Sariel’s Story

By jadmin | Published: August 23, 2010

Zoey would like to introduce you to Sariel.  Sariel was recently rescued from a large-scale dog breeding facility in Nebraska where she was found in very poor condition due to years of neglect and over breeding.   The following paragraph contains information from a blog written by Hearts United for Animals (HUA), the organization that helped rescue Sariel and is now caring for her.

Sariel’s name means “angel of guidance” that is what she soon will be.  Sariel does not have long to live.  Little Sariel recently had numerous mammary tumors removed from her tummy that had formed after 7 years of non-stop breeding.  Unfortunately the Hearts United for Animals has received devastating news that the cancer has continued to spread to her lymphatic system.  In spite of her recent surgery she is a happy probably for the first time in her life.  The amazing employees and volunteers at Hearts United for Animals are adamant that they will do everything in their power to make sure that this little dog enjoys every second of each day she has left.  Sariel adores people and is immensely enjoying her newfound freedom at Hearts United for Animals.  She loves the grass and having the room to finally stretch her legs and wander around the buildings.  You can often find her taking a break napping on a pile of soft blankets or towels. Everyone at Hearts United for Animals tells her daily how precious she is and makes sure she gets plenty of lap time, hugs and kisses.  They also tell Sariel how sorry they are that her life has been stolen by the large-scale dog breeding industry.  Even so, Sariel doesn’t hold any ill will despite the hand she has been dealt.  However, those who know Sariel have vowed to use this tragedy to fuel their passion to educate the public and let them know that Sariel’s years of suffering and life that will be cut too short did not need to happen.  In the words of Hearts United for Animals, “when the time comes that Sariel’s pain is too great we will hold her in our arms and let her go on to the next life.  She will become an angel of guidance and hope for all of the mothers of pet store puppies still suffering in puppy mills.”

Sariel’s is just one of thousands of stories of the tragedies involved with large-scale dog breeding facilities that are negligent with their dogs.

You can click here to visit Hearts United for Animals to learn more about their organization, public education, rescue efforts and if you wish to donate.   Hearts United for Animals is a registered 501(c)3 organization.  Feel free to leave a message for Sariel in the comments section; Hearts United for Animals employees will read your notes to her and give her hugs and kisses from you.

Posted in Animal Rescue, Dogs, News, Pet store, Protected Paws | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Responses

Airline’s Puppy Deaths Spark Debate about Commercial Breeders

By jadmin | Published: August 22, 2010

Many people are becoming more aware of the sad reality that pet store puppies often come from large puppy mills and are opting for other ways of purchasing puppies but what people are less aware of, are the ways in which large commercial breeders are beginning to use online sources in order to place puppies in homes across the country.

Traveling with Abby

Recently on August 3, seven puppies out of 14 puppies died in the cargo hold of a plane due to suspected heat-related complications. These puppies were being shipped as cargo from a commercial breeder in Oklahoma to Chicago, Illinois many of whom had connecting flights to other parts of the country where pet buyers awaited their new puppies after purchasing the pups online from what they thought was a reputable breeder.

Now, puppy mills are no longer only reaching out to pet stores across the country to sell their puppies, but they have also targeted innocent individuals who look online in hopes of locating a reputable breeder to find the puppy they wish for. One of the major red flags to look out for and be aware of when purchasing a puppy online from a breeder is if the breeder does not need to meet the buyer in person and simply offers to ship the puppy to the buyer. Any respectable breeder will always need to meet the potential pet owner in order to ensure that the puppy is going to a suitable home.

Zoey Online Advertisement - using the wrong DOB

Zoey Online Advertisement

The internet has now become a dangerous tool for purchasing pets, “The Animal Welfare Act requires breeders to be licensed and meet specific minimum standards of care for animals bred for resale, but a loophole allows puppy breeders who sell directly to the public—which includes over the Internet—to go unregulated” Cori Menkin, ASPCA Senior Director of Legislative Initiatives.

The bottom line is that if you are interested in buying a puppy, do some research, actually go the breeding facility, meet the breeder, see where the puppy was born and what their living conditions are like. This is the only way to be safe in knowing that your puppy is not a product of the puppy mill industry.

For more information on this story please visit the ASPCA website which features this article http://www.aspca.org/news/tri-state/08-13-10.html#1

Posted in Dogs, News, Pet store, Protected Paws, Puppy Mills, Selling puppies | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Missouri Puppy Mill Act Officially Reaches November Ballot

By jadmin | Published: August 19, 2010

ASPCA has recently revealed some good news from the state of Missouri that promotes more humane treatment of dogs within the state’s large-scale commercial dog kennels. On Tuesday, August 3, the Missouri Secretary of State’s office certified the initiative for more humane treatment towards dogs in large-scale commercial dog kennels and therefore, the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act will appear on Missouri’s November ballot as “Proposition B.”


The good news for this initiative is that if Proposition B is passed by voters this November, than the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act will unquestionably improve the lives of not only thousands of dogs in Missouri’s commercial kennels, but furthermore, this act has the potential to set the precedent for other states and improve the lives of dogs nationwide.



