We all know her as Bev; well, some of us know her as Tyler’s Mom, or Flat Tyler’s Mom, and even more of us know her as “the awesome IAMS lady.” Regardless, Bev is good people. In fact, she’s GREAT people. And she’s doing am equally great thing.

Bev has taken it upon herself to raise money for Small Paws Rescue for the entire month of March.

Small Paws Rescue (www.SmallPawsRescue.org) is who brought Bev’s beloved dog Tyler to her, and, in turn, she is forever grateful, as most of us are for our fur-babies. But even before the days of Tyler the Bichon Frise, Small Paws was important to Bev.

Why?

Bev and Tyler

Because they are a courageous group of about 800 volunteers and 6,000 supporting global members. In the past 12 years, they’ve single-handedly assisted in the rescue, placement, release, and/or adoption of over 8,000 Bichons, Bichon blends, and dogs that have a passing affiliation with a Bichon. They’ve essentially sent nearly 10,000 of these oft-passed little mill dogs to loving, kind, caring forever homes like Bev’s.

And now Bev wants to give back. Wouldn’t you?

Similar to most breed rescues you may’ve come across, Small Paws follows the Holy Grail mantra in the animal welfare world: the “no-kill” philosophy. This, unfortunately, means that costs literally sky-rocket. Because this means that each and every dog has to be taken care of in a foster home until he finds his own forever home. And that means that every dog has to see a vet before he can be placed in a home.

Do you know how much it costs to fix, feed, vet, provide shelter for, give medicine to, and buy toys for just one dog? Well imagine that costs times 1,000, which is a bit over the number of dogs that Small Paws will probably save this year. And that’s not even counting the dogs who require extra veterinary assistance for injuries, diseases and more costly fixes.

This is what Small Paws is up against right now.

Flat Tyler

They need our help. Everyone’s help. Even if it’s just a dollar. Even if it’s a bag of food. I go to the APL all the time and drop off bags of food and cat litter and they are eternally grateful.

Bev tells me that nearly all the donation money Small Paws gets goes to pay vet bills. Why? Because the little sweet, fluffy dogs that Small Paws rescues generally come from deplorable situations. Hoarders. Mills. Auctions. Death Row. So the amount of money that’s necessary to nurse them back to mental and physical health is sometimes exorbitant. But it’s worth every penny to Bev. And to me.

Bev is my good friend and I am going to support her in any way that I can. I am asking you all to please please do the same.

Bev is focusing on Small Paws on her blog, www.PetCareBev.com. But what she’d really like your help with is the giveaway she’s doing at www.MyFlatPet.com. My Flat Pet is her hobby site. She has a famous Flat Tyler cut-out; a life-sized photo of her dog Tyler that she takes to different places to photograph. Some of you might have met Flat Tyler at Blog Paws in Denver. The photos end up on My Flat Pet.

During the month of March, to encourage people to donate (and to increase the flat pet population), Bev is going to give away FOUR flat pets.

Also, Karen Nichols, the Catster blogger and the owner of Flat Skeezix, has also offered to create one of her amazing, personalized mixed media pet portraits to use as a give-away during the Flat Tyler Small Paws Fundraiser!

This is an incredible prize worth $100.00! You can see some examples here. She will give away the pet portrait at the end of March.

More details are here,  and also here.

So please, do what you can to help my good friend Bev and her cause this month. Its definitely worthy, and just think of the little fluffy lives your dollars will be saving. And who knows – you may even get your own Flat Pet out of it!

First, some background for those of you who may not know.

WHAT IS A PUPPY MILL?

While many people may be familiar with the term “puppy mill,” the industry and government regulators dismiss the horrors associated with them. Puppy mills are facilities which are licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture that mass-produce puppies for pet stores throughout the country and to emerging foreign markets. At present a USDA license is required for anyone with four or more “intact bitches” although federal officials are considering raising the number of animals held to as many as 60 without a USDA license. Puppies are subjected to horrific conditions from birth and during transport from breeder, to broker, to pet stores hundreds of miles from where their life began. The breeding “stock” suffers a constant misery living in small cramped cages often soiled with their own excrement.

A few Midwestern states are home to the largest concentration of puppy mills in the country, and Missouri is by far the worst offender. Many of the operators of these puppy mills hold other jobs and utilize mass-production methods to produce what they and government regulators consider an agricultural commodity. In a typical puppy mill, the dogs are fed in the morning and again in the evening. Cleaning, sanitation and general maintenance are addressed as time permits, usually during the weekend, if at all. Most of these facilities are in rural areas and are family operated to supplement a modest family income. In previous years USDA inspectors conducted at least one unannounced inspection per year at these facilities, however, federal authorities have recently adopted a risk based inspection program. Operators are given the opportunity to correct non-compliant items (technically violations of federal law) that are disclosed during the inspection. If upon re-inspection the violation or “non-compliant item” is not corrected, enforcement action should be taken in an effort to improve conditions at the facility. Inspection policies have deteriorated to such an extent that operators of these facilities can operate indefinitely with repeated disclosure of “non-compliant items.” The emphasis has dramatically shifted from the “welfare” of the animals to commerce. A factor that no doubt has contributed to this phenomenon is the decline in small family farms.

