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Who’s Who in the Fight Against Puppy Mills

August 06, 2008, 4:34PM MT

By Best Friends Network

A rundown of “the big three” plus all the little guys

A rundown of “the big three” plus all the little guys

Written by Best Friends staff

In July of this year, the Puppy Store Free LA initiative was introduced to television, radio and newspaper reporters, political figures, and celebrities packed into a Sunset Boulevard hotel.

The key people in attendance, however, were representatives of the two animal welfare groups behind the campaign: Last Chance for Animals and Best Friends Animal Society. They were there not only for the practical purpose of stopping the sale of puppies in pet stores, but for the symbolism of what can be accomplished through cooperation of like-minded people.

The two organizations have diverse agendas and different methods, but have joined forces against the scourge of puppy mills after working together for some time on the pet store/puppy mill issue, finding success in their complementary strengths.

Across the country, groups of all sizes are bringing their own unique talents and spirit to the fight. Click here for a list of groups helping to stop puppy mills around the country.

The Big Three
Of course, the “Big Three” – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) – not only possess the talent and spirit, but considerable resources and influence.

Although the three groups have different organizational personalities, their work against puppy mills is similar in many ways, namely, education, investigation and legislation. We interviewed representatives from each group to find out more.

www.aspca.org/puppymills
The ASPCA’s primary strategy is to work on new legislation and improved enforcement of existing laws. Most recently, the New York-based group has been targeting Pennsylvania.

In addition to its legislative action, the organization has investigated puppy mills throughout the country.

“We were involved in one rescue this year involving a commercial breeder in Tennessee,” says Alyssa Malasky, senior director of media & communications. “The ASPCA’s disaster response team and veterinary forensic experts assisted with the care of dogs seized and compilation of forensic evidence in that case.”

The organization also conducts “educational outreach to the public about the realities of puppy mills in an effort to shift the demand away from puppy mill dogs sold in pet stores and via the Internet.”

www.peta.org
PETA, too, has a strong public awareness campaign, including protests at pet shops and educational outreach to malls that rent space to pet shops, asking them not to renew their leases or to permanently ban pet shops that sell live animals.

The group, which is based in Norfolk, Virginia, also conducts undercover investigations and cruelty casework.

“[We] issue action alerts to members and supporters around the nation to urge vigorous prosecution and maximum sentencing for puppy mill operators charged with or convicted of cruelty to and/or neglect of animals,” says Daphna Nachminovitch, vice president of cruelty investigations.

In some cases, PETA has taken victims of puppy mills for placement in foster homes during court cases.

www.humanesociety.org/puppymills
The HSUS Stop Puppy Mills Campaign involves outreach, investigations, litigation and public awareness campaigns, as well as spearheading new legislative efforts on both the federal and state levels.

“In several recent raids, the HSUS has cooperated with local law enforcement and animal protection agencies to encourage court action, to shut down the worst of these mills, and to help remove the animals when possible and prepare them for new lives in loving homes,” says Kathleen Summers, deputy director of the Stop Puppy Mills Campaign.

The HSUS is based in Washington, D.C.

Additional Information:
-To download the guide Eight Things You can do to help Stop Puppy Mills, click here.

-To view the list of puppy mill groups around the country, click here.

Comments

Posted August 14, 2008, 12:8PM by topcat_1952

While it's good that so many organizations are fighting to stop the abuse of these "businesses", there is a lot of work yet. Just today, in the Harrisburg, PA paper there was an article of two brothers in Berks County who were cited for violations in the care of their dogs. Rather than address the deficiencies of their facilities, and get a vet to look at the dogs that were found to be in bad shape, they simply shot and killed them. 80 dogs in total! And guess what: according to existing PA law, they were witin their legal rights to do so.
Is there any question these modern day slave-traders are in it for one reason only - MONEY!
This just isn't right.

Posted August 14, 2008, 11:9PM by ruthy92

topcat, part of the problem is legislators that protect these criminals and their organized crime

and the farming industry, and the hunters/NRA (hunters run hunting dog puppy mills which is how the NRA got involved), and the AKC who can exist only because of their puppy mill registration dollars.

All these interests have been greasing the wheels to enable these crimes for a long time, and they also deluge legislators with opposition to any kind of legislation

When the American public starts speaking up more and demanding that their legislators pass these laws, then things will change.

Humane groups can't do it alone.