Oprah to expose puppy mills [April 4, 2008 Show]

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Originally Posted by Misti1

YT family....may I make a suggestion,...it will only take a minute of your time.....I doubt oprah reads this forum...go to OPrah.com, join her community, and leave her your thanks/comments/suggestions for future action there. I know this is "home" so express yourself here among friends, but also place it where her staff will see it. I already am a member over there.

I think that this is a good idea. Let's all go to her website and let our voices be heard. Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that the puppy mills shown in PA were in Amish country. Unfortunately, from my understanding, the government really does not govern or have any influence on their lifestyle or practices. I recently spent a lot of time in Lancaster Cty, PA and it was evident that there was a separate way of thinking concerning the Amish. And yes, unless there is a purpose to something, then it is considered not important.

I also saw a lot of "Puppies for Sale" signs along the roads when I was travelling through the Lancaster. Hopefully, now that has been broadcast, more people will be aware and it be a small step closer.

[Mom to Hot Rod]

I just heard a commercial for Inside Edition doing a spot as to why Oprah broke down in tears...maybe it will go into the broadcast about the puppy mills!

It is on at 7:00 pm in the East.

[MyTrixie143]

Originally Posted by linsvs

This was an awesome show. Very informative. Can anybody tell me why kennels are not watched closer by the government ot state inspectors? As is with being liscensed to care for children in your home and being subject to home inspections why are these breeders not being inspected ? Or are they but not often enough? it would seem to me these abused animals would be seen even if the kennels were inspected just yearly..

And did you hear what they said about the inspectors in one case?
On the show an "inspector" went to a puppymill that was in horrible condition and all they could say was don't let people see your kennel.

I just can't believe more isn't being done to stop this, it is just sickening.

I did think Oprah did a great job with the show, hopefully it will get everyone's attention and we can finally do something about puppymills.

[yorkiesmiles]

I'm sorry I do not understand those of you who say you can not watch -- we must know, we must educate ourselves or we can not change the future. Every time I see something on puppymills I unfortunately learn something new - horrid, but it is an education that has lead me to be more active. Do not hide your eyes from this, educate yourself.

Praise God for the gentleman putting up a billboard to get Oprah's attn. Thank the Lord she in turn responded.

It is all heart breaking, but we need to move while the iron is hot.

I thought I was going to get physically ill when they showed the portion on the dogs being put down in Ft. Worth. I know it happens everywhere. It just makes my heart break.

I thought the show was very well done - but this should be the beginning of the discussion for Oprah & others, not the end of the chapter. Please go to her site & also to http://stoppuppymills.org/ -- lots of good info there

I'm watching Inside Edition & they are airing part of the puppymill story right now - although focusing on Oprah crying over the loss of Sophie

[Maxi]

Originally Posted by yorkiesmiles

I'm sorry I do not understand those of you who say you can not watch -- we must know, we must educate ourselves or we can not change the future. Every time I see something on puppymills I unfortunately learn something new - horrid, but it is an education that has lead me to be more active. Do not hide your eyes from this, educate yourself.

Praise God for the gentleman putting up a billboard to get Oprah's attn. Thank the Lord she in turn responded.

It is all heart breaking, but we need to move while the iron is hot.

I thought I was going to get physically ill when they showed the portion on the dogs being put down in Ft. Worth. I know it happens everywhere. It just makes my heart break.

I thought the show was very well done - but this should be the beginning of the discussion for Oprah & others, not the end of the chapter. Please go to her site & also to http://stoppuppymills.org/ -- lots of good info there

I'm watching Inside Edition & they are airing part of the puppymill story right now - although focusing on Oprah crying over the loss of Sophie

Agree with you 100%

I signed the pledge.

[LullaBelle]

Okay so I dvr'ed it b/c i was at work and just finished watching. My eyes are so swollen from crying that I can hardly see what I am typing!

Bella was such a sweet thing as we were watching she curled up in my lap and let me cry and kiss her!
Even Hubby didn't pick on me for crying b/c I saw him get a little misty eyed and then he was furious about the way those other puppy mill dogs were treated.
I think thats called righteous anger.

My heart just shattered and brought back those pain full memories from when I had to put my other dog Cisily, an Alaskan Malamute rescue dog, to sleep b/c of cancer. (RIP BABY GIRL) It has been years but the pain still rears it head when I see those segments of that shelter in TX and the faces of those beautiful lovable dogs who get that awful Red E!

I just feel so sad. I am going to pray and thank Heavenly Father for the love and joy LulaBelle brings to our lives and then say an extra prayer for all those poor babies in those mills.

BTW I will be glad to sign and donate to those petitions if you find anymore please send them my way!

[rrosenberry]

Originally Posted by yorkiesmiles

I'm sorry I do not understand those of you who say you can not watch -- we must know, we must educate ourselves or we can not change the future. Every time I see something on puppymills I unfortunately learn something new - horrid, but it is an education that has lead me to be more active. Do not hide your eyes from this, educate yourself.