Humane organizations, animal advocacy groups and consumers are outraged at USDA’s lax enforcement of federal regulations as they have prompted substantial growth in the number of puppy mills over the past several years. To avoid the stigma of being called puppy mill facilities, many breeders invested thousands of dollars in facilities that surpassed USDA’s minimum standards. Unfortunately lax enforcement policies have allowed sub- or minimum-standard operators to compete and ultimately diminish profit margins for the better facility operators, forcing many of them out of business.

Today the average puppy mill will house between 75 and 150 breeding animals, most housed in hutch-style cages with wire floors. The fecal matter drops to the ground below and waste accumulates beneath the cage, providing a haven for flies and other vermin. Even with fairly prompt removal of waste, the ground becomes permeated with stench as the urine cannot be raked away. Dogs housed in indoor facilities endure an equally deplorable existence with ammonia vapors and odors permeating poorly ventilated buildings. Rodents, flies and other pests plague the animals almost constantly. Solid surfaces are supposed to protect the legs of puppies; however, as they mature and scout out their surroundings, feet and legs often fall through wire floors. The resulting injuries compound their misery. Their soft coats of fur become soiled with the fecal matter that didn’t drop through the cage, adding insult to injury.

At 8 weeks of age puppies are “harvested” and cleaned up for the trip to the broker. They are bathed to clean up feces and odors they have endured during their brief lives in the puppy mill. Pus is wiped from their sad and scared eyes just before they are shoved into whatever is convenient – with any luck an approved shipping container. Some will perish, and others will be rejected by the broker only to be held back for breeding stock. Many others will be killed for their lack of monetary value and some may even be sold for research. The survivors can be seen at your local pet store, but the emotional scars and irresponsible animal husbandry can bring misery into your home instead of anticipated joy.

If you have any compassion at all for the animals bred and raised under these miserable conditions, stay out of pet stores. Each puppy purchased from a pet store serves an industry with no conscience and virtually no enforcement by USDA. Thousands of unwanted animals of all ages and breeds are euthanized at shelters every day. Adopt and spay or neuter a shelter animal or rescued companion animal, and do your part to help end the plight of unseen thousands housed in puppy mills throughout the country.

Pet stores acquire their puppies from “puppy mills,” literal factories where breeding dogs live their entire lives cramped in filthy cages. While millions of forgotten dogs (and other animals) are killed in our nation’s shelters, the unfortunate dogs in puppy mills are forced to produce litter after litter until they die. Even though our nation’s shelters are overflowing with unwanted animals – an amazing twenty-five percent of which are purebred dogs – puppy mills continue to generate millions of dollars for the unscrupulous pet industry.

In an effort to break this tide of misery and death, IDA is targeting Petland, the nation’s largest pet store chain, and a major retailer of puppies, kittens, and other small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs.

IDA has documented shipments of puppies to Petland stores – they operate an amazing 123 stores in the U.S. and 57 more foreign outlets – from large Midwestern puppy mill breeders and dealers. One Petland supplier, Do-Bo-Tri Kennels, recently surrendered over 140 puppies to authorities in Nashville, TN after the puppies had been left unattended overnight inside a vehicle with no air-conditioning. Charges against the driver were eventually dropped after the dealer agreed to relinquish custody of the puppies.

Puppies are routinely shipped overland by truck or by air as cargo, often traveling hundreds of miles to pet shops across the country. Injuries and fatalities en route to pet stores are common and deplorable, yet they pale in comparison to the conditions their parents endure until their death at the mills. The euthanasia of millions of animals at shelters due to a lack of adoptive families compounds the tragedy of mill animals enduring a miserable existence to satiate the demand for their offspring.

While the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for inspection and enforcement of regulations pursuant to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), conditions for animals at these federally licensed facilities range from bad to worse.

Do-Bo-Tri Kennels, a major supplier of Petland puppies, has been repeatedly charged with violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

IDA is looking for former or current employees and customers of Petland

Successful Petland Protest

who have information to share about the poor conditions in which their animals are kept.

Please write to IDA with information.

After 75 weeks of continuous Saturday protests, the Petland in St. Louis (located in Heritage plaza at Olive and Ross), closed on March 31, 2004. We hope this victory will inspire and motivate everyone to keep the Petland protests Campaign going nationwide.

While millions of forgotten animals are killed in our nation’s shelters, the unfortunate dogs in puppy mills are forced to produce litter after litter until they die. Stores that sell puppies acquire them from “puppy mills,” factories where breeding dogs live their entire lives cramped in filthy cages. Even though our nation’s shelters are overflowing with animals–an amazing twenty-five percent of whom are purebred–puppy mills continue to generate millions of dollars for the unscrupulous “pet” industry.

