SPCA International and Bark Busters Launch Reusable Bag Program to Help the Environment and Save the Lives of Animals April 20, 2009

Source: PRMediaWire.com, April 20, 2009

In support of Earth Day, SPCA International and Bark Busters encourage consumers to reduce, recycle and reuse in the name of animals.

Englewood, CO (PRWEB) April 20, 2009 — In observance of Earth Day, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International (SPCAI) and Bark Busters, the world’s largest dog training company, announced the launch of their Partner for Pups Reusable Bag Program. The program was created for pet lovers to demonstrate environmentally responsible habits by using reusable bags for shopping to reduce the amount of plastic grocery bags in landfills and the environment and reduce animal deaths caused by these plastic bags. In addition to helping the environment and wildlife, all proceeds support SPCAI’s animal and shelter programs.

“We are delighted to partner with SPCAI on this program to help raise awareness of animal and environmental issues and to teach good pet-parenting practices,” said Liam Crowe, CEO and master dog behavioral therapist of Bark Busters USA. “By participating in this program, we can all contribute to a healthier environment, the safety of animals, and providing the resources people need to adopt and keep animals as members of their families.”

Made from sturdy, premium-quality, tear-resistant and water-repellent material, the reusable bags are 100% recyclable and reusable. The reusable bags are available through the websites of both organizations. For details, visit www.SPCA.com or www.BarkBusters.com.

With over 380 billion plastic bags used in the U.S. annually, it is no wonder why many of them harm animals. When plastic bags are discarded, they not only do they contaminate our soil and waterways, but also can choke, strangle, and starve wildlife. Once in the environment, many plastic bags take hundreds of years to break down and some cost animals their lives.

All proceeds from the Partner for Pups Reusable Bag Program will go to support SPCAI’s programs, such as Operation Baghdad Pups, an initiative that provides assistance to servicemen who wish to transport companion dogs from the war zone in the Middle East to their home in the United States.

About SPCA International
The mission of SPCA International is to raise awareness of the abuse of animals to a global level, to teach and foster good pet parenting practices, and to promote spay and neuter programs around the world with the goal of eradicating the need to euthanize healthy and adoptable companion animals. www.SPCA.com also provides a global information and referral resource to animal guardians and advocates throughout the world to those who seek a shelter or wish to adopt a shelter animal.

About Bark Busters
Bark Busters, the world’s largest, most trusted dog training company, started in Australia in 1989 and came to the United States in 2000. Since inception, more than 500,000 dogs have been trained worldwide using its dog-friendly, natural methods. With 250+ franchised offices in 42 states and more than 400 offices in 10 countries, Bark Busters is continuing its mission to build a global network of dog behavioral therapists to enhance responsible dog ownership and reduce the possibility of maltreatment, abandonment and euthanasia of companion dogs. Bark Busters is the only international dog training company that offers guaranteed lifetime support. SPCA International selected Bark Busters dog behavioral training services as the “Best of the Best” in its category. No other training company or dog trainer received such a distinction. To fetch a trainer in your area, call 1-877-500-BARK (2275) or visit www.BarkBusters.com, where dog owners can complete a Dog Behavioral Quiz to rate their dogs’ behavior.

Raleigh County Animal Shelter ‘desperate’ for dry dog food; weather, economy likely to blame April 17, 2009

Source: The Register-Herald.com, April 16, 2009

Gallagher is a pit bull mix who had a home, but fire destroyed it.

The year-old dog’s family had to move into a homeless shelter, and Gallagher — who sustained first- and second-degree burns in the fire — was sent to the Raleigh County Animal Shelter, adoption counselor Jim Kenney said. Gallagher was adopted but later returned. The person who adopted him could not care for him because of personal health concerns.

Another family gave Gallagher a new home Thursday afternoon. But more than 50 other dogs like him may soon have no food.

The animal shelter, Kenney said, is on the verge of running out of dry dog food, and shelter officials are asking the public for donations. Any type of dry dog food is acceptable.

