Top 5 tips to keep your dog from biting November 20, 2008

Source: Houston Chronicle, Nov 20, 2008

No matter his size or breed, any dog will bite under the right circumstances, so it’s up to owners to take steps to keep their dog under control.  Some tips, from the American Kennel Association.

1. Research dog breeds before you bring one into your home. Some need considerable training and exercise if you’re going to keep them under control. Do you have the time and commitment they’ll require?

2. Don’t let your dog run free. Keep your dog on a leash when in public. Keep him behind a secure fence at home. Sure, an electronic fence might keep your dog in your yard, but how will you keep people and their pets away?

3. Socialize your dog. Start socializing him from Day One so he’s not uneasy with strangers. Even loving dogs may bite when they feel threatened.

4. Train your dog. He needs to respond to basic commands like  “sit,” “down,” “stay,” “heel,” and “come.” He needs to drop toys on command so you don’t have to reach into his mouth to get a toy. Play non-aggressive games like fetch rather than with games that will teach him bad habits like tug-of-war.

5. Do not set your dog up for failure. Be cautious when introducing your dog to new situations, avoid situations where he might be teased, and remove him if there are signs he’s uncomfortable.

Dog-greeting tips to help avoid a bite November 20, 2008

Source; Newsday, by Denice Flam, Animal House, November 20, 2008

It made for a lot of cute jokes about being “biting mad” over everything from his master’s imminent departure to liberal media bias. But there’s nothing funny about the bite that Barney, President George W. Bush‘s Scottish terrier, gave a Reuters reporter recently.

Had Barney been a Rottweiler or – heaven forfend! – a pit bull, nobody would be laughing.

(And it turns out Barney is an unrepentant recidivist: In September, he chomped Boston Celtics PR rep Heather Walker when the team visited the White House, and there is a standing order that tour-takers are not permitted in the Rose Garden if Barney is meandering outside. Ankles, watch out!)

Barney took responsibility for the Reuters incident, issuing an apology to political reporter Joe Decker on his own letterhead.

The First Dog’s transgressions seem a timely prompt for some dog-greeting tips:

Get permission Decker did ask Barney’s handler if he could pet the dog, but many passersby do not. The verbal exchange also lets the dog know that his owner knows and accepts you, and so he should, too.

But actually wait to hear the answer: No means no.

Approach obliquely In polite canine society, approaching head-on is a serious faux pas, and one that can trigger defensiveness. Instead, approach from an angle, always making sure, though, that the dog can see you.

No staring contests Similarly, making direct eye contact – and, worse, maintaining it – communicates a significant challenge in canine body language. Instead, use signals that communicate calm and friendliness: eye-blinking, offering your profile (more of that oblique stuff), even yawning. Don’t hold your breath.

Learn to read a dog Though seemingly subtle to humans, canine body language expresses precisely what a dog is feeling. A wagging body, loose lips, relaxed ears and “soft” eyes mean “come hither.” In turn, a tensed body, braced legs, stiffly wagging tail and flattened ears are not welcoming.

No aerial assaults “Never, ever swoop down over a dog. No dog, no matter its size, likes that,” admonishes Darlene Arden, author of “Rover, Get Off Her Leg: Pet Etiquette for the Dog who Pees on Your Rug, Steals the Roast and Poops in Improper Places” (Health Communications, $14.95). Indeed, Decker’s approach to Barney was lightning fast and, from the dog’s perspective, totally unanticipated.

No head pats “Never immediately bring your hand down on the dog’s head,” Arden warns. “From the dog’s perspective, this looks like he’s about to be hit or have something land on him. And he is going to have something land on him – your hand!”

Be underhanded The safest and least provocative “hello” you can give a dog is offering your knuckles to sniff, with a closed fist, “so you don’t risk losing fingers,” Arden recommends.

After the dog has sniffed your knuckles, “you can start to slowly scratch the dog under the chin,” she continues. “Be gentle and move slowly. If the dog accepts this, then you can slowly move your hand around to scratch behind the ears.”

Slow and steady Dogs do not like quick, jerky movements. Try to approximate the fluid movements of your hands underwater. Be gentle, but not hesitant or unsure: This is just as worrying to an insecure dog.

No kidding Small children, with their sharp, birdlike movements, can be unsettling to dogs; watch the canine body language carefully. Also, be prepared to quickly pre-empt any hugging or hanging around the neck: Though this is a natural expression of affection for humans, it is a common aggression trigger in dogs.