In an effort to break this tide of misery and death, IDA will continue targeting Petland, the nation’s largest pet store chain, and a major retailer of puppies, kittens, and other small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. IDA is seeking dedicated activists to organize campaigns against Petland in various cities.
If you are interested in joining this campaign, contact:

In Defense of Animals
Director of Investigations
In Defense of Animals
phone: (415) 388-9641
idainfo@idausa.org

Click here for Petland locations and campaign contacts.

The consequences of pet overpopulation are much too tragic to be simplified. The number of victims – unwanted homeless dogs and cats – is of such magnitude that it is time that society be made aware of the reality of this tragedy. The statistics tell the story.

Three to four million dogs and cats are killed in shelters across the United States every year. These staggering numbers don’t include the animals that die on our roads or from unreported animal abuse. Also not included are the animals that die after being sold to research laboratories from our shelters. During 1999, animal shelters in Ohio killed 196,831 dogs and cats. Only a small fraction of these animals are vicious because of owner mistreatment or illegal intentions.

Only a small fraction are terminally ill or too sick to be treated. The majority of these dogs and cats are healthy. Many can be treated and behavior problems eliminated. We are killing adoptable dogs and cats capable of giving and receiving love for many more years.

WHAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE?

1. People acquire cats and dogs from sources that perpetuate overpopulation. They buy from breeders and pet stores. 5,000 puppy mills breed more than 1/2 million dogs in deplorable conditions, most of which are shipped to pet stores. By buying from these sources we perpetuate the market. 25% of the animals in shelters are purebred. When a pet is purchased, a shelter animal dies.

2. Many pet owners who fail to spay and neuter their animals. Whether by intent or neglect, these dogs and cats reproduce. For every litter born, that many will die in a shelter. Many of these people are hobby and professional breeders, others are backyard breeders wanting their children to see the miracle of birth. Perhaps these people need to visit the killing room of a shelter to watch the tragedy of death.

3. People treat pets as disposable commodities. People simply surrender or abandon their animals instead of taking responsibility for them for their lifetime. Every day people walk into shelters and surrender animals for reasons as frivolous as the animal not matching their furniture anymore or we’re going on vacation and can’t afford to board – we’ll just get another dog when we come home. The number one excuse is moving – the owner doesn’t consider the animal important enough to find animal friendly housing. More excuses include – behavior problems, not enough time, can’t afford, and allergies.

A Dog in OSPCA's Current Care

In summary, failure to spay and neuter is the major cause, but how we acquire our dogs and cats and how long we keep them is also a contributing cause. For every animal killed – be it a dog, cat, pig, rabbit, or bird – there is a human outside the walls of the shelter responsible.

Ohio SPCA’s Position

• Don’t Breed or Buy – Adopt

• Keep Your Pets Safe at Home

• Spay and Neuter

And remember – pets are living creatures, capable of fear, love, pain, loneliness, and joy. They should never be considered disposable property, for they should be considered members of the family. Every companion animal must be loved and protected.

Ohio SPCA believes that no person should be breeding while dogs and cats are dying every single day. To find out more about puppy mills, pet stores, and how you can stop pet overpopulation, visit the web sites below.

This OSPCA Dog Has Hope!

In Defense of Animals
What is a Puppy Mill?
Prisoners for Profit

Pet Overpopulation Statistics

UPDATE 5: Start writing your acceptance speech! Pick out your formal wear (and your pet’s)!!

Planning with Dogtime for the 2011 Petties has begun. This year will be bigger, glitzier, and more fun!

More categories, more winners — all with your help. Watch for details!

We would be honored to be nominated for the Petties again this year but we won’t hold our breath as there are SO MANY FANTASTIC pet bloggies out there who deserve a nod!

Regardless, we can’t wait to see our friends from Dogtime, IAMS, PainePR, Helen Woodward Animal Center, FlatTyler, FlatSkeezix, PetSmart, Kyjen, Bissell, PawTalk, PawCurious, and LOTS more!

UPDATE 4: Hoping to quell a Twitter uprising, Tom said, “Give ‘em what they want!”

Two styles to choose from on the BlogPaws 2011 Badges page.

UPDATE 3: Yes, it’s Jan. 31 already. Don’t miss it!

Also, to nip the brewing Twitter revolution in the bud (@grouchypuppy, @dlsilver, @dancingdogblog, @vscook), working on providing special badges for returning BlogPaws Alums! Stay tuned!

UPDATE 2: Another reason to register early! The Sheraton is extending the special BlogPaws room rates for 3 days before AND after the conference, so you can plan to see some Washington DC sites, too. But only “subject to availability of guest rooms at the time of reservation” — so don’t wait!

Big plans, big doings, lotsa learning and lotsa fun!

So everyone get geared up! Its going to be fantastic!

The Pogo Plush beaver might be one of the coolest toys ever.

Benson loves his new Pogo Plush beaver so much that he hasn’t even tried to de-squeak it or tear the ears or face off! He’s guarding it with his life! He won’t tug with it and he puts it in his hiding spot at night! LOL

Pogo Plush toys are an inventive toy for any dog. First introduced last winter, the Pogo Plush Original became an instant classic. Dogs love the traditional faux sheepskin covering, and find the bounce-back action irresistible!

