This morning, the ASPCA, helped by American Humane Association’s Red Star Animal Emergency Service, raided a puppy mill in White County, Tennessee, and rescued over 250 dogs found in inhumane conditions. These dogs were living in filthy conditions and were deprived of the most basic veterinary care, with little food and water. American Humane Association’s site report “The dogs are small breed under 20 pounds, including Boston and Jack Russell terriers, Pomeranians, Shih Tzus, Chihuahuas, poodles, miniature Pinschers, and Schnauzers. The animals were examined immediately on the scene, with those needing emergency care transferred to White County veterinarians, who lent their services. The rest of the animals were transported to a temporary emergency shelter staffed by the American Humane Association”
You can help by donating to the organization. This will perpetuate the effort of humane agencies to expose puppy mills and provide emergency aid to revive, foster, and get these poor animals adopted into loving homes.
When I see an image like this, my heart breaks a little. Because like the words on this poster say, “her (dog shown) only hope of escaping a lifetime of forced breeding is to die from abuse first”, there is simply no other way to say it more accurately. In puppy mills across the country, and in this particular case in Wisconsin, animals are forced to breed without concern for their physical and emotional needs, and then killed at the end of their reproductive lives.
Spread the word about this atrocity, and support your local animal welfare organizations in helping to end the puppy mill industry.
It’s hard to imagine that this kind of thing happens almost everyday. The Humane Society rescues many animals throughout the year but it’s wonderful to see these stories making it into mainstream news.
Reported by the L.A. Times on 8/25/2008, HSUS rescued from a West Virginia puppy mill over the weekend, prompting a national effort by animal groups to find them new homes. The puppy mill is called The Whispering Oaks Kennel which sounds so peaceful and comforting, but it’s anything but. Rescue workers found many of these dogs and puppies emaciated, frightened, and ill. Puppies were found uncared for. Luckily, 1,000 of these got rescued and now they are waiting for homes!
Leading animal protection agencies will be hosting a conference in our nation’s capital to address current issues of animal welfare on July 19-21. If you’re in the neighborhood or feel like taking a nice trip down to D.C. this will be an educational event if you love and care for animals.
Here you will hear from 75 experts on animal campaigning and visit more than 500 exhibitors from all over the world. Speak with advocates in person about your concerns and interests. Rally at the Capitol’s doorstep to demand action against the cruelty of puppy mills. Get the latest scoop on factory farming, local animal abuse, animal fighting, and many more. Volunteer or sign up for a job and join in the fight for animals.
In one of the largest puppy mill raid in Tennessee ever, the Humane Society of the United States led a massive effort in ending the puppy business by Pine Bluff Kennels puppy mill operation. These dogs were here for one reason only—to breed more puppies. They live in horrific conditions, several dogs even laid dead in kennels.Watch the video of the rescue on the HSUS site
Join in the millions of people in the fight to end the puppy mill business by spreading the word, by donation, grab a t-shirt on the HSUS site, raise a banner by posting a badge on your blog or website.
Jana Kohl learned the cruelty of the puppy business in Texas firsthand when she was looking to buy a puppy from an internet breeder. Horrified that such a thing exists in this world, she decided to adopt Baby, an older dog with one amputated leg and one of the survivor of a puppy mill, and subsequently went on a crusade to raise awareness of cruelty toward animals. She also wrote a book “Rare Breed Of Love: The True Story of Baby and the Mission She Inspired to Help Dogs Everywhere“ ABC News Diane Sawyer did a segment on this story.
I admire people like Jana. It’s never too late to learn something and demonstrate compassion. I wish I could write a book, travel the globe to go undercover and investigate cruelty cases. Everyone has a way of contributing, perhaps even a blog helps. But then again, it’s never enough until everyone sees that there are so much more to be done.
Pennsylvania is notorious for their awful treatment of dogs at puppy mills in the U.S. The abysmal conditions at the mills have been widely documented. Please help by signing the petition here (at Care2 Petition site) to urge Congress to pass a bill that will require them to provide better medical care for and improve the wellbeing of the dogs. Take action now – it only takes a minute to sign the petition (we still need 38,000 signatures!) Do it now! Thank you kind people!
Photo from Care2’s site.
My friend Evan sent me this link. Oprah did a special segment on a saint, Susan Marino, and her facility called Angel’s Gate Animal Hospice. The place is the first-ever care center and permanent home for hundreds of handicapped, sick, and dying animals, giving them much-needed love, medical care and a last chance to live happily ever after.
90% of the dogs and cats here came from puppy mills, where the animals suffered from living in unspeakable conditions and abuse. Nancy would bring in the worst case scenarios in effort to give them a home for life. It’s really a touching story—click on this link here and scroll down to watch the short movie. Make a donation at Angel’s Gate site or share this wonderful stories with your friends!
After watching Oprah’s special on Puppy Mills, it breaks my heart even more to see what actually is happening to dogs today. But with that comes great hope, because it just starts with one major show on TV to educate people about a subject that most never even know about. I’m certain that after watching this show, people will make smarter choices about getting a dog. Thank you Oprah and Lisa Ling. Thank you Wayne from the Humane Society of the United States, for bringing this important subject to light.
Adopt from shelters, one-third of dogs in shelter are pure breeds if you want a specific one. Check out breed rescues, spay and neuter your pets. Save a life and help prevent more from being euthanized (about 15,000 per shelter per year) Think of how many dogs’ and cats’ lives are taken and put into city dumps. Yeah, they dump their poor bodies into the landfill.
Puppy mills is a factory-breeding business that often employ cruel treatment in atrocious conditions, excessive breeding, repetitive birthing. The mothers and fathers are never bathed, never receive medical care, and are forced to live their entire lives in small cages. Mothers ween so many puppies they develop tumors. The chains around their necks are so embedded into their neck they grow into their skin. They will never roam or run; most never even set foot on pavement. The puppies are pulled from weening so they don’t develop proper immune systems from their mothers’ milk. Most of the puppies will be ill by the time they hit your local pet store, and more than 50% of these puppies get returned or die within the first two year. Oprah did an exposé on her show on Friday April 4, 2008.
WHAT YOU CAN DO—
1. If you must buy a puppy, find a responsible breeder or breed rescue, not a puppy “store”.
2. Instead of buying a puppy, adopt one from a local shelter. Homeless pets are waiting for loving homes. Unfortunately, many shelters euthanize them due to overpopulation. So help save a life!
3. If you’re brave, go into the pet store and ask them where their puppies come from. Inform them that it’s cruel and how you feel about it. Write to their store manager or spread the word.
4. Visit this page for more info.
5. Sign a pledge!
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