Submissions accepted through May 26, 2008
How would you like to have your pet featured in the first Bikers Against Animal Cruelty Calendar? Enter the contest today by sending in a photo of your pet with your bike. Twelve winners will be announced in October 2008. Winners will receive a free calendar, a subscription to the B.A.A.C. Newsletter, and the honor of being in the very first B.A.A.C. Calendar. $10 per entry; payment instructions will be sent upon receipt of picture.
For more information or to submit your photo, contact Admin@BikersAgainstAnimalCruelty.org, or visit the B.A.A.C. web site.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Stone Soup Theater Arts : 3rd Annual Barking Beauty Pageant
Sunday, April 27, 20086:00–8:00 p.m.
Animal Haven Soho, 251 Centre Street, Manhattan
Compete in Activewear, Glamourwear, and Talent. Proceeds will benefit Animal Haven and Stone Soup Theater Arts. $50 to enter your dog; $10 to be a spectator.
For more information or tickets, contact Leigh Goldenberg at leigh@stonesoupkitchen.org, or visit the Stone Soup Theature Arts web site.
Animal Haven Soho, 251 Centre Street, Manhattan
Compete in Activewear, Glamourwear, and Talent. Proceeds will benefit Animal Haven and Stone Soup Theater Arts. $50 to enter your dog; $10 to be a spectator.
For more information or tickets, contact Leigh Goldenberg at leigh@stonesoupkitchen.org, or visit the Stone Soup Theature Arts web site.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Bideawee : Furry Friends Festival!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Bideawee Manhattan, 410 East 38th Street (between 1st Avenue and FDR Drive, Manhattan)
Come to Bideawee's Furry Friends Festival and meet the feline or canine love of your life! Join us for prize drawings, face painting, refreshments, and more. Special gift for adopters.
For more information, contact Audrey Fisher at (212) 532-4455 or audrey.fisher@bideawee.org, or visit the Bideawee web site.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Bideawee Manhattan, 410 East 38th Street (between 1st Avenue and FDR Drive, Manhattan)
Come to Bideawee's Furry Friends Festival and meet the feline or canine love of your life! Join us for prize drawings, face painting, refreshments, and more. Special gift for adopters.
For more information, contact Audrey Fisher at (212) 532-4455 or audrey.fisher@bideawee.org, or visit the Bideawee web site.
Metropolitan Dog Club : Estate Planning with Your Pet In Mind
Thursday, April 24, 2008
6:30–8:30 p.m.
Metropolitan Republican Club, 122 East 83rd Street, Manhattan
Frances Carlisle, Esq., will discuss estate planning with your pet in mind. Ms. Carlisle is admitted to practice law in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and California. She is member of the Animal Law Committees of the New York City Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Her presentation will cover Leona Helmsley leaving her Maltese, Trouble, $12M; bequesting your dog to a caretaker; pet trusts; and pets with longer life-spans. We are honored to have such a distinguished speaker share her expertise with our club members and their guests. Admission is $25.
For more information, contact Metropolitan Dog Club at (212) 465-3184 or events@metropolitandogclub.com, or visit the Metropolitan Dog Club web site.
6:30–8:30 p.m.
Metropolitan Republican Club, 122 East 83rd Street, Manhattan
Frances Carlisle, Esq., will discuss estate planning with your pet in mind. Ms. Carlisle is admitted to practice law in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and California. She is member of the Animal Law Committees of the New York City Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Her presentation will cover Leona Helmsley leaving her Maltese, Trouble, $12M; bequesting your dog to a caretaker; pet trusts; and pets with longer life-spans. We are honored to have such a distinguished speaker share her expertise with our club members and their guests. Admission is $25.
For more information, contact Metropolitan Dog Club at (212) 465-3184 or events@metropolitandogclub.com, or visit the Metropolitan Dog Club web site.
