Source: BY MEGHAN V. MALLOY, Kennebec Journal Morning Sentinal, Nov 17, 2008
With stores decked out in Christmas decorations, Thanksgiving only 10 days away, and a winter chill settling in, many Mainers — and Americans — are starting to think about holiday gifts for the family.
One national organization, however, is sending an early warning about buying a four-legged, furry addition to the family just in time for the holidays.
The Humane Society of the United States is holding its second annual Puppy Mill Action Week as a way to raise awareness about puppy mill operations in the U.S., especially around the holidays when, one official said, puppy sales are at their highest.
Puppy Mill Action Week started Sunday across the U.S.
“This week is something for activists to rally around, as well as trying to raise awareness about puppy mills,” Stephanie Shain, director of Stop Puppy Mills Campaign for the Humane Society, said. “These are still a prevalent problem in our country.”
Gift-giving holidays — particularly Christmas and Hanukkah — can sometimes compound the problem, Shain said.
“December holidays are the top puppy selling time of the entire year,” Shain said. “Mills either sell directly to people or to pet stores.”
Though a breeding operation is called a “puppy mill,” it may not be an illegal operation, depending on the regulation and licensing the owner has.
“It’s important to know puppy mills themselves may not be illegal,” Shain said. “The federal government does regulate some, but others (that are illegal) are just cited over and over again, and it’s so rare any action is taken against them.”
Norma Worley, director of the Maine’s Animal Welfare Program, said many people don’t know the horrors of puppy mills in America simply because breeders don’t want the buyer to know what the operation looks like.
“There are two tip-offs,” Worley said. “First of all, if someone is breeding multiple breeds at the same time, and second, if they offer to meet you in a parking lot, a park, or somewhere where the breeding itself is not taking place.”
Worley has 28 years of experience in the animal welfare field, which includes a stint as an animal investigator in California. The worst cases of puppy mill abuse are quite vivid and graphic, she said.
“Usually, these animals are not allowed to run around,” Worley said. “They will be in cages, and they can be small, like rabbit hutches, or larger gang pens with six to 10 dogs per pen.”
Smell is another strong indicator something in a facility is not right.
“I’ve seen kennels where the smell knocks you over for a few minutes, then your sinuses go into denial,” Worley said. The smell is often ammonia, which can be present if a breeder does not clean animal waste properly.
“You should not smell waste or ammonia at all in a breeding kennel, and that goes for pet shops and animal shelters,” she said.
The physical appearance of the animals can also be an important sign when buying a puppy.
“The dogs might not have limbs, they can be so flea bitten with open sores, they’re emaciated,” Worley said. “In larger breeds, I’ve seen animals with bowed front legs because they weren’t given proper nutrition and exercise.”
Shain warned just because a dog is found at a pet store, it is possible for consumers to still support illegal breeding operations if they are not aware of the dog’s origins.
“That’s the main problem with buying from pet stores, you have no way of knowing where that dog really came from,” Shain said. “The owner of the store may not even know, which is too bad. We hear from many people who said they were promised by a seller they knew where the dog came from, only to find out that isn’t true.”
Nationally known pet stores in Augusta, such as Petco and PetSmart do not sell canines on their premises. PetSmart works with the Kennebec Valley Humane Society to foster pet adoptions.
Katie Lisnik, Maine state director for the Humane Society said families looking for a puppy need to visit the breeding facility, be it a home, farm or wherever the breeding takes place.
“A good breeder will let you see the mother — and father, if they own him — of the pup,” Lisnik said. “Check how the mother is treated; dogs that are being used for breeding should be raised in a home setting.”
Don’t be afraid to ask about the dog’s genetic background and about any inherited diseases, Lisnik added.
“A breeder should disclose all medical information, veterinary work and the like.”
Robert Haley, executive director of the Kennebec Valley Humane Society, said awareness, including Puppy Mill Action Week, has had a role in what he called “a dramatic increase” in adoptions from his shelter.
“Part of the change comes in the protocol of adopting an animal,” Haley said. “But likewise, the public is also gaining awareness of great companion animals they can find at an animal shelter.”
The national chapter of the Humane Society estimates between two million and four million puppy mill canines are sold in the U.S. annually.