“We are in desperate need for dry dog food,” he said. “We would be just glad to get anything. If people in general were more aware, maybe they would respond and help out their local animal shelter.”

Both the weather and the economy have basically packed the shelter, Kenney explained. Right now, the facility houses 55 to 60 dogs on a daily basis.

Animal shelters normally have a high number of animals when weather warms up because of puppy and kitten litters, and more animals are roaming freely. But Kenney says the economy is likely aggravating the situation. More people are giving up their pets at the shelter or turning them loose. Animal control officers often find the latter.

Wal-Mart stores donate food, but the supplies are still dwindling.

An area of the building where food is kept is normally filled with 50 to 60 bags of dog food. The shelter had only 10 to 12 bags of dry dog food as of Thursday.

Some dogs at the shelter, Kenney noted, need high-protein food. Often, animals brought to shelters are in poor health or just have an extremely thin build. This food can increase their strength, and people are more likely to adopt a healthier animal.

Kenney said donating dog food — and several other needed items — is a way people can help shelter pets when they cannot adopt. The shelter has enough cat food for now, but he emphasized any type of donated pet food, as well as items like leashes, collars, treats and cleaning supplies, are always appreciated.

He also strongly urged people to do their part to lower pet overpopulation.

“Please, please have your pet spayed or neutered,” he said. “That can prevent situations like this. That is why the shelter stays full. We also have a low-income spay and neuter program.”

The shelter is accepting drop-offs at its facility on Grey Flats Road. It is open between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Those with further donation questions can call 304-253-8921.

Animal Planet Special Takes a Look at ‘Puppy Mills’ March 26, 2009

Source: Pet product News, Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Animal Planet is set to air a special Animal Cops: Philadelphia episode in April that focuses on substandard commercial dog breeders. The special, entitled Puppy Mills: Exposed, aims to “take viewers inside the world of puppy mills,” according to the network.

“Puppy mills are a blemish on a country that loves and respects its dogs,” Marjorie Kaplan, Animal Planet president and general manger, said in a statement. “Puppy Mills: Exposed tells the truth about these operations — no matter how disturbing — in order to incite emotions and action in everyone who watches.”

Puppy Mills: Exposed premiers Monday, April 27, 10 p.m. (ET/PT) as a special episode of Animal Cops: Philadelphia.

The one-hour show starts with the law enforcement officers of the Pennsylvania SPCA as they recount the case of Limestone Kennels, where more than 80 dogs were reportedly rescued from last year. According to Animal Planet, officers at the site found multiple dogs packed into cramped cages, food dishes contaminated with feces and animals with multiple birth defects, including dogs with missing eyes. The special then explores similar stories in Tennessee and Florida.

Lastly, viewers hear from a woman in Miami, Fla., who bought her puppy from a pet store. Shortly thereafter, her puppy became sick. In its release about the special, Animal Planet stated that “like most people, the owner had no idea that virtually all pet store puppies come from large commercial breeding facilities — many of which can be considered puppy mills.”

Humane Society Silicon Valley set to unveil state-of-the-art animal shelter, CA March 26, 2009

Source: Mercury News, March 26, 2009

Humane Society Silicon Valley will debut its new, state-of-the-art animal shelter in Milpitas at an all-day open house on Saturday.

The $25 million facility, funded through donations, will serve as a regional animal community center. It features a low-cost spay/neuter medical center, a community dog park and training center, doggy day care, boarding and grooming, a veterinary hospital with a public viewing room, an education center, a pet store and a pet-friendly cafe.

Christine Benninger, president of the Humane Society chapter, said the center’s many new features will help change the way people think about an animal shelter. No longer will it be a warehouse full of cages of unwanted pets, she said.

This new shelter features cageless animal habitats to simulate home environments and will be able to handle up to 10,000 animal adoptions a year.

Saturday’s open house will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 901 Ames Ave. near Milpitas Boulevard and Montague Expressway.

The event will feature a performance by Raggs, the singing canine from the Raggs Kids Club Band, as well as animal balloon making, coloring, a scavenger hunt, face painting and other arts and crafts for children. Tim Jeffreys from KUFX 98.5 (“KFOX”) is scheduled to be there from noon to 2 p.m.