Friday, April 18, 2008
In Defense of Animals : World Week for Animals in Laboratories
April 20–26, 2008
Imagine how powerful we could be if everyone reading this would just take a few minutes to engage in even one action for animals in labs during World Week for Animals in Laboratories (WWAIL)! Please, make a commitment today to take action for animals in laboratories — it could be as simple as making a phone call or writing a letter. Here are just a few ways to help animals during WWAIL: Take part in IDA's Call-In Days to National Institutes of Health (NIH) during WWAIL to ask them to put an end to the use of animals in nicotine experiments. Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Organize an event in your area such as a demonstration or educational table. Volunteer to set up a "Memorial Field" display that will solemnly commemorate the millions of animals who die in the name of science. Adopt an activist — help make our demos successful without ever leaving your computer!
For more information, visit the WWAIL web site.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Healthcare for Pets : Top 5 Treatments
Pet owners often love their pets in the same way that they love their children. So isn’t it important that you care for your pet’s health just as you would care for your child’s? The only way to make sure that your pets are healthy is to bring them to regular veterinary check-ups and feed them a nutritious diet. There are five basic treatments that you should follow in order to ensure that your animal will live the longest, healthiest life possible.
1. While you and your pet are at their yearly check-up, your veterinarian should draw a small amount of blood. The blood will be screened to check for any possible organ problems, thyroid disease, or diabetes. If the blood is normal, then that sample will provide a comparison for future blood work.
2. Just as vitamins are essential to the health of people, they are also essential to the health of animals. Vitamins can help pets avoid suffering from common problems including arthritis, skin problems, and tumors. As your pets get older, it becomes more and more important to give them vitamins since vitamins can also help many of the affects of age.
3. Make sure that the food you are buying for your pets are made with raw meat. Many pet foods are now being made with grain, but true nutrition comes from meat. Pets are animals that could survive in the wild and wild animals eat meat, raw meat. Animals’ digestive systems are made to digest raw meat, not processed grain.
4. However, even though your pets could be wild animals, chances are their ancestors have been domesticated for generations. This means that their digestive systems may have begun to adapt to grain food. It is still important to include raw meat in their diet, but make sure that your pet’s diet consists of other foods too, such as vegetables.
5. The best way to ensure that your pets are maintaining a nutritional diet is to make them food at home. Sometimes it is hard to find pet food that is made with raw meat. If that is the case, then you can feed your animal real meat, such as chicken, beef, lamb, etc. Just be sure to feed them raw meat sparingly. They need a well-rounded diet just like us!
Maintaining pet wellness is the most important part of making sure that your beloved animal will live a long and healthy life. The best way to do this is through regular veterinary procedures and proper nutrition. We wish you and your pet a long and healthy life!
1. While you and your pet are at their yearly check-up, your veterinarian should draw a small amount of blood. The blood will be screened to check for any possible organ problems, thyroid disease, or diabetes. If the blood is normal, then that sample will provide a comparison for future blood work.
2. Just as vitamins are essential to the health of people, they are also essential to the health of animals. Vitamins can help pets avoid suffering from common problems including arthritis, skin problems, and tumors. As your pets get older, it becomes more and more important to give them vitamins since vitamins can also help many of the affects of age.
3. Make sure that the food you are buying for your pets are made with raw meat. Many pet foods are now being made with grain, but true nutrition comes from meat. Pets are animals that could survive in the wild and wild animals eat meat, raw meat. Animals’ digestive systems are made to digest raw meat, not processed grain.
4. However, even though your pets could be wild animals, chances are their ancestors have been domesticated for generations. This means that their digestive systems may have begun to adapt to grain food. It is still important to include raw meat in their diet, but make sure that your pet’s diet consists of other foods too, such as vegetables.
5. The best way to ensure that your pets are maintaining a nutritional diet is to make them food at home. Sometimes it is hard to find pet food that is made with raw meat. If that is the case, then you can feed your animal real meat, such as chicken, beef, lamb, etc. Just be sure to feed them raw meat sparingly. They need a well-rounded diet just like us!
Maintaining pet wellness is the most important part of making sure that your beloved animal will live a long and healthy life. The best way to do this is through regular veterinary procedures and proper nutrition. We wish you and your pet a long and healthy life!
