An Offer you couldn't refuse ;)

[RachelandSadie]

Originally Posted by LilMissy

I just wanted to point out that this isn't true. Our Petland's (and all pet stores) here in Canada (I live in BC too!) DO in fact get their puppies from puppy mills. What "good breeder" or even homebreeder would sell their puppies to a pet store? Our Petland's up here are the same deal as the ones in the states. We bought our pug dog from Pet Habitat @ Brentwood Mall in Burnaby, BC . She is suffering from several genetic defects, one of them being spondylosis. She can hardly walk anymore, and has no control of her bowel movements. I must carry her everywhere she needs to go. This poor dog has really had a life of suffering and will be PTS soon at the age of 8. Do you know where the pet store got her from that sold her to us? HUNTE CORPORATION, which is currently the largest puppy broker in the U.S. If you don't believe me you can watch the link which is an investigation by CBC News on March 6, 2009. The Pet Habitat that they are discussing in their broadcast is the one that I bought my pug from, and the investigation proves that both that store and PJ Pets get their puppies from HUNTE CORPORATION.

How Not to Buy a Puppy | CBC News: Marketplace

Do you know what makes me sick? The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada (PIJAC) has their seal of approval on Pet Habitats website. They are interviewed in this news article and are pretty much turning a blind eye to the puppy mill problem. We bought our pug because we couldn't stand to watch her suffer the way she was in that store. We had no intentions of getting a pet at that time, and the PIJAC approves of this place? What is the Canadian government going to do to stop the sale of dogs from Hunte Corporation from crossing our borders? We have just as much of a problem up here in Canada with puppymills as the states do. Their Missouri puppy mill capital is our Quebec puppy mill capital (just google Quebec puppy mills, and you will see).

I'm sorry to bump such a contraversial thread, but I couldn't NOT correct this misinformation. It is SO important that Canadians know that we have as much of a problem with puppy mills here as anywhere else. Please DO NOT support Petland, Pet Habitat, or PJ Pets by making purchases at these stores.

With hundreds of thousands of dogs born into puppy mills each year, Canada has become a haven for the puppy mill industry—and for unimaginable cruelty against our best friends.

The Laws in Canada

Did you know that technically puppy mills are not illegal! Canada's cruelty laws do not protect mill dogs, unless they are in terrible conditions! Our government does not regulate commercial breeders as they do in the U.S., so they cannot even be tracked, so we don't know who they are, where they are and what they are up to! http://www.nopuppymillscanada.ca/MPj04016160000[1].jpg

Each year millions of Canadian companion animals are destroyed due to the greed of commercial puppy mills, the ignorance of back yard breeders and irresponsible pet owners. New laws, public awareness & compassion will end the suffering of the voiceless. Please help the animals.







CanadaNoPuppyMills.com

Puppy Mills | Humane Society International

No Puppy Mills Canada

CFHS | Puppy mills

Thanks for reading!

took me forever to watch the video because i'm the only person in my office, but i finally watched it all...that made me so sick and i was crying a lot between calls to see those poor little babies faces all cooped up like that. if that was Sadie i don't know what i'd do... i defin. won't be supporting the APRI if they are basically the same organization as the one in the Canada video that supports pet industry. that stuff is sickening. i knew better than to buy from a pet store as well, but it makes me really sad that they are somehow getting AKC dogs from puppy mills...how are puppy mills getting registered with AKC and not getting caught and in trouble??? you would think if they check out their breeders as much as people on here say they do, that pet stores wouldn't be able to get their hands on an AKC dog at all...there's something missing here that needs to be fixed...petland always has 1000$$++ puppies all with AKC registry...goes to show that registry and "papers" don't mean nearly as much as where they puppy was born and bred....just like you guys said all along...

thanks again,
Rachel

[livingdustmops]

Originally Posted by RachelandSadie

took me forever to watch the video because i'm the only person in my office, but i finally watched it all...that made me so sick and i was crying a lot between calls to see those poor little babies faces all cooped up like that. if that was Sadie i don't know what i'd do... i defin. won't be supporting the APRI if they are basically the same organization as the one in the Canada video that supports pet industry. that stuff is sickening. i knew better than to buy from a pet store as well, but it makes me really sad that they are somehow getting AKC dogs from puppy mills...how are puppy mills getting registered with AKC and not getting caught and in trouble??? you would think if they check out their breeders as much as people on here say they do, that pet stores wouldn't be able to get their hands on an AKC dog at all...there's something missing here that needs to be fixed...petland always has 1000$$++ puppies all with AKC registry...goes to show that registry and "papers" don't mean nearly as much as where they puppy was born and bred....just like you guys said all along...