Essentially, the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act has the power to improve the lives of dogs because it will require that large-scale breeding facilities provide all dogs under their care with sufficient conditions for healthy breeding. These conditions include: adequate food and clean water, necessary veterinary care, ample housing and space, and access to regular exercise and play time.


Missouri does not stand alone in this initiative, as ASPCA points out, the two largest dog-breeding states in the nation: Iowa and Oklahoma, both enacted puppy mill legislation earlier this year. In addition, 10 states have approved legislation to address puppy mill problems.


This specific example of Missouri taking steps in the right direction toward implementing guidelines towards humane treatment of puppies, one can hope becomes indicative of how other states, organizations, and individuals will come to recognize the significance of keeping animals safe and healthy throughout the country.  As general awareness grows, hopefully more changes will be put into practice that require more humane conditions for breeding puppies and other victorious stories will be shared.


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10 Reasons Not To Buy a Pet Store Puppy

By jadmin | Published: July 29, 2010



Behavior Problems Anyone?

Puppy Mills are widely frowned upon by most dog-lovers but what many people across the country do not realize is that buying a dog at a pet store can mean that they are actually buying puppies that come from puppy mills.

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Buying a puppy at a pet store runs the risk of buying a pet that will have serious health conditions, improper training, lack of socialization, not necessarily getting the breed you paid for, and other downsides.

Here is a list of the top 10 reasons to not buy a puppy from a pet store:


1. Bad Health

2. Behavioral Problems

3. No Socialization

4. The Downfall of the Standard

5. Lack of Information

6. Return at Your Puppy’s Peril

7. Housebreaking is a Chore

8. What You See Isn’t Necessarily What You Get

9. Poor Value

10. Questionable Pedigree


For further information regarding this issue, please visit: www.dogster.com/articles/10-Reasons-Not-to-Buy-a-Puppy-From-a-Pet-Store



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Horrifying Facts: What summer heat can do to dogs left alone in parked cars!

By jadmin | Published: July 27, 2010

Heat waves have struck many parts of the country over the past couple of weeks and consequently, there have been a rising number of reports involving dogs suffering and even dying of heatstroke as a result of being left alone in parked cars. Leaving a dog, or any pet for that matter, abandoned in a car on a hot summer day, even for only a few minutes, is considered animal abuse and cruel. Some pet owners believe that leaving the windows of a car cracked open will allow the animal to receive enough air to stay cool but this is a complete misconception.

Aside from the record-breaking temperatures New York and many other parts of the country have seen lately, even a relatively mild temperature such as 85 degrees will allow for the interior of a parked car to reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes! Dogs, unlike humans, do not have the ability to cool their bodies down efficiently by sweating. Instead, dogs cool their bodies down a lot slower and less effectively by panting. Within a very short period of time, a dog with a high body temperature can suffer critical health effects such as damage to the nervous system, heart, liver and brain.

Needless to say, leaving a dog alone in a parked car in warm temperatures is cruel and in as many as 14 states even illegal. If a dog is seen trapped in a parked car you should immediately try to find the car’s owner. If the owner is not found or refuses to comply, contact local law enforcement and/or animal control.


To access the original ASPA article (including links) please click on

http://www.aspca.org/news/tri-state/07-16-10.html#1

Posted in Animal Rescue, Dogs, News | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Responses

Part IV: Enforcement of the USDA Rules and Regulations

By jadmin | Published: June 27, 2010

On average, EACH OF THE STATES that participated in the BBB survey reported 23 enforcement actions taken PER YEAR. Missouri reported ONLY 3. Also, 15.7% of the survey states indicated among their kennels this is the percent where “enforcement action” was taken. Missouri’s average is 8.3%.


It's all about the Benjamin's baby!


What is the reason for this disparity? Simply put…..MONEY.

Hunte Corporation, one of the country’s largest brokers to puppy stores, is located in Missouri. Hunte employs many Missourians and pays the state a significant amount of taxes. So do many of the state’s other licensed breeders. In these tough economic times, looking the other way in order to keep the money flow running is probably an easy sell for state and local legislators. Virtually every state surveyed discussed what inhibited them from doing additional inspections, better enforcing regulations and finding more unlicensed breeders.

I think the author explains it perfectly, “In effect, state officials are caught in a Catch-22 dilemma – to commit more resources to locating unlicensed breeders on the one hand, or to commit more resources to regulating licensed breeders and others more vigorously.” In many cases, they choose a middle road, leaving them weak on both. This lack of aggressive enforcement has allowed what are at best substandard and at worst illegal and unethical breeders and kennel owners to stay in business. And those legal remedies that are in place are not inhibitors: Most breeders view the nominal fines they are often forced to pay as just another cost of doing business. In addition, there is often an inherent conflict between federal auditors, who prefer a fine-based approach, and state inspectors, who favor a more persuasive approach.

Regardless, neither way is working.

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