We recently received an email from the Humane Society of the United States about The Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act that will appear on the November ballot in Missouri. I decided to research puppy mills to see if it warranted a blog. Much to my chagrin there was a lot of information showing the extent of the problem.

There are seven states that are known as puppy mill states because they have the majority of the puppy mills in the country. They are: Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

Tragically, approximately 40 percent of all pet store puppies nationwide come from Missouri, where nearly 200,000 breeding dogs produce up to a million puppies a year.

Approximately 3,500 pet stores in the United States sell puppies. They sell approximately 500,000 thousand puppies a year. The puppy industry in Missouri has an estimated valued of 40 million dollars a year. Lancaster County in Pennsylvania has a puppy industry valued at 4 million dollars a year.

There are hundreds of thousands of puppies raised each year in commercial kennels. The dogs are kept in small wire cages for their entire lives. They never touch solid ground or grass to run and play. The cages are overcrowded and offer unsanitary conditions, without adequate health care, food, water or human company. Some of the cages are outside where the dogs are subject to the extreme cold or heat. Indoor facilities have equally terrible conditions, with ammonia vapors and odors permeating badly aired buildings. The puppies may have immediate health problems such as respiratory infections or pneumonia and some even have genetic diseases that show up years later. The breeding dogs are bred as often as possible to increase profits then put to sleep as soon as they can no longer produce. They never experience the love and compassion they deserve.

Unlicensed puppy mills often sell puppies at six weeks of age even though federal laws prohibit licensed mills from selling puppies under eight weeks of age. There is federal law, the Animal Welfare Act, and many states have laws that purport to regulate puppymills, but the fact is that those laws are rarely enforced. No states have laws against a breeding kennel legally keeping dozens of dogs in cages for their entire lives, if food, water, and shelter are provided. There are puppy mills that aren’t even regulated or inspected by the USDA, since many of them sell directly to the public.

Puppy mills are the main supplies to pet stores. Pet stores often tell customers that their puppies come from local breeders or quality breeders. Puppies that come from puppy mills are often not purebred. Ask to see the paperwork and find out where the puppies really come from. If the people of the United States refused to buy a puppy in a pet store or Internet site, and refuse to buy supplies from any pet store or Internet site that sells puppies, the misery of puppy mills would cease.

When you decide to get a puppy, consider adoption. Animal shelters have an ample supply of puppies, many of them purebreds. There are also breed specific rescue groups for every breed of dog.

If adoption is not for you find a responsible breeder and visit their premises. Never buy a puppy without seeing their parents and where they live.

There are many legitimate ads in local newspapers offering puppies. Go to the home and see the conditions in which they were raised.

Remember that pet stores do sell puppy mill puppies. False claims are not uncommon when the pet stores are trying to make a sale.

Beware of websites that say great things about their “home raised” or “family raised” puppies. Puppy millers pose as small family breeders online and in newspaper and magazine ads. Just because they say it does not make it true.

If you are tempted to “rescue” a puppy mill puppy by purchasing it from a pet store, just remember you are enabling the industry by putting money back into their pockets to produce more.

The Humane Society of the United States is working hard to combat the problem of puppy mills. They are the nation’s leading advocate for legislation to regulate puppy mills. They have fought for strengthened provisions and broader enforcement of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

For more information visit http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/puppy_mills/

Earlier this year, ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement Agents arrived at a New York City apartment to find that dozens of cats and kittens had overtaken the small space. The cats were severely malnourished, and many suffered from upper respiratory disease. There were no litter boxes, and the floor was covered in several inches of feces and urine. Living among the filth and debris was an 85-year-old woman suffering from dementia—she had been hoarding animals for years.

Animal hoarding is a complex and intricate social issue with far-reaching effects that encompass mental health, animal welfare and public safety concerns. Victims can include cats, dogs, reptiles, rodents, birds, exotics and even farm animals. While it’s not clear why people become animal hoarders, current research suggests the cause is often attachment disorder in conjunction with personality disorders, paranoia, dementia, depression and other mental illness. The hoarder does not intend to inflict harm on animals, and in most cases, the hoarder can no longer take care of himself, much less multiple animals.

“We often see that animal hoarders have experienced some traumatic event or loss in their lives,” says Fiona Knight, Cruelty Intervention Advocacy Manager at the ASPCA. “Usually, they are very lonely and isolated people—and the animals become their primary source of bonding and interaction.”

