Saturday, June 14, 2014
A trip to your local puppy store can result in an hour of joy with a few four legged furry friends or the discovery of a life long companion. Just like any friend you acquire in your lifetime, you want them to live a happy life with little complications. When making a new friend you have the power to change their life for the better but poor treatment of animals can create problems that a loving family will not be able to solve. Before the animals are up for sale at the puppy stores or online they are living in an environment which focuses mainly on the profit to be made and not the welfare of the animals. These environments are nothing like the pictures advertised on the brochures for puppy farms. In reality the animals are fed the bare minimum, crammed into small cages, shown no love and given to open space to get much needed exercise. Buyers are convinced that the high price of puppies online or from puppy stores means a high quality of life before being sold. The conditions are never seen by buyers from pet stores. Pet stores swear their puppies come from local puppy farms, but this is rarely true.
This is where they are coming from (puppy mills)
Mother's of adorable pet store puppies are abused
Mothers are forced to live in terrible conditions and constantly reproduce
Breeders exploit dogs of all breeds to supply pet stores and online sites that sell puppies. Puppy mills come in various shapes and sizes however, the common themes are that of filth, cruelty, inadequate vet care, suffering and greed. Profit is the goal, suffering is the result.
Adopting pets is the way to go!
Shelters don't lie. What you see is what you get. They have a screening process to ensure the future safety of the animals, unlike common pet stores. Most people believe if an animal ended up in the shelter that means there is something wrong with them, but this is NOT true.
Watch the video to find out why!
DID YOU KNOW???
There is an estimated 15,000 puppies mills in the United States alone, making up nearly one hundred percent of the dogs sold in pet stores, online and through newspaper ads.
Most of these breeding kennels are located in the mid west. These types of facilities are illegal in only 26 states but due to little or no federal oversight the inadequate breeding facilities are still in business throughout those states.
PUPPIES GETTING ILLL
Every pet shop will assure you, solemnly, that their puppies are different. Their puppies don't come from puppy mills, but from wonderful local breeders.
But it's a lie.
No responsible breeder would ever place one of their puppies in a pet shop.
It is extremely common for puppies to get illnesses and diseases from puppy mills. At time of purchase, consumers are given incorrect information about the dog’s health, breed, and breeder.
You bring the puppy home and a few days later he develops a cough, or diarrhea, or vomiting, or listlessness, or he starts scratching or losing hair.... this happens over and over with pet shop puppies. Kennel cough, parvovirus, coronavirus, giardia, coccidia, mange, ringworm – these illnesses are commonly found in commercial breeding kennels and pet stores.
You bring the puppy home and a few days later he develops a cough, or diarrhea, or vomiting, or listlessness, or he starts scratching or losing hair.... this happens over and over with pet shop puppies. Kennel cough, parvovirus, coronavirus, giardia, coccidia, mange, ringworm – these illnesses are commonly found in commercial breeding kennels and pet stores.
Most pet shop offers to replace unhealthy puppies, instead of seeking to prevent diseases. YOU get your money back, but the puppy still has to live with the health problem that could have been avoided if he hadn't been raised in a puppy mill, if his breeder had been seeking to produce healthy puppies instead of scrambling to keep his expenses down.
Pet shops aren't too worried about having to honor their guarantees
Pet shops aren't too worried about having to honor their guarantees
- They count on your becoming attached to the puppy and being reluctant to return it.
- Puppy store guarantees are carefully written so that whatever your particular puppy develops probably isn't covered
- Many genetic health problems don't show up for months or years so people do not consider that these problems orginated from the first 6 weeks of their puppies lives.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
DONATE AT THEPUPPYPROJECT.ORG TO SPREAD AWARENESS.
We can't put an end to an issue people don't know is occurring.
By supporting The Puppy Project, YOU are helping us to raise awareness in schools all around the world.
You can also help by adopting dogs from recuse centers and shelters, not from local puppy store, through newspapers, or off the internet. You can also help by informing your friends as well. Encourage adoption.
MANY STATES HAVE NO LAWS REGARDING PUPPY MILLS.
