Home » News » Dogtown Episode Exposes Puppy Mills...

News

Dogtown Episode Exposes Puppy Mills

March 25, 2009, 1:17PM MT

By Cheri Moon

Tune in Friday, March 27 on National Geographic Channel

Tune in Friday, March 27 on National Geographic Channel

By Cheri Moon, Best Friends Staff

Meet Mei Mei and Gertie—the stars of this week’s Dogtown episode. Rescued as adults from puppy mills, their stories of survival and displays of courage and affection are sure to touch your heart.

Pet Stores Support Puppy Mills
It’s amazing, really, how many people aren’t aware of the connection between pet stores and puppy mills. Or what a puppy mill actually is.

However, once people learn where that “puppy in the window” comes from—it’s nothing they’ll soon forget. That for every cute, fluffy puppy running playfully in a pet store—there is a mother dog whose entire existence consists of a cage, usually covered in filth, giving birth to another litter that will be shipped off to another pet store.

That is the story that played out last year when Best Friends was involved in exposing one puppy mill in Los Angeles County that was supplying puppy stores in Beverly Hills.

Mei Mei
Mei Mei (pictured above) was one of around 100 dogs rescued from a commercial breeding operation located near Palmdale, California. Six of these dogs came to Best Friends, all older girls except for Mei Mei, which means “little sister” in Chinese.

Despite life in a puppy mill, Mei Mei never showed a fear of people or new situations. Instead, Mei Mei seemed to decide that after a life of too little love, those days are behind her, and she showers affection on those around her.

Gertie

This bulgy-eyed Shi Tzu came to Best Friends with Mei Mei and moved into the Sanctuary’s facility for geriatric small dogs (otherwise known as the laundry room) and fit right in. Gertie liked people and other dogs and it wasn’t long before she won the hearts of some Best Friends’ volunteers, who added Gertie to their family.

Gertie now spends her days traveling around the country in an RV—shedding her previous existence of life in a cage with every mile and loving hug from her new family.

Says Jennifer Krause, Los Angeles Programs campaign specialist, “It was truly amazing being a part of this rescue mission. Seeing Gertie, Mei Mei and the rest of the dogs being released from their cages for the first time was an unforgettable experience.”

She adds, “At first, the dogs were scared and confused, but it was as if they knew we were there to save them and they realized that finally, they were free.”

“And now,” says Krause, “to see them go from deplorable conditions and into fantastic homes with loving families…it’s almost indescribable. Those dogs deserve nothing less than the very best.”

Education is Key
It’s hard to educate people about puppy mills in a way that is informative, touches their hearts and hopefully motivates them to help shut down unethical breeders by donating or adopting. But after this Friday’s episode of Dogtown, hopefully more people will do just that.

Says Kelli Ohrtman, Puppies Aren’t Products campaign specialist for Best Friends, “Every time I talk to someone who is thinking of buying a puppy from a pet store, and have that chance to explain where those puppies come from, it’s so rewarding.”

She explains, “Part of my job is to educate people about puppy mills. So it means that’s just one more person I reached.”

Hopefully, Ohrtman’s efforts will be supplemented by the unforgettable stories of these dogs who lived in puppy mills throughout most of their lives.

Be sure to tune in this Friday to meet Gertie and Mei Mei in their TV debut.
Friday, March 27 (10:00 p.m. ET)
National Geographic Channel
Dogtown Season 3 - Episode 2: Against the Odds

Help put an end to puppy mills:
Together we can fight against breeding pets for profit!

• Join The Truth About the Pet Trade community to learn more about how you can help put an end to puppy mills in your community.

• Learn how to organize a peaceful pet store protest.

• Download the guide, “Nine Things You Can Do to Help Stop Puppy Mills.”

• Visit Dogtown at the Sanctuary.

• Learn more about the programs and how you can help animals in Los Angeles.

Main photograph of Mei Mei by Gary Kalpakoff
Photograph of Gertie by Sarah Ause

Comments

Posted March 28, 2009, 11:6AM by Rita2828

Any one who runs or takes part in a puppy mill operation should go to jail. This way they would be able to understand what these poor dogs went through being kept in a small cage. And that's only the beginning of the hell these dogs go through. Isn't it always about the money.

Rita From Brooklyn

Posted March 28, 2009, 3:57PM by bordercolliemom

I am always just so sad when I read these stories. Why does the government still put these poor dogs under livestock. If they would change that a whole new set of rules would have to apply

Posted March 27, 2009, 9:1AM by southerndogmom

Kelli is one of my heroes. She no doubt deals with some of the worst of humanity with the mill dog rescue operations and I find myself cheering her on from afar.

I genuinely believe that education is, in fact, the key. People need to know the story behind that precious face in the pet store window or that lovely picture on that web site. What person would support the industry once they know where these puppies really come from and how the breeder dogs are treated?

We should be ashamed of ourselves and this will only stop when we, as a society, demand that it stop.