About
Help Sophie and I stop puppy mills!
Hi everybody!
Hope your all having a fantastic summer and doing lots of fun things that keep you cool and make you happy. Anybody who knows me well knows that I spend my summer hanging out with my dog Sophie...who has actually made a couple of appearances around my site. I love all animals but dogs are especially close to my heart and recently I heard about a new campaign the Humane Society is launching to raise awareness about the horrible effects of puppy mills. As I looked at the photo's of these poor animals who only want to be loved but instead are condemned to a life of suffering, I thought how horrible it is that so many people are supporting this industry and don't even realize it. I know I did until I did some research and realized my mistake.
Here's a little background information for those of you who have never heard of puppy mills before. The term refers to the irresponsible and inhumane practices of some dog breeders who's only goal is to make a profit. They don't care about the dog other then as a piece of property and when it's purpose is passed, the animal is discarded and others take it's place. The Humane Society explains it this way, "life is particularly bad for breeding stock, dogs who live their entire lives in cages and are continually bred for years, without human companionship and with little hope of ever becoming part of a family. These dogs receive little or no veterinary care and never see a bed, a treat or a toy. After their fertility wanes, breeding animals are commonly killed, abandoned or sold to another mill. The annual result of all this breeding is hundreds of thousands of puppies, many with behavior and/or health problems."
Legislation is very shaky when it comes to closing these establishments down and even when they do, the breeders often re-open under a different name in a different location. My question after I learned all this information was what can I do to help make a difference. Here's what I came up with:
1) Educate yourself. Check out the United States Human Society's web page here for a wealth of information about the subject of puppy mills.
2) Refuse to do business with any retailer how sells dogs in their pet store. Even though that puppy in the window may be adorable and you want to take him home, buying a dog from a petstore (or even a product from a pet store that sells dogs) is actually supporting puppy mills. No reputable breeder would ever sell their puppies in this way because they are committed to making sure their animals are placed in homes where they will be cared for and loved forever. By refusing to give these pet shops our business, we are taking control as educated consumers and doing our part to stop supporting an industry that condones cruelty to animals.
3) Sign the petition to help stop puppy mills. Click here and add your name to others who care too much about these dogs to sit back and do nothing.
4) Spread the word! Tell your friends, write your federal and local representatives and tell them to crack down on puppy mills, and, if you feel like it's a cause you'd like to contribute too, make a donation to the Humane Society who is trying it's best to make a difference in the life of these dogs, who can't speak for themselves.
Sophie and I thank you!
Hope your all having a fantastic summer and doing lots of fun things that keep you cool and make you happy. Anybody who knows me well knows that I spend my summer hanging out with my dog Sophie...who has actually made a couple of appearances around my site. I love all animals but dogs are especially close to my heart and recently I heard about a new campaign the Humane Society is launching to raise awareness about the horrible effects of puppy mills. As I looked at the photo's of these poor animals who only want to be loved but instead are condemned to a life of suffering, I thought how horrible it is that so many people are supporting this industry and don't even realize it. I know I did until I did some research and realized my mistake.
Here's a little background information for those of you who have never heard of puppy mills before. The term refers to the irresponsible and inhumane practices of some dog breeders who's only goal is to make a profit. They don't care about the dog other then as a piece of property and when it's purpose is passed, the animal is discarded and others take it's place. The Humane Society explains it this way, "life is particularly bad for breeding stock, dogs who live their entire lives in cages and are continually bred for years, without human companionship and with little hope of ever becoming part of a family. These dogs receive little or no veterinary care and never see a bed, a treat or a toy. After their fertility wanes, breeding animals are commonly killed, abandoned or sold to another mill. The annual result of all this breeding is hundreds of thousands of puppies, many with behavior and/or health problems."
Legislation is very shaky when it comes to closing these establishments down and even when they do, the breeders often re-open under a different name in a different location. My question after I learned all this information was what can I do to help make a difference. Here's what I came up with:
1) Educate yourself. Check out the United States Human Society's web page here for a wealth of information about the subject of puppy mills.
2) Refuse to do business with any retailer how sells dogs in their pet store. Even though that puppy in the window may be adorable and you want to take him home, buying a dog from a petstore (or even a product from a pet store that sells dogs) is actually supporting puppy mills. No reputable breeder would ever sell their puppies in this way because they are committed to making sure their animals are placed in homes where they will be cared for and loved forever. By refusing to give these pet shops our business, we are taking control as educated consumers and doing our part to stop supporting an industry that condones cruelty to animals.
3) Sign the petition to help stop puppy mills. Click here and add your name to others who care too much about these dogs to sit back and do nothing.
4) Spread the word! Tell your friends, write your federal and local representatives and tell them to crack down on puppy mills, and, if you feel like it's a cause you'd like to contribute too, make a donation to the Humane Society who is trying it's best to make a difference in the life of these dogs, who can't speak for themselves.
Sophie and I thank you!
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