Knowledge is Power (Puppymills), UPDATE, Oprah doing Show

[Kycha]

I know, but the way it was explained yesterday by Lisa Ling is that they view it as man dominating beast.

I live in PA and I understand that we are the worst state for puppy mills(over 200 puppy mills). I am sure it is because of our large Amish population and the fact that legislators don't want to mess with the way Amish do business. It always feels like the Amish are held in such high esteem, as if they can do no wrong when, in fact, they are simply a religious extreme just like any other.

Lancaster county has the largest concentration of puppy mills. But, Missouri is the state with the most. Personally, I don't agree with your labeling of the Amish as religious extreme. But, the Amish are a large population in this area. And they have money and they vote.

This is not just a problem in Pennsylvania or Lancaster County. It happens in every state. And it is not just the Amish, there are also commercial puppy mills out there.

The best thing we can do, is as Oprah suggested...don't buy from pet stores or on the internet...get your pet from a shelter or rescue...if you want to buy from a breeder, do your homework...have your pets spayed/neutered...write your congressman.

In the state of PA, Governor Rendell has proposed legislation designed to improve conditions for large scale breeding facilities. Here is a website for Main Line Animal Rescue, the group that took Lisa Ling to the puppy mills. There is info for PA residents to contact their representatives.
http://www.mainlinerescue.com/stories2

I don't understand it either, why are the Amish allowed to continue this practice it is Barbaric!!!! I don't believe the state of PA benefits monetarily from this??? I don't know, (do the Amish pay taxes?) that is the only reason I would think that people would just look the other way. It makes no sense!!! I am definately attending their "Puppymill Awareness Day" in September in Pennsylvannia to even learn more and possibly to start volunteering to foster.
DON'T BUY FROM THE INTERNET OR PET STORES!!!

http://www.awarenessday.org/pdf/awarenessdayflyer1.pdf

 

[Shel]

This show came at a great time for us. DS, 12, and I watched it together.

When the dog was put down .... did you see his tail wagging as they led him into the room? I wept uncontrollably. QUOTE]


This is exactly why I did not watch this show. Tears are streaming down my face just thinking about it. I absolutely LOVE dogs & have 3 rescues of my own, and would have more if my DH would allow it. Yes, you do have to jump thru some hoops to bring a rescue dog home but it is SO worth it.

It always reminds me of the starfish story - the man was picking them up & throwing them back in the ocean, and when it was pointed out to him that there were hundreds if not thousands on the beach, and that he'd never make a difference. He responded as he threw one in the water that he'd made a difference to that one. I like to think I've made a difference in the lives of my 3 furbabies.

Anyone who works in a shelter has my repect because its something I don't think I could do. It seems like it would be a constantly heartbreaking job. So thank you to those of you who can do it & make a difference that way.

Now I'm going to go give my 3 sweeties some extra loving.

 

[louey]

This show came at a great time for us. DS, 12, and I watched it together.

When the dog was put down .... did you see his tail wagging as they led him into the room? I wept uncontrollably. QUOTE]


This is exactly why I did not watch this show. Tears are streaming down my face just thinking about it. I absolutely LOVE dogs & have 3 rescues of my own, and would have more if my DH would allow it. Yes, you do have to jump thru some hoops to bring a rescue dog home but it is SO worth it.

It always reminds me of the starfish story - the man was picking them up & throwing them back in the ocean, and when it was pointed out to him that there were hundreds if not thousands on the beach, and that he'd never make a difference. He responded as he threw one in the water that he'd made a difference to that one. I like to think I've made a difference in the lives of my 3 furbabies.

Anyone who works in a shelter has my repect because its something I don't think I could do. It seems like it would be a constantly heartbreaking job. So thank you to those of you who can do it & make a difference that way.

Now I'm going to go give my 3 sweeties some extra loving.

You definately made a difference by rescuing your three furbabies Anyone who volunteers or rescues is making a difference. Puppymills are a huge problem and it won't go away overnight but hopefully if people start thinking about adopting versus buying it will eventually dwindle and rescues groups won't be so overwhelmed and dogs won't suffer at the hands of these criminal Millers!!!