Think calm This is tough to do if you are nervous, but dogs can pick up on your body English, breathing patterns, even the pheromones you emit, and respond accordingly. If you are not comfortable with the idea of petting a dog – any dog – then don’t.

Disabled dog gets wheelchair and therapy, but she still needs a home, TX November 20, 2008

Source: Houston Chronicle, Nov 18, 2008 by Lana Berkowitz

Bunny is a bundle of problems.

First of all, she’s a dog not a rabbit. It’s painfully obvious that her legs are deformed so that she can’t walk. And because of setbacks caused by Hurricane Ike, she needs a home.

She’s also a bundle of happiness.

Bunny was about 3 weeks old in May when she was found in a park and taken to Montgomery County Animal Shelter, which, like any shelter, is full of sad stories.

The sick puppy with leg problems was scheduled for euthanasia the next morning when she caught the attention of rescue volunteer Jane Ward.

“We couldn’t let a little puppy go on to heaven without knowing love,” Ward said. Ward and her husband, Mike, have been fostering dogs for 15 years. They take last-chance animals, get them healthy and happy, and send them to a foster homes to await adoption.

The Wards took Bunny home, and she got worse.

Dr. Gordon Parham at Petcare Express was the first veterinarian to see Bunny, who had distemper, which causes severe neurological problems.

“She was walking at first but started falling down. Eventually she was so weak that she stopped walking at all,” Ward said. The couple fed her with a syringe for five weeks.

“One day, like a miracle, she started to lap at her food and water. Since mid-August she has been on a path of recovery,” Ward said.

Parham credits Ward’s dedication. “If she hadn’t given it so much home-nursing care, the poor little animal probably would not have made it even with all the medical attention in the world,” Parham said.

After saving Bunny’s life, Ward knew she needed help getting Bunny back on her feet. The rescuer was pleased when two occupational therapy students at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston saw Ward’s online plea and volunteered to take Bunny as a therapy project.

“Just talking to them and listening to what could be done to help a dog or even a person in this situation opened my mind to the possibilities for Bunny,” Ward said. However, when Ike hit, the students lost their apartment, and Bunny went back to Ward’s home.

Ward applied for help with the vet bills and inquired about a doggie wheelchair for Bunny, whose two front legs flip out to the side rather and down. An anonymous donor gave about $550 to cover the cost of Bunny’s quad cart from Doggon’ Wheels that arrived in early October. Once she got her twisted body off the ground, Bunny’s tail wagging became more infectious as she pushed herself with her back legs and gained more freedom.

“She was so thrilled. It made me just cry,” Ward said. “It was a joy that she could be off the floor.”

A bit later Ruffwear selected Bunny to be a tester for its new Portage Float Coat for hydrotherapy. The mutt also got a free physical therapy evaluation from Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, which wasn’t optimistic, Parham said.

Ward knows Bunny probably won’t make a full recovery, but she hopes the pup can find a home with someone who can continue the dog’s therapy and vitamin regimen.

“We’ve had other (disabled) dogs that come in, and they are grumpy and grouchy, and she’s just happy as can be. She’s really funny.”

Hearts are melted by the 22-pound hound dog’s enthusiasm, Ward said. She runs to strangers with her tail wagging furiously.

She would be a great pet, everyone agrees, if you can make the commitment to a handicapped dog that needs two 30-minute neuromuscular retraining sessions daily.

“Dogs that are sick like that, they get so much attention as puppies that it’s just intense socialization for them,” Parham said. “They turn out to be just about the best pets you can imagine in their efforts to please and bond and relate.”

Ward sees a bigger mission for Bunny. “I think Bunny has a future, whether it’s motivating disabled children or visiting nursing homes.

“You look at this little dog who is as happy as sunshine itself. You wake up in the morning, and she wags her tail. She talks to you. It’s amazing.”

WANT TO ADOPT BUNNY?

View video here:  http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid823433113/bctid2073263001

Go to www.saintrescuetx.org, fill out an application. Note “For Bunny” on the application.

Or e-mail: contact@fmctas.org (Friends of Montgomery County Texas Animal Shelter).

Puppy love? Animal rights activists launch boycott of pet stores that sell puppies, Canada November 19, 2008

Source: The Gazette, Published: Tuesday, November 18, 2008, by Catherine Solyom

How much is that doggie in the window?

