Puppy Mill/pet store help and advice- please!!
 

Hi!

I have a BIG problem with a small "pet shop" in my area. Supposedly they are closing soon. (THANK GOD!) I stopped by yesterday and they have a 5yr old female Yorkie as well as a 3 mo old baby boy Yorkie. They also have a ton of other small breed puppies as well as kittens. The conditions were AWFUL!! There is no air conditioning- no water in their boxes. The baby boy Yorkie is being kept in a plastic storage bin with urine soaked wood chips on it. The female is kept in a wire cage with urine soaked newspapers.I want to cry!! I can't stop thinking about this. I would love to rescue him and also the female, but do not have $1000 right now to get them. They have a ton of puppies here (can you say Puppymill?) It breaks my heart. The store is almost NEVER open- (I have done random multiple stops throughout the day) God only knows how long these babies are left alone each day and the conditions in which they are left in. I don't know where to turn or if there is anything I can do. They are asking 650 for the baby boy and 350 for the female. Both Yorkies are unaltered. (I highly suspect that the female was used for breeding purposes and discarded) Both are AKC registered. What can I do to close this place down? Any advice would be appreciated or if you know anyone I can call......

Call the ASPCA immediatly. If that doesn't help call your police dept. or the bureau of better business in your area. That is animal cruelty. Don't buy the dogs though, as much as it hurts- you will just be feeding the operation money.

If you don't have an ASPCA call your animal control department. This is so sad.:(

It is terribly sad! But if it is bad enough for local authorities to shut it down, I assume the animals will be siezed and taken to a shelter - where you could adopt them and give them a good life without paying $1,000 to a horrid puppy mill operation.

Update... I spoke to several of the authorities today. They said that since this woman keeps moving, they are having a difficult time doing anything about it. I guess Ohio laws (which are absolutely horrific in my opinion!) state that animals must be fed and watered every 15-20hrs. As long a they are doing that, they are legal. Is that not the most pathetic thing you have ever heard???!! The Humane Society said they can't do anything about this. I am trying to get information to the newspapers and possibly TV, to educate the public on how awful these puppy mills operations really are. I don't think the general public even gives it a thought when they are looking for a puppy. I hope I can make a difference, even if it is a very small one.

GREAT ADVISE !!

and as hard as it is - rescuing them will just cause the owner to buy MORE puppy mill puppies -

you just received wonderful advise here and keep on the authorities - maybe someone will listen - you sometimes have to keep trying to find that ONE person that will do something - GOOD LUCK ! It sounds like an awful existance for those poor dogs:(

how sad i feel sick to my stomach now...

I feel sick too, Gina. I want to go to Ohio and rescue this poor babies! :(

I know puppymills are nightmares but if you like a dog in a store and
want to give it a home I see nothing wrong with that. I know many
people who have purchased their pets from these stores with no problem,
I for one. I have read on this site many, many stories about owners who
purchased their pets from breeders and have had many heartaches due to
illnesses. So what is the difference? Unless you are showing and really know
the top breeders for that purphase you stand a chance of getting a pup with
problems. Worms, LP, grows to large etc. I read it over and over. I wish all
puppymills would be forced to close down so the bred dogs could be saved but it is not the puppy's fault and they deserve a loving home.
\

Does anyone know if I am allowed to picket? The store is on a busy street and I would LOVE, LOVE to stand there with an anti-puppy mill sign by their store!! This just makes me so angry and I feel so helpless!! Don't worry- I will keep on the authorities. Maybe if they get sick enough of me bugging them, they will do something about it!

You can only save one dog at a time...and understand you are taking on a life mission. Good for you:thumbup:

Just to clarify... my problem is not with the store itself being there. I DO have a MAJOR issue with the apparent lack of care being given to these animals and the conditions they are subjected to living in. If they were well taken care of, I would not be so upset!