The patent pending design provides a unique bounce-back action that dogs prefer over traditional stuffed plush toys. These toys are stuffing free, so there’s no mess if your dog likes to destroy plush toys! Pogo Plush toys are built with inner bouncy frames and free-floating squeakers that will give your dog hours of fun. Available in a large & small sizes.

Features & Benefits

1. Inner bouncy frame with free-floating squeaker
2. No stuffing = no mess!
3. Available in small and large sizes
4. Triple stitched in those easy-to-tear places
5. Machine washable

Premier Pet Products® has expanded the Busy Buddy Pogo Plush product line to include:

Frizzle – New shag covering! For dogs that prefer longer, shaggier plush toys, the Frizzle is sure to be their new favorite toy.

Slap Happy – Features extendable arms to appeal to a dog’s natural shaking instinct. Also works wonderfully as a tug toy.

Animals – Bunny, Beaver and Raccoon.These little woodland creatures have sleek fur, adorable features and fun-to-tug ears and tails. Available in early December.

To find these fantastic bunnies, beavers and more cool products, call Premier Pet Products’ Customer Service at 888-640-8840 to find a store. More information is available at  www.premier.com. Like us at www.facebook.com/premierpetproducts 

Okay, we have so much swag built up in the house that we need to unload it! So we are adding on to the Kyjen contest and having our own separate photo contest! Some of you read about this previously, but we need to hurry it up! Send your funny pet photos in for us to post at thoughtsfurpaws@gmail.com!

Readers will comment and vote on them, ultimately deciding the winners!

We’re giving away dog and cat food, toys, trinkets and bath stuff for dogs, plus more swag that’s a surprise!

So send us your funny pet photos NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 20th at NOON. Winners will be announced at 1 pm that same day, and prizes will be shipped the next day standard mail. (You should get them by New Years depending where you live.)

Get on the Kodaks and get snappin’ now! This is open to everyone and anyone!

It’s tempting, when finances are tight, to look at drastic ways of cutting your budget. Many dog owners have considered getting rid of their family pet in order to trim their budgets. Before you take that step, here are some money-saving tips which we have implemented in our household to make sure that our dog isn’t putting an undue burden on our finances.

Don’t Dread Feeding Time

While dog food isn’t necessarily cheap, don’t think that simply switching to a less expensive alternative is going to save you money. In the long run it is likely that cheaper brands will cause more problems, and cost more money, than some of the more expensive brands. On the other hand, there is no reason to buy the most expensive brand, either. Find the best balance of price and ingredients by making sure the food you are feeding your dog is light on fillers and high in nutritional value. The fewer fillers you have, the more quickly your dog will get filled up and the less it will eat.

Don’t Spend A Lot on the Small Stuff

Items like collars, leashes, and dishes don’t have to be expensive to be usable. My dog doesn’t care if the collar she is wearing is enuine leather with gold accents, or the dollar store special, as long as it is comfortable and fits well, she is happy. In the same way, she doesn’t need a fancy leash as long as it is sturdy. Her dishes don’t need to be designer, either; metal or plastic work fine and the food tastes the same to her.

You Can Groom at Home

I began grooming our dog at home and it has made a world of difference to our budget and Iget lots of comments on how good she looks. I don’t have to get fancy with her styling since we don’t show her, so a simple scissor-cut is all it takes. Keeping her trimmed is easy and just takes a little time every few weeks.

Don’t Let Fleas and Ticks Put the Bite on You

There are many great, less expensive, alternatives to your local vet for flea and tick treatments and heartworm medicine. Shop around online and find the best deals. Just make sure the firm you are dealing with is reputable so you don’t get stung.

Let Your Dog Walk You

Good boy!

You need exercise as much as your dog — some of us need it even more. Rather than buying her a bunch of expensive toys, we have started taking our dog for regular walks and play outings to the park and she is happier and healthier than ever. Speaking of toys, a couple of
simple toys will usually keep your dog happy for hours. Sticks and tennis balls are great time-wasters for your best friend, and you can make your own toys with old socks and other items around the house; just make sure they are safe for your dog.

Regular Check-ups are Important

Don’t try to save money by going with a cheaper vet just because they’re cheap. Find a good vet who cares for your dog as much as you do and get to know them. Emergencies do arise and you will be glad to have a good vet at your side when they do.

Safety! Safety! Safety!

There are many hazards that your dog can come into contact with right around your own house. To keep unwanted visitors out and our dog in, we have a fenced area for her to roam in when we let her out. Though she comes when called, we make sure to keep her on a leash in new places where there is traffic so she doesn’t get in trouble if she does have to wander.  Taking these precautions helps us to have peace of mind about what she is getting into and know that she is protected from many potential hazards.  Also, since dogs are inevitably curious, keep household cleaning supplies behind closed doors and sharp objects out of reach, just as you would with a toddler.  Accidents can ensue and veterinary emergencies are neither fun nor inexpensive! Don’t think that a tight budget means that you can’t have or keep a dog.