At Montreal pet stores, he’s somewhere between $150 and $899, depending on whether he’s a mutt or a chihuahua.

More importantly, how much did the doggie suffer before he got there?

That’s the question animal rights activists are asking as they launch Puppy Mill Action Week, which started Sunday, and an official boycott of pet stores that sell puppies.

Following two high-profile raids on puppy mills this fall – which saw more than 300 dogs rescued near Montreal in one week – activists say it’s the pet stores that keep abusive dog breeders in business.

“It’s because people walk into stores and fall in love with the animals that puppy mills continue to thrive,”  says Rebecca Aldworth, director of the Humane Society International – Canada. The HSI defines a puppy mill as a breeding operation in which puppies are mass-produced in substandard conditions.

If people are determined to buy a dog instead of adopting one from a shelter, Aldworth added, they should demand to know where the dog was bred and go see the breeder.

“If the store is unable to give that information, ask yourself why that is.”

At Animalerie Paul in the Plateau, where Shih Tzus are on sale this week for $350, store manager Nancy Thomas says her puppies come from small-scale breeders or families.

It’s more profitable for puppy mill owners to sell to individuals through newspapers or the Internet, she said, and their puppies are often in bad shape.

“You can spot a puppy mill dog right away,” Thomas said.  “They are shaking with fear and anti-social. And they don’t change in a day.”

François St-Louis, owner of Aquarium du Nord in Petite Patrie, where a poodle fetches $599, said puppy mill puppies do come his way, but they breed trouble for the store.

“Yes, it’s happened, you need a puppy so you buy one (from a puppy mill owner), but you’re buying problems,” St-Louis said. Dogs from puppy mills are often sick or malformed from too much inbreeding and they are promptly brought back to the store for a refund.

St-Louis won’t buy dogs who haven’t been vaccinated or checked over by a vet.

“We’re not vets but we ask a lot of questions. When someone tells me he can get me any one of 60 breeds, I know there’s a problem.”

Both Thomas and St-Louis say the Humane Society is barking up the wrong tree with its anti-pet-store “propaganda.”

“It’s like saying all Italians are part of the Mafia, and all Indians sell smokes,” St-Louis said. “There are good pet stores and bad pet stores.”

In pet stores, customers can come and see for themselves how the dogs are treated, and they can call the SPCA to report any abuse, Thomas said.

“But puppy mills will continue to sell on the Internet. You have to go to the source of the problem.”

The Humane Society and the SPCA say they’re trying to do that, but it’s an uphill battle.

In September, the two agencies raided the home of a Rawdon man who kept more than 100 malnourished dogs in crates in his basement. Last month, Francisco Coelho was sentenced to 180 hours of community service and fined $3,300 – the equivalent of 10 discount Shih Tzus, or four chihuahuas.

“I was there in Rawdon,” Aldworth said. “What we saw was direct animal abuse, animals abandoned and left to starve. The dogs were literally skeletons.

“(The sentence) sends a clear message to puppy mills that you can get away with it. It becomes the cost of doing business rather than a deterrent.”

Despite the lax sentences, Alanna Devine, executive director of the Montreal SPCA, says she’s still pushing for the SPCA to be given the mandate – and funding – to enforce provincial legislation and conduct more raids on puppy mills, which she estimates number about 2,000 in Quebec, the so-called puppy mill (capital?) of Canada.

A petition launched just after the October raids ?? has garnered 56,000 signatures so far in support of granting the SPCA that mandate.

Now that the provincial government has called an election, Devine has written to all MNAs to ask them what they will do about the situation, including whether they would support a motion to require commercial breeders to register (with the provincial government?), “so we know where these places are and can regulate them.”

Until then, power – and responsibility – lies with consumers, who can refuse to buy dogs and cats from pet stores unless they can verify the conditions under which they were bred, Devine said.

People should opt instead to adopt from a shelter. Another 81 dogs – including 38 pure-bred beagle, chihuahua and Boston terrier puppies – were put up for adoption on Thursday following a raid in central Quebec two weeks ago.

“If pet stores say they’re the good ones, I challenge them to prove it and give out information about the breeders. If they don’t, people shouldn’t take the risk.”

The cause has convinced recording artist Patti Page, who in support of the Humane Society’s campaign has changed the lyrics to the song she made famous in 1952.