While the ASPCA does pursue cruelty charges when appropriate, in many cases, prosecution is not the answer. Not only are such cases difficult to successfully prosecute, but once released, hoarders are overwhelmingly likely to resume collecting excessive numbers of animals. The solution lies in supplying hoarders with the resources and tools they need to keep them from repeating their destructive patterns.

“As a clinical social worker, it is my job to go in and work with the hoarders. Not only do I educate them on the problems caused by having so many animals, but I also connect them with appropriate services,” says Knight. “Whether individuals need a therapist who specializes in hoarding, a cleaning service or the assistance of adult protective services, we provide the resources. Our first priority is to remove the animals and provide them with immediate treatment, but our job doesn’t end there.”

News Alert: August 6, 2010 ASPCA

We hope not. And we hope you’ll ask President Obama to consider your opinion.

We’ve been hearing a lot about the International Whaling Commission meeting that’s due to start on the 21st of June (Monday). Whales are facing the worst crisis since before the commercial whaling ban went into effect more than 25 years ago.

We’ve gotten several notes from the HSUS and other animal welfare groups so we though we’d publish our favorite one today. The following letter, via the HSUS, is the publicly offered personal message from Pierce Brosnan, who’s been working to protect whales for years. While you might know him best as the newest Bond, James Bond . . . we’ve all loved him since the Remington Steele days. So it was easy to pick our favorite “Save The Whales” appeal to share.

Dear Friend,

I’m writing to you today because my friends at The Humane Society of the United States and I need your help. More importantly, the whales of the world desperately need a hero.

Unless we speak up now, the International Whaling Commission, which has banned commercial whaling for more than 25 years, may surrender to commercial whaling interests: It is poised to give its blessing to commercial whaling, even in the pristine waters of the Antarctic Southern Ocean Sanctuary.

The Obama administration has the power to stop this cruelty. That’s why I’m asking for your help: Please join me in sending a message to President Obama now to urge him NOT to endorse a deal that effectively lifts the ban but instead to enforce and strengthen it.

The United States has long understood that the only way to save whales is to outlaw commercial whaling. That’s why it has championed the ban on commercial whaling that has been in place since 1986.

But next month, more than 80 nations will come together to consider a deal to end this international ban — and if they do, it will give Japan, Iceland and Norway a license to kill whales. And believe it or not, officials in the Obama administration are supporting this ill-conceived deal and thus declaring open season on the oceans’ most majestic creatures.

Please tell President Obama this is no time to abandon the whales, who are no longer seen as a commercial commodity, but an integral part of our ecosystem.

Unless you act now, members of the Obama administration will push other nations to pass a secret backroom deal that would suspend the moratorium on commercial whaling and make decades of conservation efforts to bring these species back from the brink of extinction meaningless.

Why? Because rogue nations such as Japan, Norway, and Iceland refuse to obey the quarter-century long moratorium.

We cannot allow three nations to decide the fate of the world’s whales. In 1982, the nations of the world recognized that whales could not survive if commercial whaling continued. In 2010, when whales face even more threats than ever before — including toxic pollution, climate change, loss of habitat, ship strikes, and oil and gas exploration — how could anyone believe it’s safe to let whalers off their leash?

On June 21, the International Whaling Commission will meet to decide whether to effectively lift the prohibition on commercial whaling for the next decade. The United States and YOU can make all the difference.

Please tell President Obama to reverse course and keep the ban and enforce it.

Tell him that the United States must protect whales, not whaling nations. Let him know that you want him to stand up and fight for the lives of these animals. He has the opportunity to be a hero, and the whales need one now.

Sincerely,
Pierce Brosnan
Actor and whale activist

More From Pierce Brosnan About Whales (and Dolphins)

Whaling: A Proposal Littered with Problems
The world knows him for his distinguished turn as James Bond, 007, but actor Pierce Brosnan is also well-known as an advocate for oceans and marine life, especially whales. Recognizing how high the stakes will be for whales this year at the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission, in Agadir, Morocco, Pierce and his wife, Keely Shaye Smith, television host and correspondent, decided to meet the challenge by producing an advertisement encouraging President Barack Obama to honor his promise to uphold the commercial whaling moratorium, and to oppose an international deal that the majority of American and international environmental and animal protection organizations oppose.

Save the Whales Again! campaign
An International Conservation Campaign featuring spokespersons Pierce Brosnan
& Keely Shaye Smith. Most people believe that the whales were saved because of the very popular “Save the Whales” movement of the Seventies… But if you think whales have been saved…
Think again!…for nothing could be further from the truth.