Be creative and find ways to tighten your budget so that you can keep your best friend where she belongs; in your home, with your family!

Thank you PetFinder.com, the amazing BlogPaws sponsor and esteemed national organization, for this information.

Before you read this however, I really want to call out PetFinder for being so damn cool.  YOU CAN FIND ANY ANIMAL YOU WANT IN ANY AREA YOU WANT. EVEN PUREBREEDS. YES!

PetFinder.com isn’t just for finding an animal however… there’s all kinds of fun stuff to do and LOADS of information. For example, read about:

-what to do before, during  and after an adoption

- keep up on pet news, plus pet care, nutrition, grooming, etc

- find animal welfare groups in any area

- read through the pet classifieds

- watch cool, funny and/or informative videos

- talk to others in the forum

- shop around in the pet store

- read the killer pets blog (we’re talkin’ the best of the best here)

- join PetFinder on Facebook, iPhone, YouTube, Twitter and MySpace

- read about the INSANELY GENEROUS PetFinder Foundation, which is comparable to the beloved PetSmart Charities

Bascially:

Ten SIMPLE Ways to Use Social Media to Help Homeless Pets

Petfinder’s entire and central mission is to help adoptable pets. They list the animals of over 13,500 rescues!! And in the 14 years since its founding, they’ve helped more than a whopping 15 MILLION pets find homes. According to Petfinder: “We could never have done it alone. We rely on people like you — devoted social media enthusiasts with a passion for pets — to help us spread the word.”

Not convinced you can make a difference? You’d be surprised…

Check out these quick and easy ways you can be the change for pets every day!

1. Share an adoptable pet or a Petfinder pet adoption Happy Tail on your blog, Facebook page or Twitter page. Find pets near you at Petfinder.com (just click) to feature, and read the most heart-warming stories, or, “Happy Tails” as we advocates call them, right here (just click again).

2. Tweet an adoptable pet for #TweetAPetTues and help us start a Twitter adoptable pet trend (I must say this is ALR EADY a BIG trend and in full swing)!

3. Hold a virtual fundraiser or toy drive for your local shelter. For fundraisers, simply have the rescue group sign up with www.firstgiving.com and watch as the donations go directly to the animals in need.

4. Contact your local shelter or rescue group (you can search for groups near you on PetFinder) and ask if they have a donation Wish List or flyer you can post for them. (FYI – EVERY rescue shelter Ive ever worked/volunteered for has had quite a large list and their needs run the gamut from clean towels to cat litter to dog food to leashes and food bowls. Some even request administrative supplies!) Regardless, any in-kind giving helps.

5. Sign up to be a foster parent or shelter volunteer, then Tweet, ReTweet and post about it everywhere: your blog, Facebook, MySpace, forums, and tell everyone how much fun it was and how rewarding it is. Also – it IS considered community service by the way for you teens out there…

6. Make featured adoptable pets appear on your home page! Check out our easy-to-use widgets here.

7. Take a video of your adopted pet and post it to YouTube with a shout out to the rescue where you found him.

8. Let visitors search for adoptable pets right on your site with a Customizable Pet List Scroller and Search Widgets

9. Share or link to the common and quite appropriate post: “SHOOTING DOWN COMMON MYTHS ABOUT PET ADOPTION.”

10. Tweet or share: “101 Reasons to Adopt,” which is like the pet rescuer’s Bible pretty much.

ATTN TO: The 824,810 signers of “Tell Petland to STOP Selling Puppies!”

I posted about this in June and a few people got really fired up; then the more people found out about the stores that bought from puppy mills the real backlash began.

Thanks to the help of the Humane Society you can. You can, even if you don’t live there.

Petland Protesters Freezing Their Butts Off For the Cause...!

The pathetic USDA gave itself a failing grade in terms of keeping up with mills back in April (“USDA Gives Itself a Failing Grade in Puppy Mill Enforcement”) – Change.Org Animals

An internal audit (pdf) by the USDA’s Inspector General’s office found serious problems with the USDA departmentresponsible for keeping breeders in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act.

All in all, it’s a pretty sorry situation. At a time when puppy mills are finally receiving at least a small amount of mainstream attention, the folks in charge of punishing animal abusers prefer namby-pamby “cooperation” over punishment, and when they have to punish, they usually go for the lightest possible penalty.

Among the findings:

• The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Animal Care Division (the folks who are actually supposed to inspect dog breeders) “was ineffective in achieving dealer compliance with AWA and regulations.”
• The Animal Care Division “chose to take little or no enforcement action against most violators,” instead choosing to take the less-punitive route of “education and cooperation.”
• Inspectors “did not correctly report all repeat or direct violations (those that are generally more serious and affect the animals’ health). In addition, some inspectors did not always adequately describe violations in their inspection reports or support violations with photos.”
• What about the puppy mill cases where the inspectors actually bothered to report and document abuse? Not such good news there either. Apparently, “the agency continued to assess minimal penalties that did not deter violators.”
  