“Do you see that doggie in the shelter, the one with the take me home eyes…”

To hear Patti Page sing the new version, go to at www.hsicanada.ca/stoppuppymills and scroll down to No. 5 in the Take Action list.

Dear President Elect Obama, November 18, 2008

Source: The American Chronicle, By Susan Thixton, The Trust About Pet Foods, Nov 17, 2008

The near future is bringing many changes to your family, including the addition of a family dog. Becoming a new dog owner adds another responsibility to your family, including deciding on which dog food is right for the ´First Dog´. The dog food decision might be more of a challenge than you think; before you select a dog food, the following will provide you with some necessary information.

Not that the first family is going to walk into a Petsmart or Petco to purchase their first bag of dog food like other new dog owners across the U.S., but if you did, you´d find aisles and aisles of dog foods to chose from. You and your beautiful family would wander down the aisles to find hundreds of different brands, varieties, and price ranges; everything from kibble, canned, frozen, to dehydrated.

Being a very intelligent man, and caring about the nutrition your new family member will receive, you´ll probably carefully read the labels. On each dog food you´ll notice reassuring words like ´Premium´, ´Choice´, and ´100% Complete´. Some dog foods will also mention health promoting benefits on the label such as antioxidants and omegas.

Before you make your dog food decision however, there are some things about dog foods, cat foods, and pet treats that you need to know.

As you read the reassuring words on the dog food labels, you should be aware that pet food regulations allow “Unqualified Claims, either directly or indirectly” on the pet food label. It turns out that those reassuring words such as ´Premium´ or ´Choice´ can be ´unqualified´ or misleading to pet owners. As an example, a dog food labeled as ´Premium´ might contain cow intestines as a source of protein and risky chemicals to maintain freshness.

Should you, like millions of other pet owning families, decide to give your children some pet care responsibilities, you might want to think twice before allowing your girls to feed the new dog. Sadly, it is currently acceptable practice for diseased animals and euthanized animals to be processed into pet food. Should you give your girls this responsibility, they could be handling a dog food that contains the remains of a diseased animal, possibly even the remains of a cow suspect of spreading BSE or mad cow disease. While the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act firmly states no food, including animal food, can contain a diseased animal or an animal that has died other than by slaughter, the FDA (soon to be your FDA) has been ignoring this law with regards to pet food.

Another consideration is the country of origin of your pet´s food ingredients. Even though you did not have a dog at the time, in 2007 thousands of U.S. pets became ill and died from contaminated grain proteins imported from China. When you face the decision of what food to provide to your new dog, you´ll be at risk of your dog consuming contaminated Chinese imported pet food ingredients, just like millions of other U.S. pet owners. Sadly, country of origin of ingredients is NOT provided to pet owners on any dog food, cat food, or pet treat label. Your children´s new dog could be poisoned without your knowledge because existing pet food regulations don´t feel it is necessary to provide country of origin information to pet owners.

President elect Obama, it is apparent you love your children and truly care about their future. Your children are about to fall deeply in love with a four legged, tail wagging best friend; a friend they will fondly recall for the rest of their lives. Can you imagine how broken hearted your girls would feel if their dog was poisoned by imported Chinese pet food ingredients unknowingly fed in the pet food? Should your children and millions more U.S. children be denied the life lesson of pet care responsibilities because the dog food or cat food might contain diseased animals?

Millions of unknowing parents, whose children have the responsibility of feeding the dog or cat, are not aware the pet food can contain rendered diseased or euthanized animals. Millions of U.S. children every single day are handed the chore of feeding the family pet; these children handle pet food that despite Federal Law against it, is the dumping ground for useless, risky animal remains. You should also be aware of a pet food rumor that has existed for years; that some pet foods contain euthanized dogs and cats. The FDA attempted to disprove this rumor; however their test results only proved that pentobarbital, the drug used to euthanize dogs and cats, is found in many popular brands of dog food. The FDA testing found no positive evidence to disprove that millions of euthanized shelter dogs and cats are rendered and become a pet food ingredient. The rumor remains.

Millions of unknowing pet parents feel they can trust and believe pet food labels that state ´Premium´ or ´Choice´; they are unaware regulations allow pet food to make ´unqualified claims´ on the label. They are unaware that pet food labels, despite Federal Law against it, can be misleading. They remain unaware that risky Chinese imports could be included in their pet´s food.

