Dog Community

Stopping Puppy Mills

dyan

Posted : 8/17/2006 3:08:20 PM

This was on another board I am on. Maybe if we all made one phone call,,,,we could possible make a difference. This the the company that owned the truck and caught on fire when it was filled with puppies being shipped across the US.

> >>ACTION REQUIRED: PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO ANY PERSON OR
> >>GROUP YOU MAY FEEL SHOULD BE INFORMED OF THIS.
> >>
> >>I was shocked to learn in a recent post on a list that
> >>I am a member of, that
> >>

fizer Animal Health is supporting the Hunte
> >>Corporation. This is the
> >>company that trucks between 900-1200 puppies all over
> >>the country every week.
> >> They advertise the sale of mass produced puppies
> >>(mostly to pet stores) in
> >>magazines, they are "the" puppymill in the U.S.
> >>At a recent Hunte Corporation Open House not only was
> >>

fizer present as a
> >>vendor, but they also had one of their vets (Dr. Peggy
> >>Fisher) speak at the
> >>event. This is and should be an outrage to all of
> >>you. When a company as
> >>large and powerful as Pfizer is behind an operation
> >>such as Hunte's, ending
> >>

et store puppies is an impossiblity. As an employee
> >>of a major
> >>

harmaceutical company myself (that does not sell
> >>Animal Health products), I
> >>am further outraged by Pfizer's support of such a
> >>company, especially when
> >>you go look at their websites Animal Health Area for
> >>

et owners where they
> >>upstandingly try to "educate" us, when it is
> >>apparent that they need the
> >>education. (www.pfizer.com)
> >>We need to provide them with this education as the
> >>largest group we can be to
> >>withdraw any affiliation and / or support of the Hunte
> >>Corporation. Our
> >>clout being that we as HUMANS and our companion
> >>animals will boycott all
> >>

fizer products (since being a pharmaceutical rep, I
> >>can tell you that for
> >>any Pfizer product your doctor may prescribe you,
> >>there are always a handful
> >>of others as well that do the exact same thing made by
> >>other companies and
> >>YOU HAVE A CHOICE!)
> >>More disturbing was that after an hour surfing their
> >>entire website, I could
> >>find NO WAY TO CONTACT THEM. That is very strange for
> >>large corporations,
> >>it's like saying, here is everything about us, but if
> >>you have something to
> >>say, too bad. So I called New York City to Pfizer HQ
> >>and got the toll free
> >>number for Animal Health Technical Service.
> >>THE NUMBER IS 800-366-5288
> >>

lease folks, a simple phone call expressing your view
> >>on Pfizer's support of
> >>Hunte Corporation could make all the difference. If
> >>five of us call we'll be
> >>laughed at, if hundreds of us call or better yet
> >>thousands, we will be taken
> >>seriously. Hunte may buy lots of Pfizer products, but
> >>all of us buy more, I
> >>guarantee it. In addition, if you are going to call
> >>

lease email me with
> >>your name and city so that I can form a list to send
> >>to Pfizer's CEO of all
> >>the people who are outraged at Pfizer's connection
> >>with Hunte.
> >>This is where the rubber hits the road guys. We can
> >>talk about wanting to
> >>stop this kind of stuff all day long, but if we never
> >>do anything about it
> >>and count on "the other people" who get this email to
> >>do it, we are the ones
> >>who are shooting ourselves in the foot.
> >>Here's your chance, and it's toll free!
> >>800-366-5288
> >>

Lena (Penny Forever)

Posted : 8/17/2006 7:06:29 PM

Dyan, I agree with you, this is a total outrage.
I tried to call but they were closed but I will for sure in the morning and my family members are also going to call.
Also, I am now boycotting Pfizer.
I hope alot of people give you support on this, power comes in numbers.

dyan

Posted : 8/17/2006 8:25:46 PM

I tried to call but they were closed but I will for sure in the morning and my family members are also going to call.

Boy if we all on our dog forums would do that and have another person or so do it,,, what an impact it would make.

Sergio Tariq

Posted : 8/18/2006 5:36:42 AM

I think it is a great idea. These people rarely listen unless it begins to hit their profits and they start attracting negative publicity. I am based in Pakistan at the moment, and while they do have a subsidiary here I am not sure what can be done. But anything I can do to help I will.

I think if everyone who uses the various dog forums starts calling and writing emails at least they might start taking notice. Also for those of you in the States or UK for example how about if people started calling TV news stations or writing to the papers. It will take a lot of time and pressure but the possibility to do something is most definitely there. It might take some organising but am sure something can be done. Members of this forum are spread across a lot of places, if just a few could start trying to make some noise and use the media in their local areas people might begin to take notice at the very least. Dogs being mistreated, bred over and over again, puppies burning to death in a fire, etc - it is a PR nightmare for these people.

Like I said anything I can do to help please let me know, my email is here so write if can think of something I can do to help out.