SaveTheWhalesNow.org
In 1986, a global commercial whaling moratorium was initiated, outlawing the hunting of whales anywhere in the world. But today, a group of countries, including the United States, are working behind closed doors to come up with a “deal” that could legalize commercial whaling for the first time in nearly 25 years.

NRDC’s Lethal Sounds – Narrated by Pierce Brosnan
Deafeningly loud sonar is a proven danger to marine life, but its use throughout the world’s oceans is spreading. This powerful movie makes plain what sonar does to whales caught within its range, and explains how whales, dolphins and other marine animals can be protected from deadly sonar. Watch the short movie, then follow the link below and demand action.

Here at PETSblogs, we love music nearly as much as we love animals. Occasionally, we’re fortunate enough to get a combination of these two things. For example, you’ve likely seen Sarah McLachlan’s ASPCA commercial (and been moved to tears or had to turn the channel), or perhaps are aware of rocker Chrissie Hynde’s (of The Pretenders fame) work with PETA. We love to see celebrities use their fame and fortune to help promote animal rights!

We recently discovered one such musician. Malea McGuinness, a talented pop/rock singer-songwriter, has also been an extremely active animal rights advocate. Citing classic female artists like Stevie Nicks and Linda Ronstadt as favorites, she describes her music sounding like classic (70s-era) rock and country, with a bit of folk thrown in for good measure. We loved what we heard, and wanted to introduce other pet-lovers to her music and her mission!

Lately, McGuinness has been garnering lots of attention from her inspirational new album, entitled CLOSE AS AIR. One reviewer raved about it, stating, Armed with a voice that is as bold as it is graceful, Malea McGuinness has what it takes to be a pop diva. If you haven’t heard of Malea McGuinness or heard her single, “Spinning,” take a quick moment to watch this video of her live performance of the song:

McGuinness’s touring schedule is gaining steam too, thanks to widespread publicity through radio play and her Myspace page. Some upcoming performances include the Dakota Music Lounge in Santa Monica on June 5th for a Breast Cancer Fund-raiser and opening for The Crash Test Dummies in Redondo Beach on June 10th. On July 3rd, she’ll be opening for The Counting Crows at the 2010 Summerfest Music Festival.

While some musicians could allow the fame and success to go to their heads, McGuinness uses hers to give less fortunate animals a fighting chance. Her live performances help raise money for numerous animal charities & foundations. She also works frequently with the staff of those facilities, continuing to educate herself on cutting-edge methods of rehabilitative care for abandoned and abused animals. Additionally, she volunteers regularly at The Amanda Foundation in Beverly Hills, where she implements her new techniques and shares her experiences with fans and other animal lovers.

In partnership with organizations such as The Wisconsin Humane Society, The Ark of San Juan, and The Kauai Humane Society, she generates awareness and much-needed funds for pet adoption-prep programs and animal rights volunteer efforts.

Maleamusic.com

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated… I hold that, the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of human kind.
— Gandhi

If you’re like many Americans, the country’s current economic state has forced you to trim your budget. If you’re a pet owner, you’ve probably had to switch to less expensive food and fewer vet visits for your pets. Sadly, for many less fortunate pet owners, the recession has made it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to continue caring for their pets. This is heartbreaking for both the owners, who have to let go of beloved extended family members, and for the pets, who have to leave a loving home for an uncertain future.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimated in November that between one and two million pets had been abandoned nationwide since the recession began in December of 2007, and that another million pets are in danger of abandonment because of it. It’s difficult to know how many, since more and more pets aren’t being dropped at animal shelters, but rather, just abandoned in the street.

Statistics like these are certainly sobering. But thankfully, there is an alternative springing up all over the country. Now, many local Humane Societies and food pantries have joined forces to help struggling pet owners feed and care for their pets. The Associated Press reported dozens of pet owners at the Cincinnati Food Pantry who lined up to receive a two weeks’ supply of pet food, treats, cat litter and other items. They are not alone.

Cities all over the country are teaming up with non-profit organizations to make sure the animals of their city stay fed and sheltered. In Tampa, Florida, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay has its own pet food pantry called “Casper’s Cupboard”  where people can come to receive donated pet food, toys, and cleaning supplies.

The internet of course, is another great resource for getting help with your pet needs. The Save Our Pets Food Bank boasts a total of over 160,000 lbs. of pet food donated in just under two years. The Food Bank, based in Georgia, also contains a list of several locations that provide free or low-cost pet care and food, both statewide and nationwide.

