Puppymills:What you can do?
 

What You Can Do

To close down puppy mills and ensure the safety and humane treatment of dogs trapped in commercial kennels, you can:


Encourage state and federal officials to stop the mass production and exportation of sick and traumatized dogs. In addition to passing new laws, legislators can demand that existing laws be enforced.

Urge other people not to buy puppies from pet stores who get their puppies from puppymills.

Write letters to the editor about puppy mills. Explain the mills' inhumane treatment of puppies and their contribution to pet overpopulation.

Visit a local pet store to determine where it obtains its puppies. Don't be misled by claims that its dogs were not bred in puppy mills. Insist on seeing breed registry papers or the interstate health certificate for each puppy. The papers will list the breeder's and/or wholesaler's name and address.

Contact your member of the U.S. House of Representatives and your two U.S. Senators, asking them to urge the USDA to strictly enforce the Animal Welfare Act and to support efforts to increase funding for USDA/Animal Care. Members of Congress can be contacted at:
The Honorable _______________, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC 20510.

More you can do!
 

On May 11, 2000, attorneys representing a coalition of animal protection organizations and individuals filed a lawsuit charging the USDA with failing to halt cruel and inhumane practices at breeding facilities. The plaintiffs outlined the USDA's illegal actions in exempting pet dealers who were not retail stores from compliance with the humane treatment standards mandated by the AWA. The complaint also described how the USDA's lack of appropriate application of the AWA can lead to the injury, illness, and death of untold numbers of animals.

On July 31, 2001, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the language and history of the AWA clearly show that an individual who sells dogs and cats from his or her own premises is not a "retail pet store." Thus, the court found that USDA's exclusion of all commercial dealers who sell dogs and cats directly to the public is in violation of Congress' express intent under the AWA. USDA is appealing that decision.

You can make a difference in the lives of puppy mill dogs by contacting the USDA to register your concern that they do not regulate breeders who sell directly to the public. Ask them to drop their appeal of the court decision that clearly requires the agency to abide by the Animal Welfare Act mandate. Letters should be sent to:

The Honorable Ann M. Veneman
Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture
14th and Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20259

I think this got missed. I know how passionate most of the members are here about eliminating puppymills. Here is a way to make a difference. Please take some action. :thumbup:

Thanks for starting this post! I will take your great information and follow through! I want to do whatever I can to help shut down the puppy mills!

Thank you Shelley! We need more members like you who will DO SOMETHiNG constructive and not just complain about it! :D

Anyone else?

Can you imagine if every YTer did this?

You know - that just isn't right - I can personally vouch for others and myself that we've done LOTS in the past 2 years against puppy mills and YES - PET STORES .....I've written many letters - downloaded the forms and will do anything on my part to help -

To assume that people just complain and don't do anything is just that - assuming.

You are the person who defends pet stores all over this site...yet you accuse people of not doing anything ? I'm sorry ...but I took this a little personally.....you can't force the issue down peoples throats and that's what I've been feeling lately.

Yes, people should help but there are ALREADY many threads about this...I've noticed most posts have copied & pasted long quotes from law sites ....I personally don't read them because I don't like spending 10 minutes reading one post....but I would read the condensed version if I thought it was important.

We ALL want to help.... but getting sarcastic isn't going to get us anywhere.

Thank you Shelley! We need more members like you who will DO SOMETHiNG constructive and not just complain about it!


Well, Kim this is a YORKIE FORUM, not a debate forum, not a legal forum and not an activist forum. Everyone here I am sure does their part by educating people who do not know about puppymills and pet stores. I do my small part and I am sure there are others that do theirs.
I have tried to educate anyone who will listen and I DO NOT buy from brokers and puppy mills. I find this post abrasive at best and baiting at worst. What have YOU done other than tell the rest of us what CAN be done? Just curious. Dawn

I am one of the people who post AGAINST selling live animals in pet stores ....I think educating people is fine....As one of the 'complainers' against puppy mills.....I took offense at that comment too. No one knows what we do in our personal lives.

There has been so many shut down in North Central Texas, and some of the owners are in jail or doing prison time. Concerened citizens turn to local TV stations. The TV statiion send an "Investigation Team", and show the condition on TV. The Sheriff, Police, Humane Society, ASPCA is all there at the same time. Wow, it has made a great difference around here. Maybe more TV stations need to expose these people.

I SO AGREE !! SAY NO TO PET STORES and in turn ...you will hurt the Puppy Mills - writing and sending letters is great...I know I've been doing it for over 2 years....but also educating friends and family about puppy mills also is a big way people can inform the public...I'm a huge fan of the Houston SPCA as I've dealt with them....they acted so fast I was proud of them !

Thank you!

This is my point exactly! We have over 2500 members and a lot more lurkers and guests!

That is POWER!!!! If we all did these simple things, we could make a difference.

I applaud whatever efforts anyone has already undertaken of course, but this is soooo easy that to not do it is something I could not comprehend.

Villette and Dawn~I started this thread at 2 yesterday and at 11 No one had responded to it. I found that unacceptable in light of the recent controversies on here and people's passion against puppymills. Everyone was feeling helpless and so I went out and found something simple for everyone on here to do to make a difference. I am sorry you have a problem with my "call to action". I felt like the thread must have been missed because I know how much we all want to DO SOMETHING to put these people out of business!

Perhaps it wasn't simply missed. Maybe people didn't want to express their thoughts and rally around this thread -- not because of the topic but for other reasons.

I think things are happening in this arena and it is wonderful to see. The sooner these torture kennels are shut down the better. The television coverage when it happens is awesome because it brings out the outrage in people and motivates them to do something too.

If anyone has an "in" with any media source, it should be tapped as well.

Mills
 

Several people are totally committed to stopping puppymills..but they do not talk about their work, they do it. To assume all they are doing is complaining is a mistake. I, for one know Whispersmom puts her checkbook where her mouth is, plus others,rehome, foster and volunteer..good for you all.!! Some people are not horn blowers and feel uncomfortable I, I, I, Me ,Me, Meing.