And you’ll have a chance to make a video statement, pledging to help animals in your community in the shelter’s Community Room. Humane Society staff members will edit the video and post it on the society’s Web site and on YouTube.Staff will also be available with information for those wishing to volunteer at the new shelter.

Animal adoptions, however, will continue to be done at the Humane Society’s shelter in Santa Clara for the next two to three weeks. That building has been sold.

Laura Fulda, Humane Society spokeswoman, said the new facility is California’s first regional animal community center and is one of the first environmentally certified “green” centers of its kind in the United States.

The center has an extensive on-site solar system that is expected to generate 40 percent of the facility’s energy needs from renewable sources, a kennel cleansing system that reduces water use while ensuring proper disinfecting, and artificial turf and native plants in the dog park areas intended to reduce the need for irrigation water.

Located on nearly five acres of land, the 48,000-square-foot center has homelike habitats for dogs, cats and rabbits.

As of February, Humane Society Silicon Valley had raised $20.4 million for the new center. It hopes to raise the rest soon. Donors can make payments on the shelter’s Web site at www.hssv.org or get more information at (408) 727-3383, ext. 878.

Port finds home for 12.7 tons of dog food, WA March 26, 2009

Source: SeattlePI.com, March 24, 2009

It’s not uncommon for the Seattle Animal Shelter to get calls from people wanting to donate dog food. So when a woman called late last week about dropping some off, a receptionist told her to leave the bags in a bin near the entrance.

But there was a problem: 12.7 short tons of dog food wouldn’t fit in a single bin.

The Port of Seattle purchased 1,600 bags of dog food in June to test new baggage conveyors at Sea-Tac International Airport.

“The dog food is perfect because of the weight and the way it shifts in suitcases,” Port spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt said. “The manufacturer of the conveyor system actually recommended using dog food.”

Previously, airports used sand and water in conveyor tests, but if a bag broke, the new system would be damaged.

The $40,000 in dog food, paid for by the capital improvement project budget, was used to simulate peak operation. After the conveyor systems were certified in late October, the dog food went to a Sea-Tac warehouse.

“We probably would have gotten rid of it sooner had the snowstorms in November and December not happened,” Betancourt said. “After all that we said, ‘Hey, we have all this dog food.’”

And the Seattle Animal Shelter’s phone rang.

“We have room for maybe a pallet’s worth,” said Kara Main-Hester, manager of shelter volunteer programs and fundraising. “We don’t have a place to put all of it.”

Last week, a staff member called Northwest Harvest, an organization that works with about 300 food banks and meal programs statewide.

“I’m not sure what the plan for distribution is yet,” spokeswoman Claire Acey said Tuesday. “But I can tell you for clients, particularly at the Cherry Street Food Bank in Seattle, their pets are tremendously important to them. We get a lot of requests for dog food.

“This will make a big difference for people, especially those who don’t have much else.”

Port commissioners are typically reluctant to pass capital development resolutions introduced during the same meeting, but were told most of the food had passed its best-if-used-by date. Other bags in the lot have a best-use date that expires March 31.

Tuesday morning, the Port Commission approved an amended resolution that would give the dog food — 1,150 15-pound bags of Solid Gold Millennia and 450 18-pound bags of Diamond Low Fat — to the Seattle Animal Shelter and King County Animal Shelter, which are expected to pass the bulk to Northwest Harvest.

The Port of Seattle Police canine unit also kept some of the goods.

“Coming into an election season,” Commissioner John Creighton said, “I think it’s a pity that dogs resident in King County can’t vote.”

Rescued: 300 small breed dogs seized from alleged puppy mill, NC February 9, 2009

Source: Goldsboro News, Feb 6, 2009

Clad in overalls and wearing masks to hide the stench of ammonia, animal rescue workers early this morning began removing the first of some 300 adult dogs and puppies from what is being called a “puppy mill.”

