News
Premiere Protest of Puppy Palace in Portage
June 13, 2008, 9:22AM MT
By Jennifer S Hayes
June 22 make your voice heard against Indiana store that sells dogs.
June 22 make your voice heard against Indiana store that sells dogs.
A chance meeting between Barb Beck, Founder of Indiana Petite Paws Rescue Angels and Amy Michael, who works at an area veterinary clinic, has resulted in an upcoming protest of the newly opened Puppy Palace in Portage, Indiana. Both women have a vested interest in trying to educate the public against purchasing dogs. Michael has seen multiple sick puppies brought into their vet office, all with one thing in common – they were purchased from Puppy Palace. The Petite Paws organization has become known as “the puppy mill busters,” for their efforts to shut down local breeding facilities and find placements for the dogs.
The region’s Petland recently closed; however, not long ago the Puppy Palace hosted their grand opening. Portage, Indiana is fairly close to Nappanee, well known for its Amish population. Unfortunately, much like Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, that also means puppy mills. Heather Shingler, of Petite Paws, noted, “This area seems to be getting more and more popular with designer dogs and we live right in the middle of puppy mill USA.” Instead of sitting back, they have decided to take action.
Already receiving positive feedback about their upcoming picket, along with recent anti-puppy mill media coverage, they hope for a good turnout. Petite Paws welcomes others to join their peaceful protest of the new Puppy Palace store. Show your support of local rescues and animal shelters, as well as your opposition to stores selling animals from puppy mills. Informational flyers will be provided, but they request that participants bring their own protest signs.
They hope to continue the protest on a weekly or bi-weekly basis thereafter.
Puppy Palace Protest
Date: Sunday, June 22
Time: 11:00 AM
Place: the sidewalk along Willowcreek Avenue
Portage Commons Shopping Center
Rt 6 & Willowcreek Ave.
Portage, Indiana
FOUR THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP:
1. If you are in the Portage area, please help demonstrate. Following are links that contain tips on how to get started.
• Eight things you can do to help stop puppy mills
• Puppy Mills and Pet Stores
• Protesting for Beginners
2. Interested in learning even more about puppy mills and what you can do to stop them? Please join The Truth About the Pet Trade community and e-mail networkinfo@bestfriends.org to subscribe to the Breeding Bytes e-newsletter.
3. Do not patronize stores that sell puppies and kittens; not for an animal, not even for supplies. Even if it is a little more inconvenient or expensive, please choose to shop at stores that support animal rescue. Request that your friends and family do the same.
4. If you are considering a new pet, do not purchase from a store. Instead, help save a life and adopt from a shelter or rescue. Search through the thousands of homeless animals posted on Petfinder.com to find one near you.
For more information:
• Indiana Petite Paws Rescue Angels
• Post-Tribune.com: Portage board OKs picketing at pet store
Posted by Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends Staff
Photo credit: taken by Jennifer Hayes