Dogs Deserve Better!

If you see ads by Google for the sale of puppies on the Internet or In pet stores associated with this hub you shouldignore them. The probability is as high as 99% these enterprises sell dogs that were born in puppy mills.

For more information about puppy mills and their connection to pet stores and Internet sites that sell puppies, go to www.thepuppymillproject.org)

Some of my friends ask me why I volunteer to be director of communication for The Puppy Mill Project.

My reason is based on the nauseating repetition of acts of cruelty and thoughtfulness that the wards of puppy mills are subjected. Earlier this summer a recent example occurred in Upstate New York when a puppy mill operator killed 93 puppies and dogs in a homemade gas chamber.

That's right! This guy built a gas chamber to kill his own dogs in.

The reason he killed the animals is he was told by the USDA he would have to test the animals for a deadly disease. In order to save money he decided not to test the dogs for the disease and killed them instead.

I won’t go into the details about how this thug built his gas chamber, or hooked up an exhaust from a small internal combustion engine to kill the dogs with carbon monoxide poisoning. It is hard enough for me to imagine the stress, the fear, the discomfort, and the inhumanity these dogs suffered as they were methodically killed five at a time.

The details of the killings are entered in a USDA report filed on July 15^th of this year. (see http://www.thepuppymillproject.org/Puppy_MIll_Atrocity.html) to read the report.

The USDA took no action against the canine killer except to tell him he must have a veterinarian present for future canine killings. (Killings is my word not the USDA’s word)

To some people a dog is only an animal. To other people dogs are not just another animal species. To these people dogs have a special status. Perhaps that is because these kindred beings have evolved with mankind for the past 15000 years or more.

Dogs were able to protect our ancestors from human enemies and predators. They were able to help early man herd animals in herds, rather than to just hunt or follow herd animals. This allowed our ancestors to end their nomadic existence and to develop agrarian societies.

Modern dogs have a predisposition to social intelligence that is truly amazing. They also have an ability to understand that objects that are not currently being observed still exist. That means they know you exist when you leave them for a time. They also learn by both reinforcement and observation.

Their canine physiology means they require activity, and most experts agree at least 15 minutes or more of cardio vascular activity is required by dogs on a daily basis.

Yet, despite the co-evolution and historic symbiotic relationship between man and dog, despite the intelligence and sensitivity of canines, their need for exercise, and their dependency on humans, we allow puppy mills to exist. Puppy mills are a poor way to reward a species that is known as man's best friend. I shudder to think how we would treat them if they were considered man's worst friend.

The only things these large commercial dog breeding operations provide is barely adequate needs substance. The dogs kept at puppy mills:Seldom if ever

• Seldom if ever seen by a veterinarian.
• The females are are bred two or more times yearly until drained and then killed;
• The dogs live in cages that are barely large enough for them to turn around in;
• Sometimes operators even deny the breeding dogs the ability to bark by damaging their vocal chords.
• Don't receive adequate exercise.

In total, the day to day cruelty at puppy mills far exceeds the unfeeling cruelty exhibited by the NY puppy mill operator who killed 93 of his dogs. Yet, it is only when a horror of this magnitude breaks that the public becomes momentarily aware of what goes on at puppy mills. Most of us don't want to think about the similar cruelty that is reoccurring everyday at thousands of such establishments.

Meanwhile, members of groups such as The Puppy Mill Project continue their fight against puppy mills and pet stores that sell the products of puppy mills. (It is estimated that ninety nine percent of all pet store puppies originate at puppy mills.)

Knowing what I do about puppy mills and pet stores and Internet sale of puppies I couldn’t look my dog Max in the eye unless I did something to try to stop this barbaric trade. If you want to get a look at a retailer that sells puppies from puppy mills, click any ads by Google in this article that advertise puppies for sale. According to the ASPCA there is a 99% percent probability these puppies came from puppy mills.

Now,how about you. knowing what now know what you do about puppy mills can you look your dog in the eye without doing something about these horrific places and the trade that thrives from canine misery?

Act now and join or donate to an organization that fights against puppy mills. If you are looking for an organization think about helping The Puppy Mill Project.