A steady procession of local animal control workers and workers from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) brought the animals from sheds at Thornton Kennel, 180 Westbrook Church Road just miles from the Wayne-Sampson County line.

The animals were taken after the county filed a civil injunction late Thursday afternoon against Virginia Thornton alleging she was “willfully and intentionally” depriving the animals of a proper living environment.

The operation, that was initiated by Wayne County Animal Control Director Justin Scally, is being called the largest ever in the state. It culminates a year-long investigation.

The dogs, some with matted fur and swollen eyes, were shivering as they were brought out to be checked by veterinarians, photographed and have identity bands placed on them before being loaded into a large trailer.

In the yard, family members milled around and instructed deputies not to allow the media onto their property. The family did not respond to a request for comment.

The animals were located in several sheds, some near the house and others across the road.

The first load of about 100 animals was taken to a makeshift shelter at the Wayne Regional Fair-grounds for further examination.

When they arrived, volunteers and veterinarians were waiting.

They had been since 5 a.m. — building cages and unloading food and medical supplies despite the bitter cold.

But as soon as that truck pulled in, the squeaks, barks and yelps drew them to the animals.

It was 9:45 when the first was walked into the home it will know for the remainder of the weekend.

A volunteer stepped off the truck holding a curly-haired mutt with a swollen eye and mud covering its white coat.

It was shivering.

But each time the woman’s hand a ran down its back, his tail wagged — as much as it could.

Another volunteer was close behind, holding a pair of Chihuahuas shaking uncontrollably.

“It’s pretty sad,” said Amanda Arrington, president of the state chapter of the HSUS, as the volunteer passed by.

But the scene, she added, was far worse.

Wayne Sheriff’s deputies and animals control officers arrived there about 6:30 a.m. and were expected to be there for most of the day.

“Most of the animals are breeding females,” said Jordan Crump, HSUS emergency services public information officer. “Most were females. She (Ms. Thornton) was trying to get the most out them.”

In some cases, the animals were so old they produced single puppies and small litters, she said.

The animals, she said, were confined in small dirty wire cages — some several to a cage — in buildings lacking proper heat and ventilation.

The animals did have food and water.

Ms. Crump said the lack of ventilation had created such strong ammonia smell that in some cases caused the animals’ eyes to swell shut. Ammonia fumes that strong can also cause skin infections, she added.

In some cases the animals have been in the cages for up to eight years, she said.

Most were small breed animals — poodles, Pomeranians, Lhasa Apso, Shih-Tzus and Chihuahuas.

Assisting the county’s Animal Control Department were representatives from the Humane Society, PetSmart Charities and United Animal Nations. The workers came from Florida, the Midwest and HSUS headquarters in Washington, D.C.

A hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Wayne County courthouse to determine whether a permanent injunction will be ordered and whether Ms. Thornton should pay for the cost of care for the animals while they are in county custody.

The petition for the injunction includes an affidavit from veterinarian Kelli Ferris, assistant clinical professor at N.C. State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Scally submitted photos and video taken at the kennel for Dr. Ferris to review.

“The photos and video provided lead me to believe that many animals are being subject to animal cruelty in this facility,” Dr. Ferris wrote. “Puppy mills are dog production units where dogs are housed for years in cramped conditions with no environmental enrichment or opportunities for normal exercise.”

The animals will remain in the custody of Wayne County Animal Control pending final custody decisions.

Should Ms. Thornton surrender the animals or be ordered to do so by the courts, HSUS will work with animal control as well as rescue groups in other states to rehabilitate and find homes for the dogs.

Many of the animals might be taken back to the Washington, D.C., area, Ms. Crump said.

The animals mostly were being sold over the Internet, she added. A sign in front of the house lists a Web site www.thorntonkennels.com, advertising “Toy and Designer breeds.”

Ms. Crump said Ms. Thornton would not allow people to visit the kennel and met potential customers at other locations.

That, she said, should be a “tip-off” to people that something is amiss.

People can unknowingly support “this horrible industry” by buying over the Internet or not checking a kennel.

“The only way to stop this is through legislation,” she said.