Friday, April 11, 2008
Save the Cats at JFK
http://www.licp.org/jfk_cats.html
Only months after public outrage over Michael Vicks extra curricular dog fighting activities, protests from animal rights activists and animal lovers across the country are in the news again this time for mans other best friend - the cat. Not the sleek creatures that grace the foot of our beds or spend their days chasing our dust bunnies. These protests are for feral cats - the wayward, hiding in your bushes, homeless stray cats.
Last week a story unfolded about the NY/ NJ Port Authority plans to round up all the cats taking up residence at JFK in an effort to deter birds that present hazards to airplanes. When questioned about the fate of the evicted felines, PA spokesman, Pasquale DiFulco, assured the public, "They will be in a safe place until they can be turned over to the proper authorities. What he failed to say is that these cats would be placed in Animal Care and Control of New York City - a death sentence for feral cats which are typically unadoptable. The PA even went as far as to lie to citizens who called in concerned, reassuring callers that the cats would be put up for adoption and found good homes. The problem it seems wasn't that people were asking the wrong questions, they were asking the wrong people. A call to Animal Care and Control of New York City confirmed the public's fears when a spokesperson for the agency readily admitted that most of the cats would be euthanized when they are brought in. Despite public outrage, Port Authority exterminators trapped 17 cats this week which were brought to animal control with more on the way. The vast majority of the cats would have been quickly euthanized if not for the NYC Feral Cat Initiative, a program of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, and the assistance of Animal Care & Control of NYC rescuers who have been able to save all the victims to date.
The Issues :
The Port Authority wants the cats out of JFK but has refused and continues to refuse help from animal organizations to reach a humane solution for addressing the situation.
The Port Authority believes it can achieve a cat free environment through removal and extermination. JFK is a typical environment for feral cats due largely to the fact that many cats are lost or abandon in travel. Studies show that removing feral cats from a territory only opens up the door for new cats to enter that territory. Without TNR those cats will continue to reproduce. Before long a new colony will inhabit the territory and their numbers will grow rapidly with out reproductive sterilization.
The Port Authority has gone as far as to lie to the public. Not only has the Port Authority lied to the public about the fate of these cats but they have deceived the public regarding the imminent danger these cats present to travelers. In an attempt to instill fear in the minds of the public the Port Authority has stated that the cats attract birds which interfere with airplanes. The fact is that the cats in question are miles from the runway and the birds are present because JFK is near the ocean and has been a migration route for these birds for years.
What You Can Do :
If you are apposed to the Port Authority actions and disregard for animal welfare please let your opinion be heard. Speak your mind to these media outlets. These papers and news channels are covering the story and want to hear from you. NY1 is running a snap poll on the issue of the feral cats at JFK.
Metro: Cat fight at JFK http://ny.metro.us/metro/local/article/Cat_fight_at_JFK/10534.html Submit letters at: http://ny.metro.us/metro/yourturn
amNew York: JFK feral cats facing deathhttp://www.amny.com/news/local/am-cats1030,0,7665187.story Email letters to: am-letters@am-ny.com mailto:am-letters@am-ny.com
NYTimes.com CityRoom: Cat People Confront Airport People http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/29/cat-people-confront-airport-people/ post comment on site
Gothamist : Rally Against Port Authority's JFK Cat Roundup Today http://gothamist.com/2007/10/29/rally_against_p.php post comment on site
NY Post: No Paws in JFK Cat Hunthttp://www.nypost.com/seven/10302007/news/regionalnews/no_paws_in_jfk_cat_hunt.htm Submit your letter at: http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/letters/letters_editor.htm
Newsday: Kennedy Airport feral cat roundup draws criticism http://www.newsday.com/news/local/transportation/ny-nycats305438287oct30,0,2536534.story post comment on site
Contact Government Agencies :