Sergio

mrv

Posted : 8/18/2006 6:11:17 AM

Also realize that the Hunt Corp is well connected politically, Roy Blunt comes to mind. It may be helpful to look and see if those in or representing your local government are the recipients of Hunt money.

dyan

Posted : 8/18/2006 9:24:36 AM

I went to the Hunte Corp. website...and quickly became discouraged! The money that is put into that companys building...a sprawling company on Mo. How deplorable! To read their website,,,it sounds so good, that they have vets checking the pets to make sure their healthy before being sent off..... of course they are the ones that had 60 cages of puppies in their truck that caught on fire killing them in a horrible death no doubt. But of course there is no CONTACT US spot on that website either. Went on to research more and find that they put their puppies in class A or B...selling,,,from the breeders and puppy millers. Of course they sell CLASS B too...God knows what happens to them.
Before starting my current job, I "shadowed" a vet tech at a hospital (actually my hospital) for about 2 hours. There was a puppy in a kennel that was almost dead...(diarrhea) on IV and they didn't know if it would make it) that the owner had bought at Petland (across the street from the vet) a week or two before that. Then while still there, a phone call came in that they wanted the vet to return the call about their dog that had been sick and doctoring since their owner got him at Petland. Of course the Hunte Corp sells to all/most Petlands.
I really am discouraged, it shows how hard this fight is. I think the best way is as Sergio says,,,to contact TV stations,,,newspapers, media etc. They just have to make ALL PEOPLE aware that their are companies such as Hunte, and their business is NOT a nice business as they put up front on their website...that millions of animals are suffereing because they support puppy mills. Sure some of these puppies will end up in nice homes.......but how many compared to the many that are not born quite as cute or healthy...or their moms who spend their entire life in a cage,,with their feet never touching the ground,,,having babies after babies that are taken from them,,, never having the love and companion ship they would so love, and then discarded after they can no longer produce. Its inhumane,,,but most people don't even know what is going on.......

Sergio Tariq

Posted : 8/19/2006 1:53:02 AM

Have been trying to find out some info via the web about this group and the whole thing is staggering and depressing. There is a wealth of info and people who have written on this Hunte Corp and the puppy mill issue. How accurate all this is I dont know as have nt had the time to research the sources properly - but some are talking about secondary networks of puppy mills and even the Amish breeders who someone mentioned on another thread a few days ago.

What i was thinking is how about if we try and get organised - either use that letter that Dyan posted in the original post. Then try and get a few people from the forum to get in touch with other forums as a start and get them to sign, also draw up a letter to media outlets, your political representative, animal rights groups, pet shops, and especially those who invest in Hunte Corp and so on.

I am more than willing to do some of this - if anyone else can spare the time it could be a place to start. There are dozens of forums for dog and cat owners, if even some of them signed or wrote a letter that translates into thousands and thousands of people. If a few thousand people were to actually write into a talk show they might think hey heres a topic to consider, similarly with newspapers and so on. What do you guys think?

Sergio

dyan

Posted : 8/19/2006 6:45:40 AM

I agree with you Sergio,,,I was hoping for more people to respond with answers like yours...thought maybe we could actually start something here. BUT I put the same post that I posted here on two other dog boards,,,one was a Great Dane board I'm on,,,and I am sorry to say that not one person responded,,,well,,,only one moderator wrote "thank you for posting this" and that was it. I thought more people from the dog boards would help more,, I guess they are too busy ro don't want to get involved.
I saw the links on the Internet where people have written about the Hunte Corp and pupply mills. Its sick. If people would take the time to read some of this,,they wouldn't be able but to help. Maybe over the weekend,,,more people will have time to read some of this. I will see what I can do.

greg petry

Posted : 9/8/2006 3:07:17 PM

hey i agree with u that everyone should call and we could make a impact on the cruel acts of puppy mills i cant call cause im only 14 but i will surely tell my parents. what do u suggest telling them

dyan

Posted : 9/9/2006 8:08:44 AM

From the Humane Society:

To close down [linkhttp://www.stoppuppymills.org/]puppy mills[/link] and ensure the safety and humane treatment of dogs trapped in commercial kennels, you can:

Encourage state and federal officials to stop the mass production and exportation of sick and traumatized dogs. In addition to passing new laws, legislators can demand that existing laws be enforced.

