This morning I received an email from a Client who is very involved with Dog Rescue Organizations (Ridgeback).
When I first met her she and her husband had taken in two female Rhodesian Ridgebacks that had been used as "Breeders" in an unscrupulous puppy mill. They had known no life outside of their crates and their only purpose was to have litters. When I would show my Clients property no one even knew they were there because they were so un-socialized they laid "statue like" in their crates as we walked through.
To date one has been socialized enough to be given to a good home,the second is on her way and they have now taken in a new "foster child".
She asked me to pass the word about anABC special tonight on Nightline. They will be doing an expose' on puppy mills in PA.
Hopefully there will be information on how interested party's can get involved!
It would seem that people are still finding it profitable to sell these puppies. It is up to us as Consumers to research not only the puppy we are buying....but where we are buying it from.
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This is the original email....reprinted with permision of the author.
Subject: Fwd: "Nightline" 3/27 Puppy Expose! Please Crosspost
To:
Date: Thursday, March 26, 2009, 2:00 PM
Permission to cross-post.
=============
To: Rescue
Cc: Petland protest
Subject: Fwd: "Nightline" 3/27 Puppy Expose! Please Crosspost
Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:10:27 -0500
FYI!
The cat is out of the bag - or should we say the dog out of the
hutch! This Friday night, March 27, ABC's Nightline will be
investigating puppy mills!
ABC Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi and investigators from Nightline
travel the byways and back roads of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania -
visiting numerous puppy mills and filming Main Line Animal Rescue's
volunteers as they rescue breeding dogs and puppies from Lancaster
County's notorious Amish commercial breeding facilities.
This promises to be a very special program. If you are involved in
rescue, advocate on behalf of the millions of puppy mill dogs
interned in our nation's commercial dog breeding facilities, or if
you just simply love animals, you will not want to miss this.
Sharyn Alfonsi interviewed, on camera, an Amish breeder while touring
his facility - a first for network television. With approximately
500 dogs housed on his property, this commercial breeder speaks
openly about an industry cloaked in secrecy and suspicion - the cruel
factory farming of man's best friend.
PLEASE tell your friends, your family, your coworkers - ABC Nightline
investigates puppy mills - this Friday at 11:35 pm (Eastern Standard
Time). Please take the time to forward this to all the rescues,
shelters, and legislators in your area.
It has been almost one year since Oprah's puppy mill show aired.
That program received the highest viewer response of any Oprah Show
in years. Now we need to spread the word about this very special
Nightline. Only by educating as many people as we can, will we be
able to help these animals. And after you watch the program, please
don't hesitate to contact ABC and Nightline to thank them for casting
such a strong light on the plight of our nation's puppy mill dogs.
Bill Smith
Main Line Animal Rescue
Friday's airing of Nightline's investigation of puppy mills is
subject to breaking news. If for any reason it is not shown, it will
air the beginning of next week. Please check listings for your time
zone.
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Let's do what we can!!
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Joan Mirantz - Joni is a Realtor® with Keeler Family Realtors, a locally owned, Customer Service oriented Firm.
Joan Publishes a monthly Newsletter "Food For Thought" under the pen name Realtor Sherpa.
(Joan also answers to Miz Maven and Miss Joni.)
Joan works in Buyer and Seller Representation with concentrations in the Merrimack Valley Area and towns surrounding Concord NH - the Capital City.
"I love what I do, and it shows in how I do it"
Joan, these puppy mills that are around the country need to be halted; too many affected dogs and especially the health problems these pets come down with before they are sold and sent out into the world.
Thanks, Joan. I'll be watching Nightline tonight. This is quite a serious problem around the country.
Hi Joan, Thank You for sharing this. As an animal lover and especially the little ones that occupy our homes, these puppy mills are so disgusting and they break my heart when you see how the little babies are treated. It is a wonder that any survive but it is animal cruelty in it's highest form. Thank you again in hopes that many will help to shut these things down.
Unfortunatly we will be able to watch the show. The wife gets way to emotional and it will effect her for weeks to come, which I'm sure is what they want people to feel. It is amazing what people will do to make a buck in this world. I spent 23 years in the Navy and went to a lot of countries where you don't even want to think about what they raise household animals for. Very very sad!!!!
Thank you for the post... I will be watching Nightline.
I'm in Pa and I wasn't aware of an Amish puppy mill. Thanks for the post, I'll certainly be watching tonight.
These puppy mills are all over the place. Hopefully, states will shut them down. They often are in violation of town ordinances. In addition to the puppy mills, pets are being abandoned when homes go into foreclosure and sellers can't take their pets with them. There are so many pets in need right now! I work with New England Pet Partners in Pelham, NH and they have been active in these causes...thanks Joan.. it is a big problem!
Thank you for getting the word out about this. It is just a disgusting practice. I only adopt rescue animals, I could not and would not participate in this kind of abuse and misery. So sad!
Thank you so much for posting this. I am active in rescue and the proud "mother" of a puppy mill survivor. It is unbelieveable what these animals go through. My baby didn't even know how to walk upright when I first got him. The cage he was kept in was too small for him to stand upright in. Again, bless you for helping to spread the word.
Joni
It breaks my heart to read this; I really have a hard time when greed becomes a factor that overrules the love that the animal could give if it were given the chance. Lars and I will be watching that Nightline tonight.
Tom
Gary...perhaps this is one of the areas where we can actually make a difference?
Heather...me too!!
Hi William...I know you are a dog lover. How is your little buddy?
Dan...I think we all have a good idea of what they were used for. Maybe this is a small area that as individuals we can affect by getting the word out?
Hi Tal....pass it on would you?
Suesan....that in itself is intriguing....talk about utilizing the tactics of the "outside' WORLD!!
jOAN....I know this is a subject close to your heart!
Chris I agree. We have 2 dogs. Both were adopted....wouldn't have it any other way!
Joan until we get people to stop buying from pet shops and large breeding facilities we are going to have this problem. When I did humane investigations in VA we busted a Sheltie breeder and took 110 dogs out of there, all of them statues. It took a lot of foster homing and socialization to get them into permanent homes, and frankly some of them never came round and became real dogs, but we did find families who were willing to love them on the dog's terms. Its a shame this country allows those puppy mills. Arkansas and Missouri are two of the biggest offenders.
I had no idea that this is what Puppie Mill meant. Sends chills all over my body. Just disgusting. Thanks for sharing this.
Beth...I admire people like you and my client who take on that task....you must be a very patient person.
Tom...somehow I just knew Lars was a TV watcher too!!
Terry that is a scary story...and that is such an intelligent breed. What is wrong with people????
Kate...I wish the show had been longer. It just skimmed the surface. The poor dog in the treadmill....would you believe it?
When I dog shop, I insist on seeing where the dogs are kept.
Hi Cheryl...that is probably the most responsible way to do it!
Joan,
Thank you for your informative post about "Puppy Mills". It's a horrible practice! I'm sorry that I did not read your post in time to help spread the word. I'm 3 days too late and I also missed the show. Thank you for helping spread the word.
Rita
Rita....I'd be willing to bet you may find it on YouTube!