Anthony R. Coscia, Chairman, Board of CommisionersPort Authority of New York and New JerseyPhone: 732.846.2120 (direct line)732-846-7600 (this is the general number for Mr. Coscia�s law firm)Fax: 732.846.8877E-Mail: acoscia@windelsmarx.com mailto:acoscia@windelsmarx.com
Robert E. Wan Etten, Inspector GeneralPort Authority of New York and New JerseyMain Office: (973) 565-434024-Hour Pager: (917) 788-6277FAX: (973) 565-4307Email: InspectorGeneral@panynj.gov mailto:InspectorGeneral@panynj.gov
The Honorable Eliot Spitzer, Governor, New York212-681-4580 (phone)518-474-1513 (Fax)Website: go to http://www.ny.gov/ http://www.ny.gov/ and click on "contact us" at the bottom of the pageEmail: http://161.11.121.121/govemail
The Honorable John Corzine, Governor, New Jersey609-292-6000 (phone)Email: http://www.state.nj.us/governor/govmail.html
The Honorable David Patterson, Lieutenant Governor, New York518-474-4623Email: Ltgovernor.correspondence@chamber.state.ny.us mailto:Ltgovernor.correspondence@chamber.state.ny.us
Port Authority Corporate Headquarters(212) 435-7000(212) 435-7777Susan Baer, General Manager, JFK Airport718-244-3501sbaer@panynj.gov mailto:sbaer@panynj.gov
Laura Francoeur, Airport Operations, JFK AirportPhone: 718-244-3773Fax: 718-244-3777lfrancoe@panynj.gov mailto:lfrancoe@panynj.gov
Finally send this news story to every cat lover you know. The more people that respond the better chance we have saving cats from senseless killing.
Talking Points :
Remind them that the caretakers are a valuable resource to THEM...they are spending their own time and money to address a problem they didn't create. Letting rescue groups TNR won't cost them a penny. Without TNR, they will have to budget money to have trappers constantly canvas the airport Plus spend money to have the cats killed.
Bring up the fact that with their other security burdens the last thing they need to be devoting limited resources to is cats. The gulls will certainly not disappear if the cats do, as anyone who has been anywhere near a beach or garbage dump can attest!
The officials should be reinforcing the efforts of these people...canceling the money they are now using for trappers and instead assisting caretakers in the altering of new *dumpers*. By collaborating with animal organizations towards a humane solution the numbers can be decreased humanely. Any security available should be directed toward enforcing *no dump* regulations.
Killing these cats is irresponsible government when there are humane, effective solutions available.
You can't wipe out the presence of feral cats in a 5000 acre area in which new, unneutered cats are constantly being abandoned or lost and then reproducing, and where there are plentiful food sources. Only Trap-Neuter-Return can, over time, reduce the numbers. The Port Authority's extermination effort is futile and will only result in new furry faces, not fewer. The killing is senseless.
Only months after public outrage over Michael Vicks extra curricular dog fighting activities, protests from animal rights activists and animal lovers across the country are in the news again this time for mans other best friend - the cat. Not the sleek creatures that grace the foot of our beds or spend their days chasing our dust bunnies. These protests are for feral cats - the wayward, hiding in your bushes, homeless stray cats.
Last week a story unfolded about the NY/ NJ Port Authority plans to round up all the cats taking up residence at JFK in an effort to deter birds that present hazards to airplanes. When questioned about the fate of the evicted felines, PA spokesman, Pasquale DiFulco, assured the public, "They will be in a safe place until they can be turned over to the proper authorities. What he failed to say is that these cats would be placed in Animal Care and Control of New York City - a death sentence for feral cats which are typically unadoptable. The PA even went as far as to lie to citizens who called in concerned, reassuring callers that the cats would be put up for adoption and found good homes. The problem it seems wasn't that people were asking the wrong questions, they were asking the wrong people. A call to Animal Care and Control of New York City confirmed the public's fears when a spokesperson for the agency readily admitted that most of the cats would be euthanized when they are brought in. Despite public outrage, Port Authority exterminators trapped 17 cats this week which were brought to animal control with more on the way. The vast majority of the cats would have been quickly euthanized if not for the NYC Feral Cat Initiative, a program of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, and the assistance of Animal Care & Control of NYC rescuers who have been able to save all the victims to date.
