Friday, April 15, 2011

Blog the Change April 2011

Originally, I was going to post about one of the many rescue organizations doing wonderful work for pets here in South Florida but this week, in the local news, there was a story of animal cruelty and I feel strongly about the lessons that can be learned from it. So, I wrote this post instead.

You can read the actual news articles at either The Sun Sentinel or The Palm Beach Post.

Brandon Kruse/Palm Beach Post
Earlier this week, a local business owner reported his 'business neighbor' - a Pet Store.  He alerted Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control to the calamity on the other side of the glass doors of the store: dead puppies.  Animal Care and Control workers searched the store and found two dead dogs as well as other animals in poor health, dehydrated, starved and covered in filth and feces.  Thankfully, Animal Care and Control didn't stop there - they searched the owner's apartment as well where they found more sickly animals and five dead dogs in the owner's kitchen freezer.

Like most pet store owners, this store owner bought the puppies in her store from puppy mills.  She cannot deny that fact either because a "puppy supplier" in Missouri registered a complaint against her after she refused to pay a $1200 bill after one of the puppies sold to her died.  (I cannot believe a "puppy supplier" would even be allowed to register a complaint considering they are abusers themselves!) 

Pet Store Owner - Lannis Waters/Palm Beach Post
It is an absolute truth that when you buy a puppy from a pet store you are supporting puppy mills. If you believe that puppy mills are evil places of cruelty, if you want all puppy mills shut down...then STOP supporting your local pet store that sells puppies!

There are plenty of dogs (of all ages) languishing in shelters and rescues just waiting for YOU to provide them with a loving forever home. So what, you may want a specific breed dog - use resources like PetFinder which allows you to locate a dog of a certain breed in a shelter near your home! So what, you want a puppy - believe it or not, sometimes shelters have puppies and besides, raising a dog from puppyhood is NOT for everyone! It's a lot of work. For many people, adopting an older dog has worked out perfectly - for both human and animal.

I believe these pet store owners are just as much an abuser of animals as the "puppy suppliers" and this recent news story here proves my point. Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control seized over 25 abused and neglected animals (dogs, cats, a rabbit, a bird and a hedgehog) and 7 dead dogs from this pet store owner.

If that isn't enough to change your mind about pet stores know this: this pet store offered pet-sitting and it is possible that one of the dead dogs found in her freezer is a local man's dog which he left with the pet store while he was away. See the dog owner in the video below:



The pet store owner, who had been held in Palm Beach County Jail on a $3,000 bond, was released this past Wednesday.  She faces charges of larceny and grand theft (the complaint from the "puppy supplier") as well as charges of animal cruelty.

Say "NO MORE" to puppy mills - by saying "NO SALE" at the pet store!

Oz

22 comments:

  1. That is awful! I agree DO NOT buy from Pet Stores! I wish they would get tougher on the sentencing of these people maybe it wouldn't keep going. They seem to just get a slap on the wrist! GREAT POST! Thank you!

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  2. This is a horrible story. How can she just keep the animals in those conditions, let alone let them die and put them in a freezer? I hope that people like her will get what they deserve and that the "puppy business" will be put out of business.

    I'm glad to say that I haven't seen a lot of pet stores that sell animals where I live.

    Thanks for the support for our problems in Romania. I hope the authorities will get to their senses.

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  3. Thank you for sharing this story - the more who are aware of the atrocities that happen to animals, the more who will get involved to make a difference!

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  4. Remington, Kim, Lavi and CindyLu:
    Thanks for stopping by during Blog the Change! This story has been in our papers all week! I was glad when she was arrested, but disappointed when she was out a day later.

    I wish that 1) there were harsher punishments for people like this and 2) that more people would be aware of the reality of buying a puppy from a 'pet store' - and supporting puppy mills!

    Oz

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  5. Wow. Just wow.

    Thank you for sharing this.

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  6. Takes the words right out of ya, doesn't it Back Alley Soap Box?!? Such a tragedy for those poor animals!

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  7. I couldn't agree more! Adopt, don't shop!

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  8. Amen, Shauna (and Fido and Wino)! If only more people would listen...

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  9. Ugh. I read about that story in my news feed. Hope they take away her right to keep animals for a long time to come.

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  10. I'm glad I came from a proper breeder who cares what happens to me for the rest of my life & made Owner promise if she didn't want to keep me (as if that would ever happen!!) that I would have to go back to the place I was born.

    Don't support puppy farms or buy pups from shops.

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  11. Wow. One of our friends titled their story today "What the hell is wrong with people?" In this case, I must say the same thing

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  12. I am mad. I am beside myself after reading this blog. This is a true story. Rant, rave and rant some more. Then the idea came to me: Oz for President! - your friend, Fisher

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  13. Millie, I say God bless the 'real' breeders who actually care about the pups as well as the momma and daddy dogs! They don't over-breed their dogs, try to maintain good health...etc. The puppy mill people don't care one ounce for any of the dogs - mommas, daddies nor pups! You are lucky you came from a true and caring breeder!

    Nanny and Fisher: Its unfortunate but yes, this is a true story. It just occurred this week and it is truly appalling! It is shocking how many pet stores there are selling puppies in FL...never mind all the puppy mills that have been broken up (with dogs rescued) from here as well.

    I just wonder when people will LEARN...I can only have my say, do what I can and keep my paws crossed!

    Thank you all for your pawprints!
    Oz

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  14. Oh that is just beyond horrible...I was moved to write about abuse also for BtC...there is just too much of it out there. How can someone do that? And to put them in a freezer??? Horror stories...How tragic. Those poor, poor animals. Thank you for bringing this to light...the more we bring awareness to these acts of cruelty, the more people will take notice and stand up and be the voice for animals, whose only wish is to be loved and to love.

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  15. I just cannot get my head around how people can do this. And we are supposed to be the intelligent race. Rubie's mum.

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  16. I don't understand why people continue to buy from pet stores after they are told time and time again that they are supporting puppy mills. Do they just not care? It makes me so furious with Whoopi Goldberg for sitting there on TV and saying that people should go ahead and purchase pet stores puppies if they want to. UGH!

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  17. I came to your blog via Blog Hop and wanted to thank you for your post and for bringing to our attention this story. The pet blogging community, in talking with others and spreading the word, can help keep animal abuse in the forefront and hopefully educate and therefore help the animals in situations like this...

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  18. It's time we get tough on those who perpetrate acts of cruelty against animals. Some people simply shouldn't be allowed to operate any type of business that deals with living creatures.

    Pat
    www.critteralley.blogspot.com

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  19. Wow, what a story. Thanks for this great post.

    Nubbin wiggles,
    Oskar

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  20. Thank you for covering this story. You are right - people who buy at pet stores are supporting puppy mills. It's where they get their dogs. People who want a pure-breed dog should look for a reputable breeder if they are not willing to "take their chances" at a shelter. Or they should look for a local breed rescue group. Or they can look on Petfinder - lots of shelters do get pure breed dogs. There is no reason to buy from a pet store!

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  21. What a terrible story. Wow.

    I agree - adopt, don't shop!

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  22. A pet shop in our place just opened recently but was also foreclosed after 3 weeks of being opened. The reason is that they are smuggling and buying endangered animals. It’s a relief that the animals were saved.

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Thank you for stopping by and leaving a pawprint. I enjoy reading each and every one!
Cairn cuddles,
Oz the Terrier