EVEN NEW JERSEY HAS VERY MINIMAL LAWS REGARDING PUPPY MILLS
Puppy Mills Facts
10,000 Estimated number of puppy mills in the U.S. (both licensed and unlicensed)
1,924 Number of USDA Class A and B licensed facilities that breed dogs for the pet trade
167,338 Estimated number of dogs kept solely for breeding purposes in USDA-licensed facilities
108,802 Estimated number of female dogs kept for breeding at USDA-licensed facilities
9.4 Estimated number of puppies per breeding female per year
1,022,740 Estimated number of puppies produced by USDA-licensed facilities each year
2.04 million Estimated number of puppies sold annually who originated from puppy mills – USDA-licensed and non-USDA licensed
25% Estimated percentage of dogs in animal shelters who are purebred
DID YOU KNOW??
It is estimated that there are at least 10,000 puppy mills in the U.S. Fewer than 3,000 of these are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals. The organization's mission is "to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States."
The Puppy Project will work hand and hand with the ASPCA to raise awareness and bring puppies to local schools, encouraging them to adopt rather than buy from puppy mills.
LOVE DOGS??
The Puppy Mill Project is very similar to the Puppy Project. However, while they are doing the actual busting of puppy mills, we are teaching students of the horrors and spreading awareness!
How Does This Make You Feel????
PUT AN END TO PUPPY MILLS
SUPPORT THE PUPPY PROJECT AT THEPUPPYPROJECT.ORG
How to Fight Puppy Mills
Most people understand there's a difference between selling a puppy and selling a toaster oven, but do our laws? It depends.
Across the country, there are many puppy mills that put profits ahead of pet welfare. Some puppy mills are even legal! They produce puppy after puppy like household appliances on a conveyor belt. They soley care about profit.
You can play a part in ending puppy mills by refusing to buy anything, including both dogs and pet supplies, from a pet store that sell puppies.
Here’s the thing. There is no such thing as a good puppy mill. The good breeders, those that are careful about how they breed, how often they breed, and give the pets in their care proper food, socialization and veterinary care, don’t sell to pet stores.
The commercial breeders, puppy millers, that put profit over the well being of the dogs DO sell their dogs in pet stores.
There are no good puppy mills…it’s that simple
Puppy Mill in Bradley County
More than 200 dogs have been seized at puppy mill, neighbors who wished not to be identified say they complained a long time ago about the dogs.
The complaints were sent to animal control and those who filed those called to complain say nothing was ever done to hold the puppy mill owner accountable.
WDEF spoke to animal control director Gene Smith.
"At that time she had 20 dogs and they were up to date on the rabies shots that state law requires and she was in compliance with that and there was no other violation at that time," Smith said.
But now she's accused of running an unhealthy puppy mill that housed more than 240 dogs. She even advertised it online but since the dogs were seized, the website was taken down.
The owner of the puppy mill refuses to talk to reporters and the SPCA of Bradley County has not been able to provide any additional information.
PUPPY MILLS ARE MORE COMMON THAN YOU MAY REALIZE.
Friday, June 13, 2014
DID YOU KNOW??
Online Puppies Most Likely Come From Puppy Mills
Many puppies sold online come from puppy mills. The only way you can be sure that a puppy came from a reputable source is to see where he or she came from yourself! Responsible breeders would never sell to someone they haven't met because they want to screen potential buyers to ensure the puppies are going to good homes.
Adoption agencies at rescues centers, such as the Dogs Trust Rescue Center in the following, have a long process for each potential adopter, as well as paperwork, to ensure the future safety of their dogs. They take good care of their dogs. They are all rescued animals.
How does watching this video make you feel? Do you understand why adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue center can be so much more rewarding?
Who Started the Puppy Project?
My best friends and I have always shared an immense love for puppies, as well as all animals. We frequently visit the puppy store, purely for fun and our own personal enjoyment, there is nothing like a cuddly puppy to help a long day of work. However, one day we decided to do some research regarding how these animals ended up here in our local puppy store. We were disgusted with the information we stumbled upon and promised we would do all we could to make a change. We’re starting off keeping it simply, let’s spread awareness on this issue. I spent the majority of my life completely blind, that these adorable puppies I loved to visit at my local pet store, had been abused and mistreated their entire lives. Other people need to realize this, and we won’t stop until they do, hence the development of the Puppy Project.