She urged people interested in adopting an animal to visit an animal shelter

Scally said he asked for the assistance of HSUS when he realized how many animals were at the kennel.

“We realized we did not have the resources to handle all of these animals by ourselves,” Scally said. “I can finally rest easy knowing that these animals are no longer living in constant confinement.”

County Commissioner Steve Keen, in whose district the kennel is located, rode to the scene with animal control officers.

Keen said some people had questioned the expense the county went to when it built its new animal center. These animals, he said, underscored how important the shelter is.

“But this is so overwhelming,” he said.

“These dogs have may need extensive rehabilitation, but they are already beginning to warm up to their temporary caretakers. I believe they are on their way to leading new lives as loving family pets,” added Janell Matthies, UAN emergency services manager.

Residents of North Carolina interested in taking action for animals can sign up for the upcoming Humane Lobby Day, which The HSUS will host on Feb. 12 in Raleigh. Local advocates will gather at the Capitol to lobby for animal welfare legislation – including the puppy mill bill

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization — backed by 11 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, the HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs.

For more information visit www.humanesociety.org.

None of the dogs seized this morning were in critical condition.

Still, they will be housed at the fairgrounds for the next several days, officials said — receiving treatment and love.

“Just the human touch, they don’t even experience that,” Mrs. Arrington said. “Their feet probably haven’t touched the ground in years. But when you pick them up, you can tell they know it’s going to be OK.”

That Puppy in the Window Costs Too Much: New Website Aims to Shut Down Puppy Mills January 5, 2009

Source: PR.com, Jan 5, 2009

The lure of a puppies sweet trusting face is undeniable. The sad, cruel truth behind puppy mills is animal cruelty. A New Hampshire woman has made it her life’s goal to put all cruel puppy mills out of business.

Manchester, NH, January 05, 2009 –(PR.com)– When Realtor Sherry Bezanson of Londonderry, NH learned of the cruelty behind the pet store trade, she made it her life’s mission to shut down the puppy mill industry. Bezanson raised $6,200 to post a billboard in downtown Manchester. It warns potential dog-buyers of the nasty neglect behind many puppy purchases. The advertisement cost $8, 2000 so Bezanson is still accepting donations.

Bezanson used the internet to raise funds. She turned to Caroline Bogart of Bogart Computing, LLC to create PuppyMillDogsVoice.org (Puppy Mill Dog’s Voice). Bogart provides free websites to anti-cruelty and animal rescue causes.

Once people learn about puppy mill cruelty they are ready to jump with a donation or join a “peaceful protect” outside a pet store. “I’m getting more and more hits each day and more and more people contacting me about my cause,” Bezanson said.

The website uses the Joomla content management system (CMS). The Joomla software features allow Bezanson to update the site at any time. Using a browser-based editor similar to Microsoft Word, the website allows Bezanson to keep the website’s stories up to date.

Bogart added a Donation Thermometer so visitors could see the billboard campaign’s progress. The site is linked to PayPal for safe and fast donations.

“I wanted a website because so many people aren’t aware and find it hard to believe what’s going on behind the scenes of the local pet shop that sell puppies or the fancy internet breeder websites,” Bezanson said. “The cruelty and inhumane conditions these poor helpless dogs that are used as breeding machines live in all so the puppy millers can make a buck without any regard whatsoever for the health and well being of the dogs. Very sad but my website is helping to educate people everyday and that is exactly what I wanted! “

The website teaches visitors about the shocking and sad truth behind the cute face in the pet store window. It guides the reader on how to responsibly adopt dogs. For those who want to join Bezanson in the fight to ban puppy mills, there is Letter to the Editor advice and periodic “peaceful protests” outside local pet stores that sell dogs.

Donations to the Puppy Mill Dog’s Voice Billboard Campaign can be made at http://puppymilldogsvoice.org. Donors can also sponsor an anti-puppy-mill classified advertisement in the Dogs For Sale section of the local newspaper.

Animal welfare organization seeking free website assistance can contact Bogart Computing at http://bogartcomputing.com.