  CRAMMED, COLD Puppy Mill in MO

• And speaking of not deterring violators, “Typically, AC does not take enforcement action against first-time violators, even if the inspector identifies a direct violation (i.e., one that hasa high potential for adversely affecting the health of an animal).”

Rescued Rare Breed Puppy

Let’s talk about the response from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. As was the case with the report on livestock inspections in February, he claims that it didn’t happen on his watch. He’s correct, by the way; this report covers the time period stretching from October of 2005 through September of 2008.

In short, it wasn’t his fault but it’s his problem now. The question is, will Vilsack actually change anything? He’s committed to “reinforce [USDA's] efforts under its animal welfare responsibilities, including tougher penalties for repeat offenders and greater consistent action to strongly enforce the law.”

Vilsack can talk the talk. He’s got legions of bright young governmental PR people to help him do that. But actually cleaning up USDA’s reprehensible record on animal welfare is going to take more than rhetoric and hand-wringing.

Twice this year, Vilsack’s department has been called out in public for lax enforcement of some very important laws. Twice this year, he’s eaten his humble pie and pledged reform. He’s right in pointing out that he didn’t cause these problems, but it’s time to stop talking and start fixing.

Some members of Congress get that, which is why Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and David Vitter (R-LA) are introducing the PUPS (Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act), which updates and strengthens parts of the Animal Welfare Act. You can do your part as well, by calling on your Senators to support the PUPS Act. The Animal Law Coalition has a good summary of the proposed bill here.

Tell Congress to Crack Down on Puppy Mills

Stand up for puppies – help us pass the PUPS Act

In the wake of an eye-opening audit showing serious flaws in investigation and enforcement of animal cruelty at puppy mills, Senators Dick Durbin and David Vitter are introducing the H.R.6949 PUPS (Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act).

This bill strengthens the existing Animal Welfare Act and helps the US Department of Agriculture crack down on unscrupulous breeders who put profit ahead of animal protection.

You may have heard about the campaign to vote YES on Proposition B, the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act, which will help thousands of dogs languishing in puppy mills all across Missouri. It’ll amend the Animal Welfare Act to provide further protection for puppies.

*** Now we need YOU to help us help them!***

Get started here | View Petition | Ask Friends to Sign

You can help by signing up to participate in our virtual dog walk, The Walk for Pups. Create your page and share it with your friends and family on Facebook.

For two weeks, animal lovers across the nation will Walk for Pups to help stop puppy mill abuses in Missouri. Will you join us — and help thousands of dogs without ever leaving your own neighborhood (or even your own home)? When you join us on this “virtual” walk, you’ll support the campaign to pass Proposition B, a measure to establish common sense standards for the care of dogs in Missouri dog breeding facilities.

Infamous Amish Country Puppy Mill Block Pre-Auction: Disgustingt works: For 2 weeks in October, you can pledge to walk two miles (in your own neighborhood, and with or without a dog), and raise $200 from friends and family to support 200,000 breeding dogs in Missouri.

Here’s how it works:

Simply create your own Walk for Pups page, set a goal to raise $200 (or any other amount) to help save dogs, and invite your friends and family to help you reach your goal. And don’t forget to add a picture of your dog (or any pet) to your page.

When you create your page, we’ll send you an official Walk for Pups bandana for your pet!

In addition to helping save thousands of dogs across Missouri, you’ll have the opportunity to win one of our Walk for Pups prizes. Everyone who reaches their $200 goal will receive a special edition hoodie.

♥♥♥♥♥ Plus, prizes will be given for reaching $500, $1,000, and grand prizes for the Top Fundraiser and the Best Walk for Pups Photo. ♥♥♥♥♥

Check out our full list of prizes here.

Still have questions?

Visit our FAQ page.

Everyone who creates a page receives a FREE dog bandana plus the chance to win a ton of other cool prizes, like a special edition hoodie, a shopping spree at our online store, and more!

♦Pieces of post taken from different writers on CHANGE.org, my own posts, HSUS and Martin Matheny.

Other Puppy Mill and Dog Welfare News & Events

(stay tuned next week when we tackle dog auctions!)

October 20, 2010 — Customers File Suit Against Notorious Missouri Puppy Mill For Selling Sick and Dying Dogs

• 

  A group of consumers filed suit in the Randolph County Circuit Court against notorious Missouri puppy mill S & S Family Puppies for selling consumers sick and dying puppies.

October 18, 2010– Former Missouri Senator and Statesman Jack Danforth Endorses Prop B to Prevent Puppy Mill  Cruelty in Missouri

• 

  The coalition of individuals and animal welfare organizations supporting Proposition B, the statewide ballot measure to stop puppy mill cruelty, is pleased to announce that former U.S. Senator Jack Danforth has endorsed the measure.