If you’re someone who is struggling to afford your pet, be sure to check into local programs at your Humane Society. A list of locations can be found here.

And if you’re someone who is willing and able to help, local Humane Societies and animal shelters are always looking for donations. You can help by donating material supplies or your time. Area animal shelters are always looking for volunteers in different capacities, whether it be sorting food, collecting donations, distributing supplies, or even your grooming or vet skills.

Anything you can do to help will make a great difference in the lives of the needy. They (and their pets) will thank you for it.

Animal Humane Society Promotes Prevention through Education

Golden Valley, MN (April 9, 2008)—April is often called the cruelest month of the year, but Animal Humane Society (AHS) hopes that with education, it doesn’t have to be for animals. AHS has been active in the prevention of animal cruelty in Minnesota since 1878. Our strongest lines of defense include humane investigations and education.
“Our Humane Investigations department responds to 3,000–5,000 requests for service each year,” states Janelle Dixon, President and CEO of AHS. “We hope to bring those numbers down by continuing to engage the hearts, hands and minds of the public and being a strong voice for animals.”

Animal Humane Society engages the public by educating them on the proper care of animals. A great number of people unintentionally bring harm to their pet by simply not knowing how to tend to them properly.

“Many of the reported cases of cruelty we investigate have a close parallel to weather,” states Keith Streff, one of two full-time, professional humane investigators in the state and working for AHS. “Many of the calls are seasonal related. Examples include pets being left outside in the summer heat with no water and situations where animals are left out in the extreme cold without shelter.”

The duties of AHS humane investigators also include investigating cases that involve dog fighting, cock fighting, negligent breeders, starvation/emaciation, and malicious behavior that results in the unjustified pain and suffering of animals. Humane investigators have authority under the law to remove animals and hold their owner responsible when the conditions warrant it.

According to Streff, who has been with AHS since 1987, many of the cases can be resolved with an educational approach. In 2007, AHS reached more than 24,000 students through its humane education programs. Shelter tours, summer camps, children’s evening programs, Boy/Girl Scout programs, and multimedia kits for teachers are offered. Classroom education programs are offered to schools, clubs and community organizations tailored to the age and interest of the audience.

“Humane education gives Animal Humane Society the ability to prevent animal cruelty before it starts,” states Tammy Noack, Humane Education Manager for AHS. “Our focus is to help students develop compassion, empathy, and respect for animals. We can change attitudes regarding what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to how animals should be treated.”

For more information on our humane education programs, please visit us online at www.animalhumanesociety.org. If you have an animal welfare concern and are unsure who to contact for help, contact Animal Humane Society Humane Investigations at 763-489-2236.

What You Can Do:

• Enter the ASPCA’s Go Orange Contest
• Animal Humane Society’s Cruelty Prevention and Legislation page.
• ASPCA – How to Recognize Cruelty.
• ASPCA – Report Animal Cruelty.
• Take the ASPCA pledge to fight animal cruelty.

ASPCA Public Service Announcements

When you think of Easter celebrations in the United States, your mind probably goes immediately to images of fluffy rabbits, cute chicks, and adorable ducks. Some of your thoughts probably even go toward the actual animals, rather than their tasty edible counterparts (don’t lie – you know you were thinking about Marshmallow Peeps and chocolate bunnies!).

But either way, those thoughts often lead to the idea of buying or adopting a cute little creature of your own  in celebration of the Easter season. While this may seem cute and appropriate, you should know a few things before committing to the care and ownership of these pets.

1. These Pets require care long after the Easter season has passed.
   Whether you have chosen a baby rabbit, a chick or a duck, you can keep them in a large cardboard box or a wire cage, but it less than a month, they will grow out of the boxes and will need room to run and play. They will also need a place that can be covered to sleep, as well as litter. You’ll also need to clean their cages at least once a week.

   You’ll also have to tend to their specific diets. Rabbits usually take fruits, vegetables, protein pellets, and hay or alfalfa, while chicks need small grit and whole grains. Nothing too bad there, but feeding ducklings is a little, um, grosser. You should feed them things like cracked corn and hard-boiled eggs, as well as various kinds of worms.

   Additionally, these pets live anywhere from seven to sixteen years, at least as long as many cats and dogs do. Chicks in particular can live up to sixteen years, and they’ve already reached their adult physical maturity after about two weeks. So, if you think that cute little hand-held chick you have now is going to stay that way forever, you will very quickly be disabused of that notion, and many, many years to laugh over it.