Your absoulutly right. I agree with everything you said. I was referring to
purchasing the pups from a pet shop. Wish I were closer I would picket
with you. I reported a pet store in my area because a small yorkie pup
had a collar on that was so tight it was impossible to swollow. I stood
right there while they changed it. I called the local police and they referred
me to animal control. They said they had other reports and would go check
it out. I never went back because they break my heart.

I think people are anti-petstore because if you buy in a store, they will get another pup...from a mill. Now, I got Baby in a petstore too, and don't regret it. But I would prefer not to get another in the store. ;)

I guess your right but is sure is hard to resist them.

You're right!!! It's VERY hard to resist them. You don't know how bad I want to "look around" the petstore that I got Baby from. I have to hold myself back from visiting. :p

I know there are petstores out there that don't buy from puppymills. But the questions are these:
#1-How do you know the difference?
#2-Would a reputable breeder actually sell his/her furbabies to a petstore? Breeders usually want to know everything about you before they let their babies go. ;)

I'm NOT knocking breeders who do, I'm just playing devil's advocate! LOL :D

Magenticgal, I think it's so great that you want to educate the local public and are contacting the newspapers and local TV. I have wanted a Yorkie for over 5 years. When our lifestyles finally changed to be able to accommodate a dog, hubby's ONE request was that we go to a breeder and not a pet store. At the time, I didn't understand how most pet stores worked. I thought I would be "saving" a puppy from the pet store if I got one there. Now I know that if I had, they would have just replaced him with another one! Thank goodness I found Stacy!

Where exactly is this petstore?? I will picket with you, I am not far away. But some how I don't think we would be allowed:(

Magneticgal
As far as the picketing goes :yeahthat: :yorkiesar :interesti :goodluck: :thumbs_do I think it is one of our Constitutional Rights as American Citizens! It falls under Freedom of Speech:exclaim:
:smileyfla :usaheart: :2hearts2: :usastar: They do it for everything else, Why not this? Unfair wages, anti war, right to life, etc. you name it we fight for it. IT'S THE AMERICAN WAY ! I would get together everybody that cares in your area. Go to shelters and hand out flyer as the people are going in. Go to the Mall, go door to door, also College students are always up for demonstrations. Then when it is organized I would contact every source of Media that will listen. They alway send somebody to cover rallies at least once. If you get the media on her back she'll straighten up. and if she disappears the law will step in because it will be abandonment then. Once the news gets ahold of it the police will have to stay in check also. YOU GO GIRL, GOOD LUCK ! What's the name of the Pet Shop anyway ?
Key2Yorkies ~ Jan

Yes, if you do decide to picket or take up a petition, let me know, I will be there right beside you!!

The name of the shop is Claws and Paws. I just found out another little "tidbit" of information on this woman. I guess she has owned several of these shops. She has been investigated NUMEROUS times and KEEPS MOVING!! Just the other day when I drove by, she had a sign that she is moving AGAIN!! The sign says that ALL puppies, dogs, and kittens MUST GO!! mmm.. I wonder where she is going to??!!! Obviously she isn't the sharpest toll in the shed either, as she has kept the SAME pet store name every time!!! GO FIGURE!!!

Hey, if you decide to picket, or need any other help, I would love to come & support you.

Btw, is this ad by the same woman?

http://www.domesticsale.com/Classifieds/57110.html

Does anyone have any great articles for the media regarding puppy mills? I want a "shock" story (yes- they are all shocking and disgusting in my opinion!) . I just found out the Massillon paper in our area is doing an article on "pet stores" . What BEAUTIFUL timing for us!!! I am going to PUSH like crazy to get the word out!! I believe in my heart that ALL of us CAN make a difference- we just have to be persistant and NOT give up!!

OH YES INDEED!!! That is her!!!!

Great idea! Please give us the name of the pet store and address. Let's all
write protest letters to the owner and tell them they are being watched
and better shape up. If they get a hundred letters in the mail from all over
they might just do something! "LET'S DO IT"

The owners name is Lisa Mccoy. If you do a google search, you will see how many puppies she has available. The ship info is:

Claws and Paws
3643 Lincoln Way E
Massillon, Ohio 44646
330-479-2550