October 18, 2010– California Consumers Help Drive Cruel Missouri Puppy Mill Industry

• 

  Thousands of puppies shipped from Show-Me State to Golden State during 2009, including dozens from some of the worst puppy mills in Missouri.

October 12, 2010 — Jackson County Endorses Prop B to Prevent Puppy Mill Cruelty in Missouri

• 

  The coalition supporting Prop B, the Missouri ballot measure to stop puppy mill cruelty, applauds the Jackson County legislature for unanimously approving a resolution supporting passage of Proposition B.

More News & Events »

Join online a+ certifications and ccie to pass SY0-301 exam in first try. Our best quality ccvp and 642-902 tutorials guide you well for real exam.

Ban Puppy Mills in Ohio

Sign Petition to Ban Puppy Mills in Ohio FOR GOOD

Now is really time for me to launch my Be The Change Campaign, thank you very much Caroline, Tom and Yvonne at BlogPaws (and Romeo). Not only am I raising a ton of money for IAMS, but I’m launching a personal crusade to ban dog auctions and Amish puppy mills in Ohio.

Then I’ll be petitioning for felony punishments for animal abusers as it’s pretty sick that last week a guy killed a kitten by beating it with a bat to show off to his 13-yr-old girlfriend — HE GOT GROUNDED and Anger Mgmt.

It’s time Bad Breeders and Amish Country Millers STOPPED Abusing Animals, Selling and Buying at Dog Auctions, and Profiting Off Severe Animal Abuse and Neglect. PETLAND Needs to GET with the Times Too.

This should be illegal; and Ohio is so archaic in animal treatment, we are one of only FOUR STATES WHERE ANIMAL ABUSE IS STILL A LOW MISDEMEANOR.

Petition Targeting: The Governor of OH, The OH State Senate, and The OH State House

Petition Author, Creator: Jaime Lynn Smith

There are over 100,000 dogs, stud males, puppies and continually pregnant female dogs living in cramped metal cages right now in central and parts of southern and western Ohio. These dogs do not know what the inside of a house feels like. They’ve never been out of their cages.

In the Happy Tails Books publication of “Dog Blessed; Puppy Mill Survivor Stories” you can read true stories of puppy mill owners’ disdain, hatred, annoyance, lack of compassion and piss poor attitudes towards dogs (they’re no better than dog fighters or rapists), and see how the rescued dogs healed. You also hear sad stories of millers drowning or starving dogs so they don’t waste a bullet. Then there’s the story of the puppy mill dog Ruby my sister and I tried to save three years ago.

My  sister Ash never got over it and awhile back she started working with Ohio Basset Rescue. We saved a Basset Hound former puppy mill stud (he was used for breeding for days on end). He was terrified of everything and took over 6 months to rehabilitate.

• He wouldn’t walk on a leash
  

  ohio amish mill dog lost 8 teeth after rescue, and a leg

• let us put a collar on
• didn’t know what a bone or biscuit or toy or stuck was
• always had his tail between his legs
• whined and cowered like he’d be beat at loud noises
• he wouldn’t walk up the stairs
• didn’t know what dinnertime was
• he had no clue how to eat out of a dog dish.
• He followed us everywhere and was timid and terrified
• He liked to be alone and hidden behind the shed in the backyard

IT WAS HEART BREAKING.   Don’t let this happen to another dog.

Puppy mill dogs are often sold at dog auctions, which IS on the November ballot this year for eradication. These dog auctions severly perpetuate the puppy mill problem by putting loads of money intothe hands of the cruel Amish people whostatistically raise OVER 80 percent of the puppy mill farms in Ohio.

This must be stopped. Please sign the petition so we can get an issue on the ballot in November of 2012.

deplorable indoor miil in amish country ohio

Yes, we have lots of time, but we’re going to need at least 750,000 signatures.

A “puppy mill” is a facility that continuously breeds female dogs and then houses the females and their puppies in deplorable conditions. Inadequate food, water, sanitation, year-round exposure to the elements and dilapidated housing are commonplace.

As everyone re-convenes for a new session of legislation, I want to talk with you about an issue that is very important to me as a tax-payer and citizen of Ohio.                   

a sick mill pup we "borrowed" undercover & couldn't save...

I don’t know how familiar you are with Puppy Mills, but our state has become fertile ground for the “commercial pet breeding industry” because we do not have any laws or regulations to govern these facilities.

We have one USDA rep for every, like, 55 mills and “hobby breeders” and they are so lax on rules that they get paid for letting fines rest and be forgotten if they get paid in alcohol and gas money et al I’d believe.

Furthermore, we do not have enough manpower at the USDA to actually enforce the laws that are broken every day by these heartless criminals who neglect and often abuse the animals. An internal audit by the USDA’s Inspector General’s office found serious problems with the USDA department responsible for keeping breeders in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act.