thanks again,
Rachel

THey are NOT breaking the state laws.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by RachelandSadie

took me forever to watch the video because i'm the only person in my office, but i finally watched it all...that made me so sick and i was crying a lot between calls to see those poor little babies faces all cooped up like that. if that was Sadie i don't know what i'd do... i defin. won't be supporting the APRI if they are basically the same organization as the one in the Canada video that supports pet industry. that stuff is sickening. i knew better than to buy from a pet store as well, but it makes me really sad that they are somehow getting AKC dogs from puppy mills...how are puppy mills getting registered with AKC and not getting caught and in trouble??? you would think if they check out their breeders as much as people on here say they do, that pet stores wouldn't be able to get their hands on an AKC dog at all...there's something missing here that needs to be fixed...petland always has 1000$$++ puppies all with AKC registry...goes to show that registry and "papers" don't mean nearly as much as where they puppy was born and bred....just like you guys said all along...

thanks again,
Rachel

I think you are confused. The AKC does not personally go out and check the breeding conditions at the mills. As for pricing, a store can charge whatever they want it is the public that makes the demand and uninformed/uneducated consumers are purchasing from the pet stores. THAT is the reason that we are all trying to spread awareness of all these dirty secrets. Sometimes the issue is just so huge that it becomes difficult to wrap your brain around.

[Roxy 87]

Petland gets puppies from puppymills. Petsmart does adoptions right? They recently opened a petsmart in the nearby city where I live. On another note I did go into Petland one time and there was a family buying a yorkie and they were arguing with management over the price of the puppy. Petland was selling it for $1700! They thought it was $1100. All those puppies they have in there, it's sad. There was another girl in there looking at them as well and I was talking to her about going to a breeder instead.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by Roxy 87

Petland gets puppies from puppymills. Petsmart does adoptions right? They recently opened a petsmart in the nearby city where I live. On another note I did go into Petland one time and there was a family buying a yorkie and they were arguing with management over the price of the puppy. Petland was selling it for $1700! They thought it was $1100. All those puppies they have in there, it's sad. There was another girl in there looking at them as well and I was talking to her about going to a breeder instead.

When you see dogs/puppies/cats at Petsmart and Petco they are there because both offer slots to rescues and local shelters for adoption events. In order to participate in their programs the rescue/shelter has to provide their 501c3 certificate (NOT FOR PROFIT) as proof that they are legitimate. Both stores also provide grant money to rescues as well.

I know that I have posted this before
Anyone that adopts or rescues can take their paperwork to their local Petco for a coupon book. The coupons are good for free bags of food, $ off grooming, clothes, beds, bowls etc everything that you could possibly need for your pup. It is a very nice way to give back to the pet community.

So when you are shopping at Petco and Petsmart you are contributing to their efforts for all the homeless pets in this country.

[FlDebra]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

I think you are confused. The AKC does not personally go out and check the breeding conditions at the mills. As for pricing, a store can charge whatever they want it is the public that makes the demand and uninformed/uneducated consumers are purchasing from the pet stores. THAT is the reason that we are all trying to spread awareness of all these dirty secrets. Sometimes the issue is just so huge that it becomes difficult to wrap your brain around.

But they do! Here is a small quote from their site: "The AKC is the only purebred registry in the United States with an ongoing routine kennel inspection program. The AKC has a dedicated team of field inspectors who visit kennels to ensure the proper care and conditions of AKC-registered dogs and verify that breeders are maintaining accurate records for their dogs. In 2007, AKC field inspectors conducted approximately 5,600 inspections nationwide. The AKC dedicates nearly $6 million annually to its compliance programs to ensure the accuracy of its registry and the care and conditions of dogs raised by breeders of AKC dogs." You can read more bout their inspection and investigation programs at this site: American Kennel Club - Investigations and Inspections Department

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by FlDebra

But they do! Here is a small quote from their site: "The AKC is the only purebred registry in the United States with an ongoing routine kennel inspection program. The AKC has a dedicated team of field inspectors who visit kennels to ensure the proper care and conditions of AKC-registered dogs and verify that breeders are maintaining accurate records for their dogs. In 2007, AKC field inspectors conducted approximately 5,600 inspections nationwide. The AKC dedicates nearly $6 million annually to its compliance programs to ensure the accuracy of its registry and the care and conditions of dogs raised by breeders of AKC dogs." You can read more bout their inspection and investigation programs at this site: American Kennel Club - Investigations and Inspections Department

Yep, I have a puppy in my home that came with papers from a breeder who lost his AKC priveleges for not allowing an inspection of his pups.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Yep, I have a puppy in my home that came with papers from a breeder who lost his AKC priveleges for not allowing an inspection of his pups.

