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You Can Help Shut Down A Puppy Mill

March 09, 2007, 12:0AM MT

By Michelle Buckalew

Sign the petition against the 600-dog breeding facility in Morrison County!

Sign the petition against the 600-dog breeding facility in Morrison County! Click Here to add your name.

Don't forget, the most important hearing to address Gary McDuffee's permit to keep 600 breeding dogs is scheduled for Monday, March 26th at 7p.m. Get your opinion to the Morrison County board before then!

Update from March 14th hearing

UPDATE: MARCH 14 HEARINGCANCELLED AT LAST MINUTE
Marshall Tanick, the prosecuting attorney in McDuffee’s case had this to report following yesterday’s planned hearing in Morrison County:

“At the last minute the judge removed himself from the case… The puppy mill owner [Gary McDuffee] asked the judge to remove himself from the case because the judge’s wife has been involved in some animal humane society activity. So at the last minute, two hours before the hearing the judge removed himself. There are no other judges in the area the hearing is, so they have to bring in a judge and reschedule in 2-3 weeks.

It was a major setback. But you know what you do with setbacks—you move forward. That just gives us a bigger challenge. It’s an opportunity to succeed.”

Original story below

By Kelli Ohrtman: Best Friends Network

What can one person really do to stop a puppy mill? Often, not much. We can choose not buy dogs from pet stores, we can spread the word about puppy mills, but these things—while helpful, don’t actually shut down one particular facility that mass-produces dogs. It can make a person feel powerless to really make a difference.

Now is your chance.

Gary McDuffee’s conditional use permit to keep and breed 600 dogs in Morrison County, Minnesota is under scrutiny from the entire nation. This is a monumental moment in the fight against puppy mills. In this case, your call, e-mail or attendance at two upcoming hearings can change the lives of literally thousands of dogs and puppies that will go through this facility whose operating permit is in question.

Hearings are scheduled for Wednesday, March 14th and Monday, March 26th at the Morrison County Government Center

“We want to flood that government center so there’s standing room only.” Mike Fry of Animal Ark said. Click here for directions. “We want this in the public eye.” He added, “We want to be polite and friendly, but we want them to know that they can’t get this in under the radar again.”

When Morrison County, Minnesota granted the Conditional Use Permit allowing Gary McDuffee to keep 600 dogs for breeding last year, investigations uncovered several problems. It seems that the county gave McDuffee the permit despite some serious problems including:

-Lack of an Environmental Assessment Worksheet on the property
-McDuffee’s several USDA violations at his previous commercial breeding kennel
-Morrison County’s requirement that McDuffee must debark all his outdoor dogs to keep noise levels down.

Momentum has already been building
These facts were distributed through most major news outlets in Minnesota, and spread like wildfire across the country and even to the rest of the world. This resulted in a public outcry causing the county to backpedal, and the case went to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, where the permit was suspended.

Mike Fry of Animal Ark in Minnesota said, “The effect of the Minnesota Court of Appeals’ decision, was to put everything back to square one.” This means that now, McDuffee has the same chances as before to get the proper permits to continue operation—except that this time everyone is watching. McDuffee’s permit application will be revisited in a public hearing.

Permits are usually issued quietly with no public scrutiny—not the case for McDuffee’s permit in Morrison County. This really is the time to speak up because the opportunity is right here.

What’s really at stake?
Mike Fry said, “There’s a lot at stake. Certainly there are the lives of the animals at the facility—the suffering that will be caused is huge, the numbers of puppies is huge. This not only has an impact on the dogs, but there’s a profound impact on consumers in marketplace that are going to acquire theses dogs.”

For a moving story on the reality of dogs life in a puppy mill, and what life is like when they get out, click here.

“This also sends message to other puppy mills that [McDuffee’s behavior] is okay. It will be a huge travesty if he’s allowed to operate,” Mike added.

What to do
The main impact will be seeing people’s faces in the court room on March 14th and 26th. Let Morrison County know that this matters to you. Another thing that everyone can do is to forward the message to everyone you know, and encourage them to speak up as well.

Here’s how to voice your opinion: Call or e-mail one or better yet, all of the county’s staff listed below:

Tim Houle
County Administrator
(320) 632-0295
timh@co.morrison.mn.us

Thomas Wenzel
Commissioner District 1
(320) 749-2288 or tomw@co.morrison.mn.us

Jeffrey Schilling
Commissioner District 2
(320) 745-2617 or jeffs@co.morrison.mn.us

Gene Young
Commissioner District 3
(320) 2537 or geney@co.morrison.mn.us

Donald Meyer
Commissioner District 4
320) 468-6096 or donm@co.morrison.mn.us

Duane Johnson
Commissioner District 5
(320) 547-2408

Mail Comments to:
Morrison County Government Center
213 SE 1st Ave.
Little Falls, MN 56345

Click here to read a related story

A big thanks to Mike Fry of Animal Ark. Visit their website at www.animalarkshelter.org for more information on the puppy mill problem. Here you can also learn how to donate to their Puppy Mill fund and how to sponsor dogs rescued from area puppy mills.

