euthanized in the US every year. Try giving one of them a home instead of buying a pet (I have three, all rescues). They don’t come with a health guarantee (neither do your kids!), they'll probably pee on your carpet a few times, and likely have a few “issues†to overcome. Like us, they aren’t perfect, but its’ a small price to pay for the years of unconditional love you’ll get in return.
It is heart breaking to me that one pet store in Rochester, NY is still in business and giving misery to all the animals that fall into their hands. Al's Pet Shop is a hole in the wall and a terrible place for animals to end up. I have gone in there on occasiona nd bought the poor kitten or puppy they had and rehomed it. Disgusting. I am sure he is connected to a puppy mill in some way too. Now I shop at PetSmart. The only animals in there, cats and dogs are from shelters and are awaiting adoption. Wish we could close some of these shops down that are abusing animals.