78% of Americans are Ignorant About Pet Stores & Puppy Mills?
Daisy
I kept thinking… How is it possible that 78% of Americans still don’t have a clue that pet store puppies come from puppy mills? How?
Maybe I’m a bit more sensitive to this topic because I have a former puppy mill breeding dog. I KNOW what she was like when I adopted her and what it took to rehab her. I know she suffered at the hands of some idiot who viewed her as a money-making-puppy-machine, not as a living being that was deserving of kindness. I have heard her cry in her sleep many, many times. Maybe that’s why I get so angry about this. It is so beyond me that people could have such a hard time making the connection between puppy mills and pets stores. Seriously?
People! Where the HELL do you think all those puppy mill puppies are going anyways? The zoo?
I know the ASPCA is starting a campaign to educate people about the connection between pet stores and puppy mills (nopetstorepuppies.com) and I hope it works, but maybe people need to see the reality of what happens to the “burned out bitches” once they are no longer the puppy-producing-money-makers for their “owners”.
Next week, HBO will be airing a documentary called “Madonna of the Mills.” It’s about one woman’s crusade to save the breeding dogs used in puppy mills. It is a powerful documentary and worth seeing if only to educate people about what really happens to the mothers of those pet store puppies you keep buying. I am asking you to please spread the word about this show. I’m even including a link to when it will air on HBO. Please share with your friends and then tell them where puppy mill puppies come from.
It’s about time Americans stop being ignorant of the truth and get educated.
Madonna of the Mills Trailer from Umbrella Girl Media on Vimeo.
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We are very insulated in our little blog world, aren’t we? After telling friends about NOT buying a puppy from a pet store, they got a puppy from an Amish guy. Go figure..
You’re not kidding Karen. It’s so frustrating to realize that people just haven’t been as looped in as those of us who are active in the dog world. My friend bought two puppies from a pet store together. She almost bought another one recently but didn’t. I’m hoping it was because it was from a pet store and that she’s made the connection, but I need to make sure she knows. I simply assumed she did all this time since she hears me talk about it often.
Karen makes an excellent point. My world is pretty much all animals all the time. Everyone I talk to is involved in welfare or training or care in some fashion. It’s very rare these days I break out of this bubble. And it’s dangerous. When I hear statistics like these my brain just cannot fathom them.
Perhaps most people don’t know because most people don’t care.
Okay, that’s probably unfair. It’s not that they don’t care, it’s that they are not deliberately seeking out the information. Since animal welfare isn’t on their radar, they don’t educate themselves on the issues. The HBO documentary is a good way to hopefully reach a new set of people. Though I am sure the majority of the audience will be people like us, who are already aware. How to reach a different group of people is the question.
You’re right Kristine. Karen does make a good point. My world is pretty much animals too. I think some people care, but perhaps the reality of what really goes on takes too much energy to get involved. I also think that when a cute little puppy looks at you with their warm little eyes, it is hard to resist. It’s a lot harder to see past that to the terrified and beaten down puppy mill dog that created that warm fuzzy creature. It’s so much easier to ignore and quash down that moral and ethical side of us when a puppy is involved.
I hope people will watch the documentary and at least understand why I and many others are so passionate about this issue.
It’s so sad, isn’t it?
Big news in Canada, though. PJ’s Pets, one of the biggest pet store chains in Canada, has declared that by September 1st they will no longer sell puppies in their stores. Hooray!
I just heard Ashley! That is great news! Now if only Petland would do the same here. They would gain so much in goodwill and warm fuzzies if they did. Maybe the owner of PJ’s Pets could talk to them about why they decided to stop?
O Canada…. what a wonderful thing to happen. I also hope that Petland will stop selling puppies soon. There are only a couple left in Michigan, but those are being protested against on a weekly basis. Thank you Canada….
There is no better salesperson in the world than a little puppy in a pet store saying, “Buy me, buy me.” The shelter I work with as a volunteer has had extraordinary adoption rates by taking our dogs out into the community.
I like that Jan. I think the more exposure they get the better their chances for getting adopted. I also think you’re right about the little puppy being the best salesperson in the world. So many people fall for that temptation. I just wish they could see where they started first.
Thanks, Mel – what a great trailer! It always amazes me that so many people know so little – hey, if we could just help them find our blogs – imagine
They would probably not believe half of what we write; seems we live in a world with multiple layers of perceived reality dependent on what we are willing to know. So many people follow the redirect some give their dogs: “don’t look!” I look forward to the HBO program.
Thanks Mary. I thought it was a great trailer too. I think Karen’s explanation that some people simply are not as involved in the dog world is probably right on. I think our reality is defined by the paradigms we live in and beliefs we hold. I remember a Psychology class in college in which we discussed how people have a difficult time incorporating beliefs that are in direct opposition to something they already believe. Perhaps this is part of the explanation. I guess I ‘ve come to believe that it’s a combination of a lack of education on the issue and a choice to ignore the truth for a moment of pleasure (i.e., getting a cute little puppy).
How on earth do people STILL not know this? Good lord. It’s really sad.
The reality is that people are ignorant about most things that challenge their comfort levels.
People eat meat every day without thinking about the factory farm system that is cruel to animals and creates food unsafe for people. Nearly everyone buys clothing made in sweatshops where people work in unsafe conditions for miserable wages. People wear diamond rings without thinking about the wars being fought throughout Africa for control of those resources.
In our defense, we couldn’t survive if we kept every horrible thing happening in the world in the front of our minds. That’s why it’s good that some people are mindful about puppy mills while others are mindful about the devastation of war while others are mindful about famine.