 

[MyGoofy26]

Anyone who works in a shelter has my repect because its something I don't think I could do. It seems like it would be a constantly heartbreaking job. So thank you to those of you who can do it & make a difference that way.

Now I'm going to go give my 3 sweeties some extra loving.

We know the woman that runs the local county shelter. It, unfortunately, is a kill shelter but they do try and hold off as long as possible. Some animals live there quite awhile. The shelter does get a lot of traffic luckily so doesn't get overcrowded quite as often as other shelters.

My aunt asked this woman once, how she handles it, putting these animals down. You could tell it's not easy for her, but explained that she'd rather them go that way and spend some time being loved and cared for and then put down painlessly than if the animals were left to run wild and suffered in the heat/cold/traffic.

I can't imagine the emotional toll that would take on you.

 

[yoopermom]

Please, please, please don't think that it's "just" the Amish, or the puppy mills in Missouri, or your local pet store. It's also the ads in your local paper that advertise things like "five different tiny teacup breeds, always have litters, etc, etc". These people make me just as sick. They DON'T do healthchecks, DON'T breed to improve the breed, DON'T limit how often they breed the females, etc. It's all about the $$$$$$.

God bless Oprah, but more so God bless all the people who are on the frontlines trying to stop this "commercial" type breeding at all its levels.

Dogs are PETS, not livestock!

Terri

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I watched this show yesterday and was deeply, deeply moved. To me, this was the best show Oprah has ever done!

I have to agree. I was hesitant to watch but glad I did.

It is nothing I did not already know.

 

[disneyaggie]

Please, please, please don't think that it's "just" the Amish, or the puppy mills in Missouri, or your local pet store. It's also the ads in your local paper that advertise things like "five different tiny teacup breeds, always have litters, etc, etc". These people make me just as sick. They DON'T do healthchecks, DON'T breed to improve the breed, DON'T limit how often they breed the females, etc. It's all about the $$$$$$.

God bless all the people who are on the frontlines trying to stop this "commercial" type breeding at all its levels.

Dogs are PETS, not livestock!

Terri

Well said!

 

[Kycha]

April 10th is ASPCA day...the anniversary date of the founding of the ASPCA.
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=aspcaday_orangeideas
So, wear orange and show your support!

 

[louey]

April 10th is ASPCA day...the anniversary date of the founding of the ASPCA.
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=aspcaday_orangeideas
So, wear orange and show your support!

I see you live in Amish Country, are you planning on going to Puppymill Awareness day on September 20th? I will be there with my Puppymill rescue

http://www.awarenessday.org/pdf/awarenessdayflyer1.pdf

 

[louey]

This was on our local news the other night. I just wanted to let everyone know that Govenor Rendell of Pennsylvania is all for making a difference for the Puppymill Dogs. "Lancaster County is estimated to have the highest concentration of Puppymills in the Country" !!! He is proposing a bill that would make the conditions better for these dogs and hopefully would regulate them as well. He stated that some of these commercial breeders make $2 MILLION a year profit Thank You Oprah!!! Thank You Govenor Rendell!!! and Thank You Bill Smith Main Line Animal Rescue for making a difference for these dogs
Watch this video

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/media?id=6129265

 

[dairyou]

Thanks for the update! I wish they would do more for the poor dogs instead of just letting them touch the ground. It said at the end they didn't want to make it so puppy mills would go out of business. Let me put my flame suit on and say I wish they would go out of business, then maybe more dogs will get rescued in the process.

Deb

 

[Planogirl]

We know the woman that runs the local county shelter. It, unfortunately, is a kill shelter but they do try and hold off as long as possible. Some animals live there quite awhile. The shelter does get a lot of traffic luckily so doesn't get overcrowded quite as often as other shelters.

My aunt asked this woman once, how she handles it, putting these animals down. You could tell it's not easy for her, but explained that she'd rather them go that way and spend some time being loved and cared for and then put down painlessly than if the animals were left to run wild and suffered in the heat/cold/traffic.

I can't imagine the emotional toll that would take on you.

