Oprah on Puppymills

DPU

Houndmusic, I have been searching for the last hour and I cannot find a commercial breeder like you are describing, although I don't doubt the exist. Please link us to or name the ones you know so we can have a look at what a well run a commercial breeder looks like.

If these dogs were all allowed outside in runs, then why were so many of them unable to physically walk on normal ground?  I was discussing this today with a coworker who is very active in greyhound rescue, and she said her rescue group acquired some IGs from a miller.  They, too, were unable to walk on normal ground.  Tell me how those stacked cages with wire bottoms so that urine and *** falls on the dogs below is not inhumane?  Have you seen the documentary DogTown on National Geographic?  I suggest you watch it and see some of the dogs that the group the doc focused on rescued from a miller.  Unbelievably sad.  And what about those mills that were shut down last year in Virginia?  There are many more of these horrid mills than you want to believe exist.  I don't quite understand how these places are not shut down due to violations of the Animal Welfare Act, but it is obvious that they are not, or they are fined, pay the fines, and then are fined again over and over, and as long as they pay their fines, their dogs will continue to suffer.  If there are truly humane commercial breeding operations out there, why are THEY not enraged by the awful ones "ruining their reputations?"  I don't get it.  And if reputable breeders are so afraid of being lumped in with these millers, why are you all not up in arms and trying to get these ops shut down?  It would help alleviate this worry of yours that people will assume all breeders are bad because of the millers if breeders got together and demanded change at the mills/shutting down the mills.  Instead of defending the commercial breeding industry, hobby breeders should speak up and educate the public that there is a difference.  By defending the millers, you are doing the exact opposite.

What about the embeded collars? What about the dogs that were covered in urine and poop and needed to be shaved down? What about the dead animals just lying on the property? What about the "breeders" calling the rescuers to come pick up the dogs that won't reproduce anymore or they'll be shot? What about that poor maltese/poodle that was rescued and his deformed bones? What about the "breeder" with the dogs in the fans, allowing them to "exercise" like that, like hamster? What about the dog auctions? What about the dogs that were so unsocialized, so deprived, they didn't even know how to walk outside of their wire kennels? I have so many questions...I can't believe anyone would side with these monsters.

How do you know the dogs had shelter???? Sorry HoundMusic but I'm starting to questions how you raise your dogs if you think the footage on Oprah was OK with little to no problems.

I wouldn't treat any living creature in the way the was shown ever, and I can't understand how anyone would think it was OK. I think responsible, ethical, planned breeding is OK to improve ones chosen breed. I think adopting from a rescue/shelter/pound is OK too. I just will never, ever support these puppy mills...ever.

HoundMusic

I'm going to say it, even though it's not going to sit well. The AR movement is another stab at traditional religious beliefs such as Judiasm & Christianity where we believe our animals must be well treated but we have been given the divine right to use animals for our benefit.

Yeah.  Doesn't sit well with me.  I don't follow those particular "traditional religious beliefs" in that manner. 

Wow.  Now Animal Rights people are infringing on religious freedoms.  That is some paranoid thinking.

Our rescue took in some dogs rescued from a puppy mill.  And if the condition of those dogs qualifies as humane in anyone's book I don't even know how to respond.

USDA does not mean much today.  It is become a stupid(if heartless doesn't grab you) industry. One we can live without....and esp. the dogs being relied upon to breed litter after litter. The gift that they get for being a beautiful breed. 

Get shelter dogs, and the heck with puppy mills. 

If I were a responsible breeder, I would be ashamed of the images shown on Oprah and I would be voicing my thoughts loud and clear and not defending those practices. I would want to distance myself not align myself with the whole issue.

I could be wrong, but I don't think puppy mills, such as those portrayed, are common here in California. If that's true, I wonder why.

They mentioned that it was most common in the North East. Why is that? I'm just curious.

cakana

They mentioned that it was most common in the North East. Why is that? I'm just curious.

I think they said it was most common in the Mid West.

MO is like the capital of puppy mills. The ones they showed were PA.

kelliope

Wow.  Now Animal Rights people are infringing on religious freedoms.  That is some paranoid thinking.

Really when quotes such as this are made:

"They don't regard dogs in the same way that others may. They believe man is to dominate animals," she says. "A number of them didn't seem like they realized that what they were doing was inhumane because in their culture … that is what they're supposed to be.

"They think that we're fools when we pick the dogs up," he says. "I just went back to one of the mills, and they were asking me about the cocker spaniel we pulled out. … And I said, 'Well, she's fine. She's walking around the house and everything.' And he said, 'You let that dog walk around the house, where the people in your family live?' And I said, 'Yes, we do.' He just couldn't get over it. It's a different mentality. [Dogs] are considered agricultural products. They're like an ear of corn."

Now we are talking about Pa.  I wonder what group of people they were refering to?

BlackLabbie

I think they said it was most common in the Mid West.

MO is like the capital of puppy mills. The ones they showed were PA.

Yep, you're right, but I wonder why that is. Is just more tolerated?  Is it economics? 

You can't turn a shovel of dirt over here if there's some evidence of any endangered wildlife, so I'm guessing (hoping) that keeps those kinds of operations for even considering setting up shop here.

I think maybe just more rural land and secluded areas to do what you want??? I really don't know. Maybe less strict laws? Maybe officals have a  close relationship to locals and don't/won't blow the whistle on their operation? I know allot of small towns are like that, they let the well known "townies" or locals get away with murder.

timsdat

kelliope

Wow.  Now Animal Rights people are infringing on religious freedoms.  That is some paranoid thinking.

Really when quotes such as this are made:

"They don't regard dogs in the same way that others may. They believe man is to dominate animals," she says. "A number of them didn't seem like they realized that what they were doing was inhumane because in their culture … that is what they're supposed to be.

"They think that we're fools when we pick the dogs up," he says. "I just went back to one of the mills, and they were asking me about the cocker spaniel we pulled out. … And I said, 'Well, she's fine. She's walking around the house and everything.' And he said, 'You let that dog walk around the house, where the people in your family live?' And I said, 'Yes, we do.' He just couldn't get over it. It's a different mentality. [Dogs] are considered agricultural products. They're like an ear of corn."

Now we are talking about Pa.  I wonder what group of people they were refering to?

 

cakana

 

They mentioned that it was most common in the North East. Why is that? I'm just curious.

It was stated Ohio, Pennsylvania and some southern states because they are agricultural states and puppies were considered a cash crop.

kelliope

I'm sorry - what is wrong with that?  Is there anything incorrect in the statement?  They are simply stating it's a difference in beliefs.  They aren't calling names, aren't being anything other than apparently factual.

The implication is that they are wrong.  Let me ask you.  Do you believe that the way the Amish treat their animals is wrong?  That they should be forced to stop using animals (in general) in the way that they do?

timsdat

The implication is that they are wrong.  Let me ask you.  Do you believe that the way the Amish treat their animals is wrong?  That they should be forced to stop using animals (in general) in the way that they do?

 

No, I think a horse pulling a buggy/plow or a cow getting milked is treated allot better than their dogs are treated. Do you know how they were using these dogs? It's called abuse. And now there will be an investigation.

Like they said, a dog to them is a cash crop, they don't care about them. A farm animal to them is necessary to sustain their lifestyle, therefore the animal is cared for.

BlackLabbie

Do you know how they were using these dogs? It's called abuse. And now there will be an investigation.

Why weren't these people reported long before now.  If they are in violation of the law you would thing that a animal welfare person that knew about it would have reported these people to the authorities long before this.