So keep doing your good thing to get the word out. And if everyone works on one little piece, we may see a better world for everyone in the future. At least that’s my hope.
Hope the documentary comes online someday. I’d love to see it.
I can’t put it better than Pamela has. Willful ignorance– people believe what they want to believe, what makes them comfortable,and what makes life easier and less morally messy.
Lori – I think you and Pamela may have it right, although based on the protests I have participated in outside a Petland store, demonstrates for me that many people still do not know. I remember a recent conversation with a friend who’s family member had contacted a “breeder” from one of those online ads. Despite my friend telling her all the signs that this was a puppy mill breeder, the sister chose to ignore her. Trust me, the manipulative things this puppy mill breeder said even surprised me. They are pond scum, bottom-feeders, but they are not stupid. I don’t disagree that some people just choose to believe what they want to believe (as this woman’s sister did), but I think millers have learned how to play the game well.
It’s amazing to me that people don’t know this. It goes to show how little research most people put into getting a dog. Our need for instant gratification outweighs the welfare of the dogs so much of the time. And, the greedy are there to take advantage.
Amy – It surprised me too. But all you have to do is read all the comments from folks on Life With Dogs’ FB page about the piece Dr. Shawn Finch wrote to know there are way too many people who do not know. I think it’s lack of research, the need for instant gratification and that the puppy millers are just so good at their game that they’ve learned how to fool most of the people most of the time.
@Amy @Mel and the employees of pet stores tell customers their dogs and cats don’t come from mills. And people believe them – remarkably gullible.
Agree that pet stores tell people this all of the time. I think some people choose to believe it and some just don’t know any better. But we both know that puppy mill owners manipulate people in all sorts of ways to sell their dogs. Just look at eBay’s Classifieds section or the story Life With Dogs had recently about a puppy mill posing as a rescue (btw – I think Christie Keith discovered a similar situation here). These people are unscrupulous and manipulative. I think many people fall for their bullsh*t.
Mills are a dirty little secret. I didn’t know what a mill was until 7 months ago-I was so upset it took three days to adjust and decide I couldn’t let this go. Joined Colorado Citizens for Canine Welfare and haven’t looked back. http://www.coloradocanine.wordpress.com and check it out. We have 2 US Congress people now -co-sponsoring the PUPS Act-which upgrades the federal Animal Welfare Act. Closes the internet sales loophole, requires fresh water, food, exercise OUTSIDE the cage and better vet care. Call your federal congress people and demand they support this bill. It won’t stop the abuse by licensed and nonlicensed mills but it will be a nail in the coffin.
They sure are Sharon. I wish more people understood how many pet store puppies come from puppy mills – 99%! I’m so glad you joined Colorado Citizens for Canine Welfare. I actually am writing about the PUPS Act soon – I’ve already sent my Senators and Representative an email via the ASPCA site. I agree that it won’t stop puppy mills completely, but it is a step towards federal regulation.
Thank you for commenting and for sharing the link for your Colorado group. My Daisy thanks you!
Well. This article ended up being quite insulting to me!! I came here to read an article that a friend on Facebook posted because I didn’t even know what a “puppy mill” is let alone its connection with a pet store. And because I didn’t already have this knowledge I basically got called “stupid.”
“It is so beyond me that people could have such a hard time making the connection between puppy mills and pets stores. Seriously?”
With people like that trying to educate the masses don’t expect much in the way of results. I got that far and quit reading and commented instead and have NO intention of reading the remainder of it as I’m not interested in what anyone who thinks I’m too stupid to comprehend has to say. “Seriously.”
I am sorry you feel that way Laura-Ann, but if you feel stupid then that is less about me than about you. If you had read the rest of my post you would have realized that this was more of a cry of anger and frustration that so many people still don’t know. I happen to have adopted a puppy mill breeding dog and I know what it took to rehabilitate her. My frustration lies in the fact that no matter how hard we try to educate people it never seems to be enough.
But, I suppose you won’t be reading this response since you never bothered to finish reading my post.
The Amish are riding on their old reputation of good people with love and care of their animals. Here in Iowa they promote “farm raised” for the puppy mills. Because they use a religous sector or Iowa farm raised to “LIE” to people and the animals are the ones who suffer. This information has to be out to the extent that the public cannot ignore it! We need to educate kids about it, they are more out spoken and learning young will stop the furture generation from this blight. Always, the pictures have the most impact, words can’t cover it.
The false advertising used by mills is nothing more than fraud. Pet store must use USDA licensed facilities to buy puppies, so as a selling point, they use that to mislead the public. Licensed or unlicensed, the puppies come from mills. Horrible conditions for a dog to live and die in. Amish believe dogs have no souls so their lives mean nothing. Dogs suffer in untold ways for the dollar and like corporate America, the bottom dollarc is all that counts.
Watch the Bauck video at http://www.caps-web.org to see Kathy Bauck 900 dog, 400 puppies mill. She finally lost her USDA license to sell to stores but changed the business name and can sell direct to the public over the internet. We must work to close that loophole.
Thanks Kathy. I’ve seen it many times. Kathy is from my state and while she isn’t allowed to see anymore, her husband has managed to keep their business going. The woman makes me sick.
Puppymills are dirty little secrets that need to be exposed! Unfortunately, they are legal. We need to work at grassroot levels AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, CHANGE LAWS!! Right now there is an admendment to the federal Animal Welfare Act that will close the unregulated sale of puppies over the Internet, mandate clean cages, non vermin enfested, and at least an hour a day exercise outside the crate. Call, email, get signatures for all your federal senators and representatives to co-sponsor HB835 or SB707. This has been around along time but always pushed aside. This is another nail in the puppymill coffin!!