We have a kill shelter in a nearby town and it breaks my heart. People are constantly posting on craigslist that certain dogs and cats only have until a certain date to be adopted and then they'll be killed. It's awful.

 

[louey]

This was on our local news the other night. I just wanted to let everyone know that Govenor Rendell of Pennsylvania is all for making a difference for the Puppymill Dogs. "Lancaster County is estimated to have the highest concentration of Puppymills in the Country" !!! He is proposing a bill that would make the conditions better for these dogs and hopefully would regulate them as well. He stated that some of these commercial breeders make $2 MILLION a year profit Thank You Oprah!!! Thank You Govenor Rendell!!! and Thank You Bill Smith Main Line Animal Rescue for making a difference for these dogs
Watch this video

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/media?id=6129265

Did Oprah's show have any affect on puppymills in your area? Hope so.

 

[Kycha]

Sorry for pulling up this old thread. But, I wanted to give you an update...The Puppy Mill Reform Bill(HB 2525) was passed and signed into law by Governor Rendell yesterday.

From the ASPCA website:

PA: Victory--Puppy Mill Reform Bill Passes!

PA HB 2525—Changes to the Dog Law
Sponsor(s): Rep. James Casorio and more than 90 cosponsors.
ASPCA Position: Support
Update, 10/10/08: Governor Rendell signed HB 2525 into law the night of Thursday, October 9. There is expected to be a bill-signing ceremony sometime next week. The rules regarding euthanasia went into effect immediately—meaning that it is no longer legal for people to shoot their own dogs in Pennsylvania.
Congratulations, Pennsylvania—you did it! At approximately 3:00 P.M. on Wednesday, October 8, the Pennsylvania State Senate passed HB 2525, the puppy mill reform bill, in a landslide vote of 49 to 1. Because there were amendments, the bill had to return to the House of Representatives for concurrence, but the House acted swiftly, passing the final version by a vote of 183 to 7 at around 7:00 P.M. Rep. Art Hershey, an outspoken foe of HB 2525, excused himself from voting at the last minute.
Although we are not pleased with some of the amendments that were added to the final bill, HB 2525 will still require commercial breeders to double the cage space required for dogs. It also prohibits wire flooring and the stacking of cages, mandates exercise for all dogs, requires that ALL dogs receive veterinary care every six months, and requires that animals be humanely euthanized by licensed veterinarians. This legislation will have an enormously positive impact on the lives of tens of thousands of dogs in Pennsylvania’s puppy mills.
What You Can Do
For many months, legislators have been flooded with emails about puppy mill reform, and they listened. If your senator and/or representative voted yes on HB 2525, please take a moment to thank them with a handwritten letter—legislators really do appreciate them!

• See how your representative voted.
• See how your senator voted.

You may find your state representative and senator’s mailing addresses here.
While puppy mills will continue to operate in your state, by passing HB 2525, Pennsylvania ensured that thousands of dogs will be living in better conditions. From the emails and phone calls to the rallies and in-person lobbying, you worked hard to make this law a reality. Thank you, Pennsylvania animal advocates!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Great news!! Pennsylvania has always been one of the worst states for puppy mills. I hope this helps!

 

[Kycha]

Did Oprah's show have any affect on puppymills in your area? Hope so.

I'd have to say...Heck yeah!!! Thanks to Main Line Animal Rescue, the Oprah Show and Governor Rendell, the lives of countless puppies and dogs will improve significantly.

 

[louey]

Thanks for posting the Update. This is such great news , Oprah had Bill from Main Line Animal Rescue on not too long ago and he spoke of the Amish Farmer who shot 80 dogs. Its crazy to think that he didn't get in any trouble for doing it because it was legal. Thankfully now so many more people know not to buy from a pet store or the internet because of Puppymills. Now fingerscrossed more and more will continue to go out of business and maybe now these dogs will be treated humanely.

 

[Laura]

That new legislation is awesome! Go Pennsylvania!

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

oh thank goodness! It is about time!

this is very good news!

 

[luvmy2sams]

DD and I thank you for this update. Sounds like a positive step in the right direction.