Pictured above: Maggie, rescued by Animal Ark from a puppy mill

Comments

Posted March 16, 2007, 12:55PM by ruthy92

It is frustrating to see the system getting "worked" and manipulated deviously

The answer is- get as many rear ends in seats for the meeting!!!!!!

Posted March 09, 2007, 2:9PM by ruthy92

The best way to end the puppy mills is just to show up.

Just make an appearance at these meetings. It means so much!

That is true everywhere.

When local authorities know that the public cares, they will stop colluding with the puppy millers and pet abusers.

And the way to show them is to attend the meeting.

Just showing up and sitting in a chair sends a strong message!

All the puppies & dogs need from people who care is just that they SHOW UP at the meeting

The pups and dogs have no voice- we need to speak up for them, or even just show our support by being there.

And bring as many people as you can to attend. Just to sit for a little while and show support.

That is true in every community facing these issues.

Posted March 10, 2007, 9:19PM by michelle

It's the Madison Avenue style imaging....the "buyers" have seen in advertising the animal as a warm cuddly pup who has come from a good, loving place. The more investigative reporting and the more info that we are able to get out there...the more the public will see the real truth.

What we need is (and we can encourage local/regional media outlets)actual undercover footage/investigative reporting from mill to pet store. The movement is now in the initial stages of all of this greed being exposed on a grand scale.

Please see where Tennessee lost a puppy mill regs battle last year with dog food companies lobbying the legislators.

http://network.bestfriends.org/tennessee/news/4114.html

http://network.bestfriends.org/tennessee/news/4025.html

We advocates shall end these puppy mills...and it will take us all standing united against those who are profiting off the backs and lives of innocent animals. And those who fought against ending these horrific mills will be known.

Posted March 29, 2007, 2:6PM by rmlamasney25

Heatherburns, thank God you were there for Taquito. It is so sad that there are so many innocents out there in bad situations. I'm so happy that Taquito has love comfort and companionship now

Posted March 10, 2007, 9:42AM by wolfkatt

Another way to put an end to puppy mills is to stop BUYING puppies!! Adopt instead!!

If more and more people did this, the demand for puppy mill puppies would go down, thus putting them out of business eventually.

Posted March 10, 2007, 12:20PM by ruthy92

One problem is that many people don't actually know that they are buying pups from puppy mills

There is more awareness that the pet stores puppies are from mills, but most people don't realize that the websites that ships the puppy to you are also the puppy mills (often the worst because those don't have to be licensed and inspected- and they don't want anyone to see those kennels!)

Not to mention that most classified listings are the millers pretending to be small breeders

There are so many lies and so much deception- and the average consumer often gets duped

Posted March 12, 2007, 9:29PM by isabel

Do you have to be a Minnesota resident to send a protest?

Posted March 13, 2007, 12:5AM by heatherbuns

We recently were given a Chihauhau that has spent the last 2 1/2 years locked in a small 1/2 bath all day and night. He never was allowed outside or spent much time with the family. He used the the paper on the floor that was changed very often. He bears a scar on his right rear flank that was caused by urine burn.
We went to the apartment in Las Vegas to take him for a weekend. We didn't know if our dogs would accept him. He cried all the way home. He was terrified. Needless to say he never went back to his original owners. The mom don't seem to think it was cruel to treat him the way they did.
Taquito has been with us since November and he's the happiest little fellow. He loves his two sister dogs and his little cousin, Matty the Chihauhua. He sleeps in our bed with his sisters. He takes his blanket and twirls it around him until you can't see him. He makes us laugh.
But...Taquito will not go into our small 1/2 bath (sink & toilet). He wants to but if you try to close the door so you can have privacy...he backs out.
Taquito was lucky because someone knew we were devoted pet owners and talked a member of the family to let him go...to come live with us.
Puppy Mill puppies don't have friends that will arrange for a weekend visit that becomes a forever home. People like Gary McDufee should spend time in a cage with little room and poor food. Oh, yes they have places like that....His Puppy Mills.
Janet Grantham, Las Vegas, NV

Posted March 13, 2007, 8:39AM by kbing

I did not see a time for the meeting on the 14th.
Is there more information in regards to this meeting?

I am working on getting the word out on this. There is a lot of support with the pug community. We have quite a few members in this area that will show their support and fill those seats.
We will also have emails sent to Tim Houle, asking that this facility be shut down.

Posted March 12, 2007, 10:12PM by mikefry

You do not have to live in Minnesota. Puppies from Morrison County puppy mills are shipped all over the United States. The commissioners need to hear from everyone.

Posted March 14, 2007, 8:51PM by debg

Even though I live in Milwaukee, WI and wish I could be there, I sent emails to ALL of the government officials you suggested. My prayers are with you!!