As you will soon discover, your new dog will become a member of your family. He or she will steal a tiny bit of your heart the day you bring them home, and everyday following they will become more and more a part of you. He or she will become your children´s beloved friend, and if you are lucky, your friend and confidant as well. Unlike average parents, you perhaps will have your staff feed the dog or even have your staff prepare your new dog´s meals. Most pet parents don´t have these options. Most pet parents hold their breath every time they open a new bag of dog food or cat food, hoping this bag of food will be safe. Hoping their children won´t become sick from handling a dog food or cat food. This is America, this shouldn´t happen here. We can only hope that once you are President, and once you have decided upon and adopted your new family member, you will become aware of the challenge 74 million U.S. pet parents face daily. We can only hope that you´ll care enough, not only about your daughter´s dog, but the dogs and cats of all others in the U.S.; and that you will do something to protect everyone.

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Humane Society Warns Against Buying Puppies From Pet Stores November 18, 2008

Source: ConsumerAffairs.com By Lisa Wade McCormick, November 18, 2008

Puppy Mills

If a new puppy is on your wish list this holiday season, don’t buy one from a pet store. It may have come from the billion-dollar puppy mill industry, and supporting that store could lead to continued cruelty against animals.

That’s the message from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which launched its second annual Puppy Mill Action Week on Sunday. The goal of this campaign, HSUS officials said, is to encourage pet stores to stop selling puppies and support animal shelter adoptions instead.

While retail pet stores defend their industry, saying they’re committed to animal welfare, HSUS disagrees and warns consumers that pet stores simply fuel the demand for puppy mills.

“The bulk of puppies sold at pet stores come from puppy mills,” said Stephanie Shain, puppy mill expert and director of the HSUS’ Stop Puppy Mills campaign. “If you’re in the business of selling puppies, you need a constant supply of different types of breeds. Puppy mills fill that demand for pet stores.”

Puppy mills–mass commercial breeding operations–churn out two to four million puppies each year, the HSUS said. Those puppies are raised in horrible conditions and often have health problems, genetic defects, and behavioral issues.

The HSUS has documented scores of deplorable conditions in puppy mills, including crowded cages, poor food and shelter, over-breeding, and inbreeding. Puppy mill dogs, HSUS officials say, receive minimal veterinary care, little social interaction, and those kept for breeding suffer for years in continual confinement.

The driving force behind this inhumane industry, HSUS officials say, is money. “They (the dogs) are bred as often as possible and then destroyed or discarded once they can no longer produce puppies,” according the HSUS. “Mills only look to make a profit; commonly disregard the dog’s physical and emotional health; and do not adhere to sound breeding practices.”

“The end result: Hundreds of thousands of dogs who will spend their entire lives in cages for their entire lives, suffering from cruelty and neglect every day.”

How it happens

Pet stores, for example, may claim their puppies come from breeders — not puppy mills.

“If a pet store manager tells you this, ask to see documentation that shows exactly where their breeders are located,” HSUS officials say. “In most cases, you will find out that the breeders they ‘know’ are in distant states.

Some pet stores also claim they don’t sell puppies from local breeders because their state doesn’t regulate that industry.

“Commercial breeders in all states who sell wholesale to pet stores are required to be regulated by the USDA,” HSUS officials say. “Some states, such as Missouri and Pennsylvania, also require a state kennel license and state inspections.”

That, however, doesn’t mean puppies from Missouri or Pennsylvania are healthier than dogs bred in other states.

“These states have two of the worst concentrations of puppy mills in the United States, with some of the worst conditions,” HSUS officials said. “This is due in part to the very small number of qualified inspectors, infrequent inspections, and the fact that even facilities that are found to be substandard during the inspections process are rarely penalized.”

Some other examples of pet store double-speak, HSUS officials said, include:

“Our store’s puppies are healthy and have a health certificate from a licensed veterinarian.” “A health certificate only means that the puppy has had a very brief ‘wellness’ examination by a veterinarian,” HSUS officials said. The certificate does not mean the puppy or its parents have undergone any testing for genetic disorders or other diseases.

“Our puppies come with a health guarantee.” HSUS officials say these guarantees often protect the store’s interest — not the consumers. Be sure to read those guarantees carefully.

“Our puppies are registered and come with papers.” Purebred registration papers — from one of many “kennel clubs” or other dog registries– are only a record of a puppy’s parents and sometimes its lineage. “Puppy mills routinely sell puppies with papers from prestigious sounding ‘kennel clubs,” HSUS officials say. “Registration papers do nothing to ensure that an individual puppy (or his or her parents) is healthy or free of genetic defects, or that they were raised in a humane and sanitary environment.”