But isn't he still breeding and just using a registry?

[jp4m2]

I used to assume AKC was a prestigious and ethical registry until I recently started looking on the internet and reading about the AKC....From what I've been finding AKC has gone through some changes and they are not for the better. AKC DOES register puppymill dogs and they rely heavily on them for their income. They have been doing it for years . Their own chairman even admits it....

Ron Menaker, Chairman of the AKC's Board of Directors notes in the minutes of the September, 2006 AKC Board meeting (link to PDF file), that the AKC has been registering puppy mill dogs "for the past 122 years" and "we have collected millions of dollars" as a result.
He goes on to further observe that "registering puppies that come from these puppy brokers or pet shops" "is not a new phenomenon."

I copied this quote from here....

- Terrierman's Daily Dose -

They only have 14 inspectors and the few inspections that are done many violations are not enforced nor are they enough. These are some quotes from former inspectors.....

http://www.caps-web.org/index.php?op...ent&task=view&
id=209&Itemid=209

The AKC also formed it's own High Volume Breeders Committee which is a way for them to recruit and work with commercial breeders. They rely heavily on mass produced pups for income, they don't wan to lose the registries from all those litters.....I've also found articles that stated the AKC is also a platinum member of the Missouri Pet Breeders, which are puppymill breeders......

These are some more interesting links...

- Terrierman's Daily Dose -

- Terrierman's Daily Dose -

High Volume Breeders Committee ...Five Years Later by Gretchen Bernardi


I just addressed this issue about the AKC in the breeders forum with links to read, but all a person has to do is Google AKC and add on puppymills....High Volume Breeders Committee.....Hunte Corp...etc...you'll get a lot of info that will surprise you......The Dog Press has some interesting articles too.....Your going to be very surprised by what is out there, AKC is not what you think it is.....

[jp4m2]

I see the link for the inspectors didn't work. Here it is again.....

The Philadelphia Inquirer Exposes AKC Greed - Companion Animal Protection Society

[livingdustmops]

Originally Posted by jp4m2

I see the link for the inspectors didn't work. Here it is again.....

The Philadelphia Inquirer Exposes AKC Greed - Companion Animal Protection Society

Glad you posted this as I was going to bring the thread over here from the breeder section.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by FlDebra

But they do! Here is a small quote from their site: "The AKC is the only purebred registry in the United States with an ongoing routine kennel inspection program. The AKC has a dedicated team of field inspectors who visit kennels to ensure the proper care and conditions of AKC-registered dogs and verify that breeders are maintaining accurate records for their dogs. In 2007, AKC field inspectors conducted approximately 5,600 inspections nationwide. The AKC dedicates nearly $6 million annually to its compliance programs to ensure the accuracy of its registry and the care and conditions of dogs raised by breeders of AKC dogs." You can read more bout their inspection and investigation programs at this site: American Kennel Club - Investigations and Inspections Department

See even I am getting confused. I was assuming that it was the USDA that did the inspections and then reported to the AKC. But it all is just a giant tangled mess and the more education that is out there the better we will all understand.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

See even I am getting confused. I was assuming that it was the USDA that did the inspections and then reported to the AKC. But it all is just a giant tangled mess and the more education that is out there the better we will all understand.

The USDA does do inspections, but they don't report violations to AKC. The USDA is really an advocate for the farmer, the government actually wants farmers to do well, and many of their suggestions are for the farmer's benefits, not the dog's. Violations can take years to resolve, and reports are more often suggestions and recommendations rather than demands. Many farmers know that the USDA has little power, and just threaten to shoot their dogs if the USDA doesn't like the way their dogs are being treated; this is legal in many states. More often than not, when a kennel is listed as AKC registered, the USDA inspections stop, because they feel like the AKC has higher standards. This puts an extra burden on the AKC.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by livingdustmops

Over a $94 Billion Dollar Industry...Lobbyists....Do you really think the government is just going to change this? It is up to US (you and me) to get the laws changed. Please go to Prisoners of Greed and see what you can do to help make the change. Just saying poor puppy is not going to do that.

The Missouri Pet Breeders Association was formed to protect the puppy mills. They pay lobbyists try to block legislation all over the country. The commercial pet industry is a multimillion dollar industry.

Home ? MPBAOnline.com

[Ladymom]

Here's more information on the AKC and its relationship with commercial breeders:

PetPAC NONSENSE - Protecting your right to know ALL the information on PetPAC and COPS