Crews rescue 100 dogs from alleged Ont. puppy mill, Canada December 4, 2008

Source: ctvtoronto.ca,  Dec. 02 2008

Investigators from the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals rescued 100 mistreated and sickly dogs from an alleged puppy mill in the province’s Georgian Bay region, northwest of Toronto.

The OSPCA rescued the small-breed canines, ranging from puppies to elderly dogs, from a home in Meaford, Ont., near Owen Sound on Monday night.

The house was covered in “feces,” Ontario SPCA spokesperson Alison Cross told CTV Toronto on Tuesday.

One veteran investigator said it was the worst odour she had ever smelled.

Many of the severely matted dogs were suffering from open wounds and possible infections along with a host of other complications, Cross said.

The 100 pups were all brought to the York regional SPCA facility in nearby Newmarket, later that same night. The dogs are receiving much-needed medical attention, Cross said.

It is expected that many of the dogs will require long-term veterinary care.

It’s still too early in the investigation to put dogs up for adoption, but the SPCA promised to let the public know when it’s time to find the pets a permanent home.

“I saw this on CTV News last night…I knew there was a great need for support and help so I’m here to do whatever is necessary,” Linda Weir, a local volunteer, told CTV Toronto on Tuesday.

The rescue was one of the largest ever made by OSPCA. The organization said it was tipped off by a concerned citizen.

The names of the homeowners have not been released and charges are pending in the ongoing investigation, Cross told ctvtoronto.ca on Tuesday.

If convicted, the accused could face up to two years in prison, a $60,000 fine and lifetime ban from pet ownership, she said.

Angels for Animals rescues 31 dogs from Logan County puppy mills, OH November 23, 2008

Source: LimaOhio.com, November 21, 2008

ELIDA – Nearly three dozen puppies will get a new lease on life thanks to the efforts of a local non-profit group.

Angels for Animals, an animal rescue group from Elida, went to several so-called Amish puppy mills in Logan County this week. The mission was simple – save the animals from deplorable conditions and almost certain death.

“The puppies were from Amish that all they do is breed the dogs to sell the puppies for profit,” Sandy Laing, president of Angels for Animals, said. “There’s a lady in Cincinnati that’s been going to these mills every 30 days for about two years and taking what dogs they do not want instead of killing them, which is what they normally do. She gives them a small amount of money for each dog so they can continue living and have a wonderful life.”

It was the first time the local group has traveled to a puppy mill to pick up animals. The mills, Laing said, do not let people inside to see the conditions. Animal rescue officials, however, get a sense of the conditions inside the mills once they assess the rescued animals, she said.

“All the dogs were kept in barns, all the buildings were unheated. A lot of the dogs are short-haired breeds so I’m sure they were very cold,” Laing said. “Most of the dogs have not had much socialization so they’re very shy. Most of them needed groomed because they are very smelly, matted. A lot of them had skin conditions from not being cleaned.”

A veterinarian was spending Friday looking over the dogs and making sure they are healthy and up-to-date on vaccinations. A number of dogs were also sent out to be groomed and brought back to the facility, Laing said.

Puppy mills are fairly common around the area, Laing said. The mills are unfortunate, she said, because they don’t treat the animals well, raising them to be sold at pet stores and elsewhere.

“We had one right here in Allen County in the latter part of the summer that we took their dogs,” Laing said. “In the Amish communities they are a way to make money that’s easy for the people. Unfortunately, they don’t take good care of the animals.”

The goal for Angels for Animals, a group that’s been around more than nine years, is to find good, loving homes for the animals, Laing said.

“They’ll be put up for adoption. The ones that are very shy will be sent to Allen Correctional Institution for the inmates to work with them,” she said. “Some of them are nice enough that they’ll go right into homes.”

The conditions the animals live in before they are rescued is heart-breaking, Laing said.

“It absolutely breaks my heart as an animal lover to think these people are using them as a means to make money instead of going out to get a regular job,” she said. “They’re not here for that purpose. They deserve and need to be loved and cared for and we adopt them out with that in mind only.”

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.”