[linkhttp://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_adoption_information/buying_a_puppy/How_to_buy_a_Puppy.html]Urge other people[/link] not to buy puppies from pet stores, over the Internet, or from newspaper ads.
Write letters to the editor about puppy mills and pet stores. Explain the mills' inhumane treatment of puppies and their contribution to pet overpopulation.
Visit a local pet store to determine where it obtains its puppies. Don't be misled by claims that its dogs were not bred in puppy mills. Insist on seeing breed registry papers or the interstate health certificate for each puppy. The papers will list the breeder's and/or wholesaler's name and address.
Contact your member of the U.S. House of Representatives and your two U.S. Senators, asking them to urge the USDA to strictly enforce the Animal Welfare Act and to support efforts to increase funding for USDA/Animal Care. Members of Congress can be contacted at: The Honorable _______________, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC 20510.
File a [linkhttp://files.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/puppy_mill_complaint_form.pdf]Breeder Complaint Form[/link] if your new puppy appears to be suffering from a medical condition.

dyan

Posted : 9/10/2006 1:17:55 PM

I wonder if anyone saw this video about puppy mills. It sure has a wonderful happy ending of this puppy mill mama dog!!!
[linkhttp://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=debabc42-4bea-4a7a-b68a-19afd21cb9a1&f=06/64&fg=copy]http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=debabc42-4bea-4a7a-b68a-19afd21cb9a1&f=06/64&fg=copy[/link]

ron2

Posted : 9/10/2006 1:52:02 PM

Thanks for showing that, Dyan. I noticed that the footage shown did not show the worst conditions possible but at least it put an image out there. I saw at least one clear violation, the Sibe with the lame leg. He looks as if he needs immediate medical treatment. While I'm all for seizing the dogs and re-homing, there needs to be real penalties to deter people from this business, as well as a public that will not buy their product. I believe it's Missouri where the fine for operating a puppy mill is $1,000 per year. If you can sell one pup at that price, you've paid your yearly "state" expenses. And we need more people in the USDA to enforce the regs already in place. And they need to have more power to enforce a seizure of puppies and a ceasement of operation.

In my trade, an inspector can shut a job down if he finds one of us without our license or at least an apprentice card. Then, animal health inspectors should have some that same power. How do we avoid being shut down? We follow the rules, carry our cards, and do the job right or immediately fix something if it was deemed wrong. And that's just pushing electrons around. Let alone dealing with living creatures.

Sometimes, I wish I could go CM on a puppy miller.

dyan

Posted : 9/10/2006 5:08:55 PM

I believe it's Missouri where the fine for operating a puppy mill is $1,000 per year. If you can sell one pup at that price, you've paid your yearly "state" expenses. And we need more people in the USDA to enforce the regs already in place. And they need to have more power to enforce a seizure of puppies and a ceasement of operation.

Yeah,,,,$1000 per year,,,big thrill!!!!! Makes me mad, that is for sure.
We need it to be more important to all people to make the USDA enforce the regs already in place. Yes they need more power and how can they get it if no one cares? The puppy mills are making big bucks...and the companies like Hunte are making the same big bucks...and places like Pet Land are making big bucks selling the puppies. We somehow need to make the pets stores such as Pet Land,, the brokers such as Hunte ashamed and embarrassed to be in this trade. The only way to do that is get it out there to the public that knows nothing about any of this.....that thinks these cute little puppies are being born to a nice little mama and daddy dog.

dyan

Posted : 9/21/2006 6:20:07 PM

Received an email yesterday from a friend who was at the Puppy Mill Awareness Day in Pa. over the weekend.
It was a message board with lots of conversations about it,,many people were there. I will post the link for you to read. IT appears some of the people are feeing sorry for the Amish as they say they are being "pick on." Unfortunately in many areas the Amish run some of the biggest puppy mills...I know they do in Lancanster PA and Holmes County in Ohio. But reading all of this,,I learned something else that adds to the sickness of all of this. Somewhere I read where it said "next time you go for a ride into the country and stop at road side stands from fresh produce....think of this!"
IT tells what many of the puppy millers do with their WASTE from their dogs,,INCLUDING their dead and diseased dogs!" Reading on this practice is very very unhealthy and unsafe! This was one of the posts there!
[linkhttp://local.lancasteronline.com/4/25867]http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/25867[/link]

I would like to thank everyone pro and con for their comments. As one of the founders of Puppy Mill Awareness Day. The idea was always about being Aware and this dialog is doing just that. The only comment I have to correct is the one that said we called off our Boycott of Pennyslvania Produce. Someone misread our website. We called off our boycott of Pennsylvania except for the Produce. We could not in all good conscience call that off. You see dear friends we know something that many people in Pennsylvania don't know and the few that do know want kept secret. While doing reseach on Puppy Mills we learned at many a zoning hearing that when asked what they would do with the dog feces and composted dead dog bodies, the puppy millers (farmers) happily responsed they would spread it on the growing fields. Please do your homework. Call you doctor or local health official and ask them what problems that could cause you? Perhaps look at the Health Profile for Pennyslvania in general and then check the profile for Lancaster County. Its all there in black and white. These plain folk that many of the posters want us to leave alone are not only abusing animals, which many of you seem to feel is ok, they are causing a major health hazard in your area. Really this isn't something we are making up, that is why all we are doing is asking everyone to do their own research. You might feel differently once you have honestly taken the time to understand what we are saying. Please everyone be care and stay well.