Save the Puppies, Say No to Puppy Mills

On May 29, 2008, Oprah Winfrey revealed an industry fraught with problems and apparent cruelty. The broadcast showed puppy mills with small cages, with chicken wire floors, stacked in rows from floor to ceiling, and stated that many dogs spend their entire lives within these tiny cages. Many of these dogs are sold on the internet or by pet retailers to buyers who are unaware of the dogs' background. The report claimed that customers who object to this treatment of puppies unknowingly allow the industry to thrive. It also pointed out that many of the puppy mill bred dogs suffer long-term health problems. (Source: Wikipedia)





You may have watched these on Oprah last year, but for those who missed the show, please take a moment to watch the videos. I think it is important to share this because not many people are aware of the treatment these dogs get in puppy mills.

I am a dog lover (as well as my whole family), and whenever our dog gave birth to a big number of puppies, we always try to give the puppies away to close friends who will take care of the puppies well. Back in my hometown, I remember seeing dogs being kept in wired cages under the hot sun and never been left out to run around in the garden. Some dogs are tortured, beaten up and kicked. Instead of being treated as part of the family, the dogs are only to "take care" of the house. The owner never play with their dogs, clean/shower, feed them proper food etc.


It is painful to know that these dogs are not loved the way they are supposed to.

What are Puppy Mills?

Puppy Mills (also known as puppy farms) are large scale dog breeders that force dogs to produce litter after litter. The breeders only care about profit-making than the health and welfare of the animals. The puppies are sold in pet stores, over the Internet or newspaper advertisements.

Conditions of Dogs in Puppy Mills

- Very poor hygine and housing conditions

- Breeding animals continually mated, including over-breeding (too many litters per female) and in-breeding (mating close relatives)

- Kept permanently in overcrowded cages. Never allowed out of the cage to exercise, play, have companionship or to urinate/defecate. Some never walked on grass their whole life.

- Minimal or no vet care

- Limited shelter, cramped environment

- Poor maternal nutrition

- Lake of adequate socialisation

Consequences of Poor Breeding Conditions

Puppies from mills normally have:

- Long-term health or behavioral problems

- Social problems. More prone to have problems with their temperament.

- Dogs transported over long distances in poor conditions, sometimes resulting in deaths.

- Surviving dogs are more prone to develop respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia, and hereditary defects such as hip dysplasia as they grow older.

How can we help?

You can help by:

- Choosing not to buy pets or pet supplies from retail stores, internet sites or newspaper ads.

- Adopting abandoned pets from Animal Rescue instead of buying

- Making donation to funds the animal rescue. They are many sites through which you can donate. One of them is http://stoppuppymills.org

- Signing a Petition to ban puppy mills in your area. I have signed the petition "Save Our Animals! Ban Puppy Mills in Australia"(<---click here to sign the petition). If you are in Australia, please sign this petition to help reach their goal of 5,000 signatures.

- Spread the word. Create awareness.

Please think twice before buying animals from pet store. Find out where they really come from before you take them home.

Save the Puppies, Say No to Puppy Mills!


References:
http://stoppuppymills.org
http://www.americanhumane.org/protecting-animals/
http://www.seawolfproductions.com.au
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppy_mill
http://kb.rspca.org.au/What-is-a-puppy-mill/puppy-farm_322.html
http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/slideshow1_ss_global_20080404