The Issues :
The Port Authority wants the cats out of JFK but has refused and continues to refuse help from animal organizations to reach a humane solution for addressing the situation.
The Port Authority believes it can achieve a cat free environment through removal and extermination. JFK is a typical environment for feral cats due largely to the fact that many cats are lost or abandon in travel. Studies show that removing feral cats from a territory only opens up the door for new cats to enter that territory. Without TNR those cats will continue to reproduce. Before long a new colony will inhabit the territory and their numbers will grow rapidly with out reproductive sterilization.
The Port Authority has gone as far as to lie to the public. Not only has the Port Authority lied to the public about the fate of these cats but they have deceived the public regarding the imminent danger these cats present to travelers. In an attempt to instill fear in the minds of the public the Port Authority has stated that the cats attract birds which interfere with airplanes. The fact is that the cats in question are miles from the runway and the birds are present because JFK is near the ocean and has been a migration route for these birds for years.
What You Can Do :
If you are apposed to the Port Authority actions and disregard for animal welfare please let your opinion be heard. Speak your mind to these media outlets. These papers and news channels are covering the story and want to hear from you. NY1 is running a snap poll on the issue of the feral cats at JFK.
Metro: Cat fight at JFK http://ny.metro.us/metro/local/article/Cat_fight_at_JFK/10534.html Submit letters at: http://ny.metro.us/metro/yourturn
amNew York: JFK feral cats facing deathhttp://www.amny.com/news/local/am-cats1030,0,7665187.story Email letters to: am-letters@am-ny.com mailto:am-letters@am-ny.com
NYTimes.com CityRoom: Cat People Confront Airport People http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/29/cat-people-confront-airport-people/ post comment on site
Gothamist : Rally Against Port Authority's JFK Cat Roundup Today http://gothamist.com/2007/10/29/rally_against_p.php post comment on site
NY Post: No Paws in JFK Cat Hunthttp://www.nypost.com/seven/10302007/news/regionalnews/no_paws_in_jfk_cat_hunt.htm Submit your letter at: http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/letters/letters_editor.htm
Newsday: Kennedy Airport feral cat roundup draws criticism http://www.newsday.com/news/local/transportation/ny-nycats305438287oct30,0,2536534.story post comment on site
Contact Government Agencies :
Anthony R. Coscia, Chairman, Board of CommisionersPort Authority of New York and New JerseyPhone: 732.846.2120 (direct line)732-846-7600 (this is the general number for Mr. Coscia�s law firm)Fax: 732.846.8877E-Mail: acoscia@windelsmarx.com mailto:acoscia@windelsmarx.com
Robert E. Wan Etten, Inspector GeneralPort Authority of New York and New JerseyMain Office: (973) 565-434024-Hour Pager: (917) 788-6277FAX: (973) 565-4307Email: InspectorGeneral@panynj.gov mailto:InspectorGeneral@panynj.gov
The Honorable Eliot Spitzer, Governor, New York212-681-4580 (phone)518-474-1513 (Fax)Website: go to http://www.ny.gov/ http://www.ny.gov/ and click on "contact us" at the bottom of the pageEmail: http://161.11.121.121/govemail
The Honorable John Corzine, Governor, New Jersey609-292-6000 (phone)Email: http://www.state.nj.us/governor/govmail.html
The Honorable David Patterson, Lieutenant Governor, New York518-474-4623Email: Ltgovernor.correspondence@chamber.state.ny.us mailto:Ltgovernor.correspondence@chamber.state.ny.us
Port Authority Corporate Headquarters(212) 435-7000(212) 435-7777Susan Baer, General Manager, JFK Airport718-244-3501sbaer@panynj.gov mailto:sbaer@panynj.gov
Laura Francoeur, Airport Operations, JFK AirportPhone: 718-244-3773Fax: 718-244-3777lfrancoe@panynj.gov mailto:lfrancoe@panynj.gov
Finally send this news story to every cat lover you know. The more people that respond the better chance we have saving cats from senseless killing.