What can I do?
Log onto www.thepuppyproject.net and DONATE.
In order to continue our start of the Puppy Project, we have estimated a need for about $80,000 in order to get our organization bigger.
$10,000 dollars will be donated to the ASPCA for their partnership.
11 FACTS ABOUT PUPPY MILLS YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW ABOUT
- "1. A puppy mill is a commercial dog-breeding facility that focuses on increasing profit with little overhead cost. The health and welfare of the animals is not a priority.
- 2. Puppy mills will breed a female dog every time she is in heat. For instance, a 5-year-old dog could have given birth to 10 litters of puppies.
- 3. In puppy mills, animals can spend most of their lives in cramped cages, with no room to play or exercise.
- 4. Often times, the water and food provided for the puppies is contaminated, crawling with bugs. Puppies can even be malnourished.
- 5. Puppies in mills are found with bleeding or swollen paws, feet falling through the wire cages, severe tooth decay, ear infections, dehydration, and lesions on their eyes, which often lead to blindness.
- 6. Almost all pet store animals come from puppy mills. At time of purchase, consumers are given incorrect lineage about the dog’s health, breed, and breeder.
- 7. Every year, retail pet stores across America sell 500,000 dogs, while 5 to 7 million dogs enter shelters.
- 8. Most puppy mills have no veterinary care, climate control, or protection for the animals from weather (hot, cold, rain, or snow).
- 9. With limited or no regulations or enforcement, puppy mills have no cleanup control. This means that dogs can be living in urine and feces for indefinite periods of time.
- 10. In most states, puppy mills are legal. It is important that future pet owners seek rescue dogs from their local shelter or buy pets from a trusted breeder in order to put mills out of business.
- 11. Only 26 states in the U.S. have laws to regulate commercial kennels to prevent animal abuse and cruelty."
What Makes Us Different?
There are endless organizations and foundations made in regards to the well-being of dogs. I mean who doesn't love this?
But what's different about The Puppy Project is that it's a small organization, working hand in hand with the ASPCA to raise awareness to local schools of the importance of adopting dogs, rather than buying them from your local pet store. The Puppy Project was developed in New Jersey by three best friends, passionate about the safety and health of dogs, who aspire to spread awareness nationwide to put an end to Puppy Mills.
So what does the Puppy Project want to do?
Of course we want to put an end to puppy mills. But, how? THROUGH AWARENESS. The more you know, the more you feel compelled to help. Most people are blind to the inhumanity involved in puppy mills. The Puppy Project will work hand in hand with the ASPCA, to bring puppies to local schools, starting here in Monmouth County, encouraging people to adopt rather than buy from a local pet store. Why travel to schools? Well, students hold the reins to the future of America.
Animals need adopting, they need YOUR help.
Yesterday, 50+ Dogs Found in Puppy Mill Bust in NC
Yesterday in Rutherford Country, North Carolina, more than 50 small-breed dogs are recuperating at the Humane Society of Charlotte, after being rescued from a suspected puppy mill in Rutherford County.
"Right now these dogs are in really bad shape" said Jorge Ortega, of the Humane Society. "We have one dog that's missing an eye due to an old injury. We are seeing severe mats. A lot of dental problems."
Humane Society officials say the dogs include English bulldog, yorkie, cocker spaniel, French bulldog and shitzu breeds.
According to officials, the dogs were found on three different properties by the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office in poor conditions and in need of medical care.
The Humane Society of Charlotte's Emergency Response Team was asked to assist.
"This is the 20th rescue that The HSUS has assisted with in North Carolina since June 2011," said state director Kim Alboum.
HELP SPREAD AWARENESS OF THE HORRORS PUPPY MILLS CREATE, BY SUPPORTING THE PUPPY PROJECT
CLOSE DOWN PUPPY MILLS
You may be asking yourself, what about the dogs at the pet stores? Don't they need homes too?