“We’ve never had a problem with any of the puppies.” “Even facilities with mostly healthy puppies and problem-free inspection reports are keeping dozens or even hundreds of breeding dogs in cages for their entire lives,” HSUS officials said. “These parent dogs live behind bars from birth until death…they are bred repeatedly until they can no longer reproduce, and then they are discarded.”

“All our puppies come from USDA-inspected facilities. “Being USDA-inspected does not mean that the business is not a puppy mill,” HSUS officials says. “There are hundreds of USDA-licensed puppy mills in operation that have long lists of violations and problems associated with them.”

Those involved in the retail pet industry, however, say they’re in the business of promoting healthy animals–not puppy mills.

“The health and well being of our pets comes first to all of us,” Lacey Clever, a spokeswoman for Petland, Inc., told ConsumerAffairs.com. “Healthy puppies are truly our #1 priority.”

Clever said Petland gets its “registerable” puppies from professional and hobby breeders and licensed professional pet distributors “who have years of experience in raising quality pets.”

Company representatives also inspect their distributors’ and breeders’ facilities, she said. “In addition, these facilities are licensed and inspected by the federal government (USDA). We require that our franchisees buy only from Petland, Inc. associated facilities. We even encourage our franchisees to visit facilities for themselves.”

Petland even has a “Do Not Buy List” of breeders that operate substandard facilities, Clever said.

And the company encourages its customers to adopt from local animal shelters.

“We have an Adopt-A-Pet program that enables our stores to partner with local shelters and rescue groups on whatever level works for them,” Clever said. “Some stores have fundraisers and donation drives for their local shelters while others have a more intense partnership, providing kennel space for shelter animals.”

Slaughterhouse

But pet stores aren’t the only places where puppy mill dogs are sold, HSUS officials warn.

“Classified listings and Web sites are also selling puppy mill dogs,” Shain said. “We see puppy mills selling through classified ads and they do a good job of making their postings look like they’re small breeders with a litter of puppies and not huge breed operations. We also see many savvy looking Web sites (by puppy mill operators).”

Consider the Pine Bluff Kennels in Lyles, Tennessee, which the HSUS raided in June — an effort that rescued nearly 700 dogs.

“If you went to that (operator’s) Web site, you’d see many beautiful comments about how the dogs lived on a 92 acre farm,” Shain said. “But when we went there, there were nearly 700 dogs stuck in tiny cages.” Many of the dogs had no food or water, HSUS officials said. They were stuck in wire cages–that made it impossible to stand–and surrounded by their own feces.

Scores of dogs found during the raid had eye injuries and broken bones, HSUS officials said. Some were even dead.

During the raid, HSUS officials discovered the grave site of a pile of dogs that had multiple gunshot wounds in their decaying bodies.

Tennessee authorities charged the kennel’s operator, Patricia Adkisson, with 24 felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty, nine counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty, one count of unlawful sale or transport of dogs, one count of unlawful administration of rabies vaccine, and one count of paraphernalia.

Despite her kennel’s deplorable conditions, Adkisson sold many dogs online for as much as $400 each. Most of those dogs were smaller breeds, like Chihuahuas, miniature pinschers, and terriers.

HSUS officials say consumers are often duped by sophisticated Web sites–like the one Adkisson had–that sell puppies.

“We hear all sorts of horrible stories,” Shain told us. “We’ve heard stories about puppies arriving dead, or the dog they received was not the one pictured on the Web site, or it was a different breed, or in some cases, the dog never arrives.”

Other common complaints include puppies sold with crippling genetic conditions, sick puppies arriving in need of expensive emergency veterinary care, or puppies that became sick or died from serious infectious diseases. Some of those diseases, officials said, were parasitic and transmittable to humans.

What you can do

How can consumers protect themselves from getting taken by deceitful online puppy mills and unscrupulous breeders selling dogs through classified ads? And what steps can dog lovers take to ensure they’re not supporting the puppy mill industry?

The HSUS recommends the following:

• Adopt a dog from a local animal shelter. “Visit your local shelter and at least give adoption a try,” Shain said. “You might just find your next best friend.” HSUS officials say one in four dogs in a shelter is a pure bred.

• Check out breed-specific rescue groups. “There are breeds of every kind that need a home,” Shain said. “They even have rare breeds.”

