My Neighbors -- Update Article -- Strike Again, New Article, New Mill

I've got a horrible case happening in the county right next to mine as well......its horrid!

http://cbs5.com/pets/dog.bloodbath.breeder.2.785948.html

Um, the ACO poisened his dogs? Mmmmkay. 

The whole situation with Puppy Mills makes me crazy. Makes me want to tear my hair out!!!!! I get so frustrated when I read these articles and everyone is outraged at the inability of our laws makers to take 'real' action to stop this widespread, well known cruelty and abuse. Yet the next thread are advocates pleading for support the stop Bills that are trying to address the loop holes that allow Millers to continue to neglect and abuse their animals. Why? Because it may impacts their rights. Sure we all want the authorities to intervene on our bad neighbors down the street, but don't come telling me how to treat, raise, house or breed 'my' dogs. Until this attitude changes the problem will persist. How much regulation. licensing, inspection, restrictions etc would you be willing to accept in order to effect change?

Denise m, while I would support legislation to eliminate mills I truely believe that social pressure on buyers is the way to shut down the trafficing of mill pups.Untill the buyers dry up, mills will continue to be a problem.As long as a profit can be made they will be in buisness even If they must break the law. If someone is not an informed dog person they may be unaware this even goes on.Many of my co-workers never heard of mills untill I brought up the subject.The public will be more receptive to this message if it comes from a calm reasonable person and not from an "animal rights extremist".This is my mission anyway...to use my powers of persuasion on anyone who will listen.

Tena

4HAND

I truely believe that social pressure on buyers is the way to shut down the trafficing of mill pups.Untill the buyers dry up, mills will continue to be a problem.As long as a profit can be made they will be in buisness even If they must break the law.

I guess I am just too old and cynical to expect social pressure to solve the puppy mill problem. Social pressure can help I will agree, but I fear that will only be a drop in the bucket as far as the hundreds of thousands of dogs that are sold out of mills each year. Did social pressure convince enough people not to smoke in public spaces, not to drink and drive, to wear seat belts? Or did it take legislation to really make the difference? People screamed bloody murder about gov't taking away their individual rights at the time, but you know what, that personal sacrifice was small compared to the overall benefits to our society as a whole. 

And of course you are right about people always willing to break the law. Some people still smoke in public, drink and drive and refuse to wear a seat belt. However, being able to say "Hey, that's against the law!" can be more effective than saying, "Hey, that is not socially acceptable!" Breaking a law has way more implications. It is more than a judgment or moral call.  

4HAND

The public will be more receptive to this message if it comes from a calm reasonable person and not from an "animal rights extremist".

I think the message will be more receptive when it comes in the form of legislation. When we stand up and say "Enough, is Enough! We as a society do not ALLOW this treatment of animals. If you want to raise and sell puppies in this country, these are the LAWS that you and everyone else must abide by."  

Not suggesting you are implying this, but I find it interesting that whenever new laws and regulations are proposed it is always implied that they are the result of animal right extremists plotting to universally eliminate pet ownership and should therefore be fought at every turn. To me that is nothing more than fear mongering and as a result nothing is done to improve the situation.    

denise m

but I find it interesting that whenever new laws and regulations are proposed it is always implied that they are the result of animal right extremists plotting to universally eliminate pet ownership and should therefore be fought at every turn

incrementalism is a fact of legislation. Foot in the door=more,...always. This is why whittling away at abortion rights, womens rights, minority rights is always met with resistance. There are always agendas beyond that which is visible...not admitting that is doing oneself a disservice.

Allowing puppy mills to continue under the present laws (or lack there of) because we are afraid of extremists, their agendas, the foot in the door, the sky is falling, the slippery slope - this too is a disservice. IMO. When we see something in our society that is not right we should do what it takes to make it right.

This article was in todays paper.

http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=102256

 A couple things come to mind when reading these articles.  First, I think that laws covering euthanasia of pets should be restricted to vets, vet techs, and AC officers who all have proper training and certification.  If a kennel owner wants to be able to euthanise its own pets, it can get certified as a vet tech or hire someone to do it.  This baloney about allowing owners to euthanise their own pets is BS, IMHO.  Second, I find it difficult to believe that merely turning an animal into a shelter would expose a person or kennel owner to animal cruelty charges.  There is surely a standard to be met in proving those criminal charges.  Failure to obtain proper veterinary treatment may be one of those standards, yes, but a kennel owner SHOULD be providing proper vet treatment and if it is not, preferring instead to breed the dog onto its deathbed and not care for it, then yes, it should be charged.  What should be closed is a loophole such as this one that would allow an owner to shoot an animal in the head in order to avoid criminal charges of neglect or cruelty!  Third, I say it again and again whenever laws covering puppy mills come up.  Pets should NOT be legislated in the same way that LIVESTOCK is!  Livestock is generally bred to be killed and eaten or to produce some food item, not to interact with and become a family pet!  The laws covering mills should be darned close to those covering household pets, because that's what they are intended to become!

The whole issue makes me sick! 

Another mill & neighbor of the first mill where the dogs were shot was raided.  At least there was a better outcome for this raid.  I truly hope that people can be civilized about this.  I know that mills can be a very emotional issue but death threats are NOT the way to show your feelings.  The Zimmerman brothers have been getting death threats.

http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=104525