If the public stops buying pet store puppies, gradually over time, the owners continue to slash the price until the puppies are sold.Then the less they sell, the less profit the store makes, meaning the store will order fewer puppies the next month. And puppy mills will ultimately produce fewer dogs and eventually run out of business. The most important thing you can do to help shut down puppy mills is refuse to shop at a store that sells puppies.
Don't Believe Local Pet Stores!
When local pet stores promise their puppies aren't from a puppy mill, don't be so quick to believe them. There is no legal definition of "puppy mill." Many pet store owners will tell you they get all their puppies from "licensed USDA breeders" or "local breeders." In fact, in order to sell puppies to pet stores, a breeder must be licensed by the USDA! Pet stores often use this licensing to provide a false sense of security to customers, when what it really means is that they do, in fact, get their puppies from puppy mills.
Responsible breeders would never sell a puppy through a pet store because they want to screen potential buyers to ensure that the puppies are going to good homes.
Please make adoption your first option. If you have your heart set on a purebred, please be sure to visit your local shelter or find a breed rescue group before searching for a breeder.
Dogs Breeding in Puppy Mills
In order to maximize profits, female dogs are bred at every opportunity with little to no recovery time between litters. When, after a few years, they are physically depleted to the point that they no longer can reproduce, breeding females are often killed. The mom and dad of the puppy in the pet store window are unlikely to make it out of the mill alive, and neither will the many puppies born with any indication of imperfection.
How Are Animals Treated at Puppy Mills?
Puppy mills usually house dogs in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, water and socialization. Puppy mill dogs do not get to experience treats, toys, exercise or basic grooming. To minimize waste cleanup, dogs are often kept in cages with wire flooring that injures their paws and legs—and it is not unusual for cages to be stacked up in columns. Breeding dogs at mills might spend their entire lives outdoors, exposed to the elements, or crammed inside filthy structures where they never get the chance to feel the sun or breathe fresh air.
What Health Problems Are Common to Puppy Mill Dogs?
Illness and disease are common in dogs from puppy mills. Because puppy mill operators often fail to remove sick dogs from their breeding pools, puppies from puppy mills are prone to congenital and hereditary conditions. These can include:
- Epilepsy
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Musculoskeletal disorders (hip dysplasia, luxating patellas, etc.)
- Endocrine disorders (diabetes, hyperthyroidism)
- Blood disorders (anemia, Von Willebrand disease)
- Deafness
- Eye problems (cataracts, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy, etc.)
- Respiratory disorders
On top of that, puppies often arrive in pet stores and their new homes with diseases or infirmities. These can include:
- Giardia
- Parvovirus
- Distemper
- Upper respiratory infections
- Kennel cough
- Pneumonia
- Mange
- Fleas
- Ticks
- Intestinal parasites
- Heartworm
- Chronic diarrhea
What Is a Puppy Mill?
A puppy mill is an establishment that breeds puppies to sell, typically in conditions regarded as inhumane. A puppy mill is a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs. Unlike responsible breeders, who place importance on producing the healthiest puppies possible, breeding at puppy mills is performed without consideration of genetic quality. They don't care if the dogs are happy or healthy, they merely seek to produce pure bread puppies, they can sell for a lot of money.Some puppy mill puppies are sold to pet shops, usually through a broker, or middleman, and marketed as young as eight weeks of age. Other puppy mill puppies are sold directly to the public, including over the Internet, through newspaper ads, and at swap meets and flea markets.
What is the Puppy Project?
The Puppy Project is an awareness organization designed to raise awareness regarding the hidden negativities of puppy mills. Yes, I mean the puppies at your local puppy store. Do you realize how unnaturally they are bred?
There are thousands of animals at local shelters, like the ASPCA, that need YOUR help. The Puppy Project is an organization that travels school to school teaching children of the dangers involved in puppy mills, encouraging adoption of abused animals, rather than the support of inhumanity.
The Puppy Project charges $4000 per school for a thorough presentation performed by highly trained experts. The Puppy Project donates $1000 yearly to the ASPCA, in return the ASPCA provides animals to be apart of the presentation.
The Puppy Project was created by three best friends who share a love for animals. Three friends who are determined to make a change in the world.
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