• Don’t buy puppies from pet stores or online. “Pet stores and Internet puppy dealers are very smart about deceiving people,” Shain said. “These dogs are a cash crop for the puppy mill operators and the pet stores, and it’s reprehensible.” Dogs sold in pet stores are also considered “inventory,” HSUS officials said. The faster they can get rid of one dog, the faster they can restock their cages.

• Beware of slick Web sites and classified ads selling dogs. “This is a savvy industry,” Shain said. “These people have sophisticated Web sites and that might make you to let your guard down.” Reputable breeders never sell their puppies over the Internet or through pet stores, HSUS officials said. They insist on meeting the family or individual interested in buying their dogs.

• If you decide to buy from a breeder, visit the facility. “That is an absolute must,” Shain said. “You must go to that (breeder’s) home, meet the animals, and see how they live. You want to make sure those animals are members of the family. We feel that all dogs should be companions first and breeders seconds. Breeding shouldn’t be the sole reason for the animal’s existence.”

• Encourage pet stores to start adoption programs. “The best models are the ones used by Petco and PetSmart, which let local shelters come in their stores and adopt their dogs,” Shain said. “That is a great thing. It gets the animals in the stores and sends a humane message to the community that this is a puppy-friendly pet store.”

When buying a dog as a holiday gift, Humane Society urges a bit of caution November 18, 2008

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.

I rescued a human today. November 16, 2008

I rescued a human today, by Janine Allen

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s life. She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven’t walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

Written by Janine Allen
www. RescueMeDog.org

Thank you Janine for this beautiful essay!

More ‘Puppy Mill’ Dogs Available For Adoption, CO November 11, 2008

Source: DENVER (CBS4) ― Dozens of dogs rescued from a puppy mill in Oklahoma are getting new homes in Colorado.

One hundred dogs arrived at the Denver Dumb Friends League about a week ago. Most of them are poodle or spaniel mixes.

Thirty-five of the dogs have already been adopted. Another five dogs are still available for families to take home.

The other dogs are in a special program called “Canine Courage.” That program is for animals that need more socialization and dogs that are not house or leash trained.

“They’ll make good pets. They’ll need a little bit of work. We want people who recognize up front these are not necessarily coming from a normal situation, so they are going to need a little bit of extra attention a little bit of extra care,” Tara Yurkshat with Denver Dumb Friends League said.

The remaining dogs should finish their training and are likely to be available for adoption in a few weeks. Those who are interested should call (303) 751-5772

SPCA lays charges against owners of alleged puppy mill in Wahnapitae, Canada November 7, 2008

Source: By Star Staff, Nov 6, 2008

The Sudbury of the Ontario SPCA have charged two people with running a puppy mill in the Wahnapitae area.

In a release Thursday, the SPCA said officers removed 42 small
breed dogs on Aug. 1 following an investigation. It was now says 37 of
those dogs and their offspring are available for adoption.

“In August, the Ontario SPCA obtained a search warrant and
found the facility to be unsanitary and the dogs covered in feces and
urine,” the agency said in a release. “The veterinarian on scene deemed
the animals to be in immediate distress and recommended their removal
from the property.

“The 42 dogs were taken to be bathed and groomed and then
moved to appropriate boarding facilities. The dogs underwent veterinary
examination and received proper medical and dental care.”

Janice Henry, 59, and Cynthia Szymychalski, 48, have been
charged under the Criminal Code of Canada with failing to provide
suitable and adequate care, and causing unnecessary suffering to 13
dogs.

Henry and Szymychalski also face seven charges each under the
Ontario SPCA Act, including confining an animal to an enclosure that is
dangerous to the animal’s health and well-being; confining an animal
with other animals that may pose a danger to the animal; and confining
an animal in unsanitary conditions without adequate space, ventilation
or opportunity to exercise.

Now that the dogs are safe, the SPCA is inviting people to
visit its Sudbury branch on Notre Dame Avenue to meet the dogs and fill
out adoption applications. Many of the dogs are being distributed to
other Ontario SPCA Community adoption centres.

If you would like to make a financial donation to keep the
shelter running, “Cash for the Claws” donations are tax receiptable,
please contact the Sudbury & District Branch at 705-566-9582.

To report animal cruelty, please contact the Ontario SPCA
Provincial Office at 1-888-668-7722, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS
(8477) or police.