AMEN! I say this all the time.. It takes the horror and anger that YOU experience by watching and seeing these things to make you SO MAD that you decide YOU must try to change it .. YOU must try to make a difference!

[rrosenberry]

Originally Posted by linsvs

This was an awesome show. Very informative. Can anybody tell me why kennels are not watched closer by the government ot state inspectors? As is with being liscensed to care for children in your home and being subject to home inspections why are these breeders not being inspected ? Or are they but not often enough? it would seem to me these abused animals would be seen even if the kennels were inspected just yearly..

Check the laws in your state..then write your congressmen.

[karen171]

We have a lot of help with letter writing on www.millbusters.com

The more letters we write for something to be done about puppy mills, the more they HAVE to listen. I have recently written all the presidential candidates. This is an issue that would show their compassionate side and they might include it in their campaigns. Please write as many letters as you can...tv stations, celebrities, especially polititians. It could really do some good.

[rrosenberry]

A site to write your congressman to stop puppy mills in your state is
www.house.gov/writerep
and to report mills in Ohio is www.columbusdogconnection.com

[rrosenberry]

Write letter to your local papers.. spread the word..this is a letter I wrote a year ago that was printed.

Subject: mill letter

To The Editor:



I am writing in support of the Times Reporter’s recent article exposing local puppy mills. Hopefully these types of articles will bring about public awareness and end this horrendous abuse.



I have been aware of the animal abuse in the puppy mill industry and I am repulsed. After reading your article and the breeder’s comments on the life of these puppies, I felt compelled to respond.



As a pet advocate, my passion is that people understand the life of these puppies. Typically a puppy is taken away from its mother at an early age, usually between 5 – 8 weeks. Due to their early age, any illness, genetic or emotional problems that a puppy may have will not be detected. On the other hand, the mothers are forced to breed from their first heat and every 6 months thereafter until they are unable to produce. This abusive breeding cycle can last between 5 to 10 years. Another problem arising in this industry is the breeder’s lack of concern to maintain the breed standard. Too often breeders fall prey to the latest craze, which includes breeding “teacups” and “mini’s”. This is just a small portion of information that is available on what is really going on in this industry.



Until the public stops buying puppies from puppy mills, this industry will continue to thrive. The puppies and adult dogs will continue to be forced to live in these harsh and uncaring environments. Seven of the biggest puppy mill states are Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. Let’s not make Ohio number eight.



In lieu of supporting puppy mills, please check www.petfinder.com for local dogs that are available. Every year 5 – 10 million pets are euthanized in shelters in the United States.



Again, thanks to the Times Reporter for printing articles about puppy mills and doing their part in increasing public awareness.



Sincerely,

Rhonda Rosenberry

Proud owner of a non puppy mill Yorkshire Terrier. Aka – Bailey



For anyone interested in viewing information about puppy mills, here are a few good sites: www.puppymillrescue.com, www.prisonerofgreed.com, and www.millbusters.com



A site to write your congressman to stop puppy mills in your state: www.house.gob/writerep I do have a address to report mills in Ohio... http://www.columbusdogconnection.com...ngPupMill.html

[a2luckygirl]

! am heading to OPrah.com right now- already a member!!


the only part I could not watch was the surgery!

breaks my heart I have not been able to adopt from a shelter- because of stray cats I feed???

[jrsygal37]

I missed it. We had baseball and I asked hubby to tape it for me and he said he forgot. I think he did it on purpose because he knows how things like this upset me. I wonder if they will replay it. Elaine

[yorkiesmiles]

One question I had after watching this -- why do these dogs have chains around their necks if they are always in kennels?? It broke my heart to hear how these chains can be down in their skin, their hair growing thru them, etc.


Also, know one on this show mentioned how young these pups often are when they are pulled from their parents. The guy that was suppose to be the expert from the Humane Society said 8 weeks at one point -- but I know frequently it is younger than than this

Also, why didn't they go into more detail about how to stop puppymills -- if you go read the comments at www.oprah.com so many people are asking how can they do something to change things. Oprah & her guests should have been providing websites & action like some of you are suggesting.

Like I said before this is just step one -- Oprah needs to do another story!

Dateline & Primetime need to do stories -- we need also to swamp the networks to get the word out.

Sometimes after Oprah airs something important, the station that airs her show, will do some type of follow up. Oprah ends at 5 pm here and than the 5 pm news comes on, so it's a good tie in. But I was upset that today they didn't do anything -- I think I will write the station manager & tell him that I am disappointed by their lack of action -- goodness knows we have enough puppymills in Iowa

Did anyone's local newscast do some type of follow up to Oprah's report? Wonder what the folks in PA had to say?

[yorkiesmiles]

Originally Posted by jrsygal37

I missed it. We had baseball and I asked hubby to tape it for me and he said he forgot. I think he did it on purpose because he knows how things like this upset me. I wonder if they will replay it. Elaine

I think you can watch all of it if you go to www.oprah.com -- at the very least you can see tidbits on video & read the script. I didn't think she had the whole view option on her website, but when I went there today, I saw right on the front page, I think right of center, watch online.