Talking Points :
Remind them that the caretakers are a valuable resource to THEM...they are spending their own time and money to address a problem they didn't create. Letting rescue groups TNR won't cost them a penny. Without TNR, they will have to budget money to have trappers constantly canvas the airport Plus spend money to have the cats killed.
Bring up the fact that with their other security burdens the last thing they need to be devoting limited resources to is cats. The gulls will certainly not disappear if the cats do, as anyone who has been anywhere near a beach or garbage dump can attest!
The officials should be reinforcing the efforts of these people...canceling the money they are now using for trappers and instead assisting caretakers in the altering of new *dumpers*. By collaborating with animal organizations towards a humane solution the numbers can be decreased humanely. Any security available should be directed toward enforcing *no dump* regulations.
Killing these cats is irresponsible government when there are humane, effective solutions available.
You can't wipe out the presence of feral cats in a 5000 acre area in which new, unneutered cats are constantly being abandoned or lost and then reproducing, and where there are plentiful food sources. Only Trap-Neuter-Return can, over time, reduce the numbers. The Port Authority's extermination effort is futile and will only result in new furry faces, not fewer. The killing is senseless.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Pet Medications Bought In An Online Pet Pharmacy
Everyone loves their pets. They’re fun, cuddly, cute and always full of love. Through all the excitement of having a pet, it is important to remember that sometimes pets get sick too. Pets are as prone to disease as humans are and a sick pet can break your heart the same way that a sick child can. Since pet disease is a reality, it is important that you are prepared for your pet if they become sick.
There are a few ways that you can be prepared for an ill pet. The first is to purchase pet health insurance. Veterinarian bills and pet medication can be expensive and having insurance will help you cover all the expenses. The second way to be prepared for your pet is to find an online pet pharmacy where you can easily purchase medication. There are a number of reasons why online pet pharmacies are a great resource :
The most common illnesses with dogs include fleas, gingivitis, cataracts, and dehydration. Other common pet diseases include various skin conditions, joint pain, and ear infections. The range of illness that pets can have is extensive, so the selection of medication supplied in online pharmacies is also extensive.
Online pet pharmacies also tend to offer discounted medication. This will help you save a significant amount of money, especially if your pet suffers from a chronic skin disease or other common problems. If you are spending hundreds of dollars on medication, you should be able to greatly reduce your spending by switching to an online pet pharmacy.
If your pet comes down with a common problem, such as ticks or fleas, you can quickly and easily visit an online pharmacy to find the correct medication. You can compare prices and make your purchase all from the comfort of your own home. Once you have purchased the medication, it will be delivered right to your doorstep. No more waiting on line or driving to the store!
Pet owners often complain that it can be difficult to find prescription pet medication. However, these medications can easily be found online at pet pharmacies. You will also be able to find different brands for the same prescription, which will allow you to be able to choose the brand that works best for you.
You never know if or when your pet might become sick. Make sure you are informed on pet disease and what you need to do when a problem arises. The best way to keep your pet from unnecessary suffering is to be familiar with an online pet pharmacy so you can quickly get your pet the medication that it needs.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Oprah's Show on Puppy Mills
After seeing Oprah's show today about inhumane puppy mills, we at the Corner Animal Hospital had to post some comments from the show. Here's some of what was said on Oprah's show...
"To see what goes on at puppy mills, Lisa Ling brings a hidden camera and joins Bill on a tour of puppy mills in Pennsylvania. According to The Humane Society of the United States, there may be as many as 10,000 puppy mills operating across the United States.
Bill has fostered relationships with hundreds of breeders across Pennsylvania. He asks them to give him the dogs they no longer want or, worse, the ones they're planning to kill. Bill says these breeders most often want to get rid of older females and younger males. Breeders only need one or two male dogs to breed with every 20 fertile females, so young female dogs are valuable in puppy mills.