   Then, there’s the matter of interaction between these pets, humans, and other animals. One reason they don’t always make ideal pets for children is that they aren’t built to withstand the roughhousing a child can give them. Even squeezing any of these pets too tightly can result in broken bones, internal injury, or death. And, as cute as these seemingly cuddly critters are, like many animals, they tend to bite when feeling threatened or scared. They don’t mix well with other pets, either, especially dogs and cats (just look at Sylvester the Cat and Tweety Bird!). And contrary to the perception they give, they are NOT typically into loads of affection and cuddling, and often respond negatively to this kind of attention.

2. Many common household items for humans are dangerous or deadly for rabbits, chicks and ducks.
   It’s probably no surprise that pets, like babies, like to explore with their mouths. So having one of these pets really requires you to be vigilant (and perhaps have the Animal Emergency people on speed dial). Many of you know that dogs and cats can’t eat chocolate. The same is true about these foul and furry friends. Paper products, especially wrappers, decorations, and ribbons are also particularly dangerously enticing. It should also go without saying that alcohol is a big no-no for them. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t get into an open can or bottle of it if it’s lying around. Even seemingly innocuous houseplants can be toxic to the poor little characters.
   It takes very little of any of these products to kill your pets, so you may need to make some serious changes to your housecleaning routine to accommodate your new pets.
3. In many cases, you can’t just “give the pets back” to their natural habitat.
   If something comes up that makes you unable to care for your cat or dog anymore, you can take them to a humane society or sell/give them away in various ways. It isn’t that simple to just give away or abandon rabbits, chicks or
   ducks to a secure and safe future. Because these animals require more than that conventional amount of care, frustrated parents of well-intended children often end up abandoning these animals, thinking that they can simply be set
   free and will immediately adapt to their new surroundings. Unfortunately, this is NOT true, especially of ducks. Many people think they can fly, but save for two breeds of duck in the US, most can’t. This means many ducks are trapped
   beneath the frozen water in the winter. Some are rescued by shelters, but others are not so lucky. Others are attacked by predators because they’re ill-equipped to defend themselves in the wild.
4. They may not be the cleanest pets. Or the most legal.
   Some foul can carry some foul diseases. Salmonella strains can be carried by ducks and chicks alike, so having them as pets can very risky. Also, you need to check out the local laws about keeping them as pets, as they are not legal in some areas.
5. The Humane Society is asking people not to give these away as pets.
   ‘Nuff said.

Consider some alternatives to giving live pets like these. For instance, there’s always the option of plush animals, but if that’s not “real” enough for you, you can choose to help sponsor the care of real ones through the help of zoos and humane societies. And of course, there’s always Chocolate Bunnies and Marshmallow Peeps . . .

Eggs delivered by the Easter Bunny are as much a part of the holiday as a tree is at Christmas. And many people will buy a rabbit to accompany an Easter basket and an egg hunt.

But rabbits are not seasonal promotional items; they represent a 10-year commitment.

“As pets, rabbits are not low maintenance,” said Ed Van Herik, president of the North Georgia House Rabbit Society in Marietta. “They require at least the same amount of work as a cat or dog, and often more.”

Van Herik said that many of the rabbits purchased as Easter pets will never live to see their first birthday. Some will die from neglect, while others will be abandoned in local parks or left at animal shelters.

“If a parent wants to buy an Easter gift for their child, they should consider a chocolate rabbit,” he said. “The kids can enjoy them for 10 minutes, and they won’t have to take care of them for the next 10 years.”

Bucky, a rabbit cared for by the House Rabbit Society, knows first-hand the suffering that neglect can cause. Bucky was found huddled under a front porch last August, wet and shivering. Many rabbits are abandoned in August, a common month when animal shelters see thousands of the now teenaged and not-as-cuddly “Easter Bunnies” show up at their doors. Bucky suffered from extensive flea and tick infestations and had to have surgery for several abscesses before he was adopted by a caring, considerate owner.

Most people who purchase rabbits or other seasonal pets at Easter receive no education and often see the new pets as a holiday frill, able to be put into the wild after a few months.

“A house rabbit is as able to survive in the wild as you or I would be if we were set down naked in the woods,” said Van Herik. “If we buy pets, we owe them more than that. We owe them care and consideration, both before we buy them and after we take them home.”

For more information about rabbit care and ownership, go to www.houserabbitga.org or www.rabbit.org.