Tell Petland to Stop Selling Live Animals and Start Supporting Rescue

Puppy mills are the epitome of cruelty to animals. Do we want Ohio to be associated with that? Between our fantastic colleges and universities, our top-of-the-line healthcare systems, and our gorgeous seasons and miles upon miles of national parks, I think not.

malnourished and starved mill dog who soon after rescue passed:(

Milllers, particularly in Amish Country where it has been (undercover) reported that a whopping 80 percent of mills exist there, keep helpless, sick, dying, idle dogs in tiny chicken wire cages with barely any food or water, no veterinary care, and no human contact – except when they are yelled at to be quiet. Millers OVER-breed these animals until they cannot produce anymore, then they simply throw them away, let them loose to run and die in the frigid winter air, or suffer an even worse fate.

In a state founded on high morals and values, this is a absolute atrocity. Animals, at the very least, should be respected and cared for in a compassionate way. And of course they are not equal to humans, but they have no voice and furthermore, no choice.

While other states like Pennsylvania and Virginia are passing laws and increasing regulations to reform this dreadful puppy mill industry and to advocate animal welfare, Ohio’s SEVERELY outdated and inadequate statutes have not changed, so we have become an even bigger magnet for this cruelty. We have stores like Petland making a mockery out of 9 week old puppies when an employee thought it was funny to drown them.

Ohio needs laws NOW to stop this cruel, horrifying treatment.

Make Your Voice Heard!

Currently, Illinois is proposing legislation to help deter the puppy mill industry. It is called Chloe’s Bill, and, among other things, seeks to limit the number of unaltered dogs a breeder can own. According to Petside.com, the bill will:

Missouri is also looking to pass Prop B this November. Missouri has more puppy mills than any other state—and it’s very likely that a puppy from a Missouri mill is lying in a cage at a pet store near you, at this very moment. Proposition B will help these dogs by reforming Missouri’s puppy mills, but the measure won’t pass without your help.

A Veterinarian’s Prognosis For Stopping Puppy Mill Cruelty: Just last week the YesonPropB website posted an interview from A Humane Nation, Wayne Pacelle’s blog: Veterinarian Deanna Tolliver DVM, talks about why she thinks it’s such a good idea for voters in Missouri to support Prop B.

“There are 3,000 dog breeding facilities in Missouri that churn out hundreds of thousands of puppies a year as a cash crop for the pet trade. Too often, the dogs are kept in cruel and inhumane conditions, denied inadequate shelter, veterinary care, or any human kindness.”

From Deanna Tolliver, DVM:

“As a veterinarian, I took an oath to protect animal health and relieve animal suffering. Unfortunately, as a veterinarian in Missouri, I have witnessed the worst kind of suffering in dogs from puppy mills—rotten and infected teeth, mammary gland tumors, ear and skin diseases, overgrown toenails that curl into foot pads, and coats matted so heavily that the animals could barely walk. Most of these conditions result from years of neglect and could have been prevented or treated with proper veterinary care.”

“Prop B would require large, commercial breeding facilities to provide dogs with sufficient food and clean water; necessary veterinary care; adequate living space, shelter and exercise; and essential rest between breeding cycles. It would also prohibit the use of wire kennel flooring and stacked cages.

Let's Welcome All Mill Dogs to a New Life...

The measure would also limit the number of adult breeding dogs that facilities can keep to 50 (it does not apply to breeders with 10 or fewer intact female dogs). Since each female dog is capable of producing up to five or more puppies per litter, a breeder could still sell roughly 200 to 400 puppies a year, with a potential income exceeding $100,000—much greater than that of most families in Missouri.

The recent rescue of more than 100 dogs from two operations in Camden and Greene counties undoubtedly confirms that Missouri has an ongoing problem with many of its 3,000 mass puppy-production facilities. The Better Business Bureau, the USDA Office of the Inspector General and the Missouri state auditor all released recent reports detailing insufficient oversight of our puppy mill industry and the grave suffering it causes—both for the dogs and for their future families.”

dirty mill dog we couldnt save

Dozens of veterinarians from all parts of the state have endorsed the ballot measure.

At mills, dogs are crammed into small and filthy cages, denied veterinary care, exposed to extremes of heat and cold, and given no exercise or human affection.  These puppy mills are cruel and the way these dogs are treated is wrong.I surely hope that since we voted lawmakers into office that they take heed this winter, and at least discuss legislation to be introduced to stop the suffering of these innocent dogs.

And THANK GOD AND THE FATHER OF ALL ANIMALS for Mary O’Connor Shaver and all she’s personally doing to get Dog Auctions Banned on the November Ballot, all while running Columbus Top Dogs & BanOhioDogAuctions.com.

A paralyzed Papillion from years in a cramped cold cage

Please support any legislation of its kind, and please know you have my support if you’d like to help, more information, to volunteer or to lobby or help at petition events.

Let’s not allow Ohio to be the kind of state that follows — let us be the kind of state who LEADS! Let’s make changes to how we treat our animals TODAY.

SIGN THE PETITION TO BAN OHIO PUPPY MILLS NOW AND PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.

Thank you for your time.

We provide guaranteed pass Braindumps with online testkings training and 642-813. You can also get best quality ccnp along with PMI-001 for your guaranteed success.