Before they go to one breeder's property, Bill warns Lisa about what she may see. "It's probably the worst place I've ever been to in my life. He has dogs running on wheels in fan casings," Bill says. The contraptions look like big gerbil wheels. "[The breeder] claims that it's good for them because they get exercise," Bill says.That breeder wouldn't let them see his dogs, but Lisa and Bill saw two dead animals on the property.At a third breeder's facility, Lisa and Bill see outdoor cages that house scores of Pomeranians. Bill tells Lisa that not only have those dogs probably never been out of those small cages, it's likely that they remain outside even in bad weather and could die from exposure.
Bill says many breeders call him to see if he wants to pick up unwanted dogs. "We form relationships with some of these people, and they're actually the good breeders because they give us the dogs," he says. "A number of times they'll call us and give us 45 minutes to an hour to come out and pick up a dog before they shoot it when they no longer want it. It's always amazing to me when I go out to pick up a dog, they've had the dog eight or nine years and it doesn't have a name. It's never been out of the hutch. It doesn't know how to walk. I have to carry it to the car. It's heartbreaking."
Bill says he's asked the breeders who own puppy mills why they treat the dogs so badly. "They think that we're fools when we pick the dogs up," he says. "I just went back to one of the mills, and they were asking me about the cocker spaniel we pulled out. … And I said, 'Well, she's fine. She's walking around the house and everything.' And he said, 'You let that dog walk around the house, where the people in your family live?' And I said, 'Yes, we do.' He just couldn't get over it. It's a different mentality. [Dogs] are considered agricultural products. They're like an ear of corn."
For some dogs, the medical care is urgent. Some have mammary tumors caused by years of nursing and overbreeding. Bill estimates that one cocker spaniel could have given birth to as many as 140 puppies. Before they were rescued, many of these dogs spent their entire lives in wire cages and had trouble walking on the ground once they were out. Some had their vocal chords damaged by a pipe in order to keep them from barking. Others were completely filthy, with their coats overgrown and soaked in urine.
Bill says Main Line Animal Rescue has rescued approximately 7,000 to 8,000 animals—about 5,000 of those from puppy mills. Their mission is to ultimately place each rescued animal in a loving family, and they are remarkably successful. "We have one of the highest placement rates in the country," Bill says. "We place about 99 percent of the animals we take in because we have a really good trainer who comes and works with us. We actually have something called a 'shy dog' class where we do massage therapy on them and everything else. It's great."
If you are thinking about adopting a new pet, make your first stop the local shelter or animal rescue office. "You can find any kind of dog you want, any age you want, at a shelter or rescue," Oprah says. Consider these facts when adopting a dog. Sometimes, what you see isn't always what you get when it comes to that doggie in the window of a pet shop. "You can be deceived when you see these cute puppies in the stores," Lisa says.
What you need to know about animal shelters and finding responsible breeders.
The Lange Foundation was founded in 1993 by Jillian Lange, a woman who turned her passion for animals into her life's work. At least twice a week, Jillian visits Los Angeles's animal shelters to rescue dogs and cats that are unlikely to be adopted. Her mission is to save as many animals as possible before their time runs out. "I know that saving one dog is not saving the world, but it sure makes a heck of a difference in that one dog's life," Jillian says. During a typical day Jillian drives out to shelters and picks animals as she can—including dogs who have been disfigured or have expensive medical needs. "When I get in the car and leave here, all I do is think about the ones left behind," Jillian says. After rescuing the animals, Jillian brings them to her no-kill shelter, which has placed 17,000-18,000 animals in loving homes over the years.
Taking care of animals is a duty that every person should assume. "It's precisely because we are intelligent and powerful that we have responsibilities to these animals. They are helpless before us, and they rely on our good conscience," Wayne says. "The terrible thing is the inhumane treatment of these animals at the puppy mills. It's awful. It's contributing to the larger pet overpopulation crisis, which is resulting in over 4 million dogs and cats being killed every year." So what can we do to make a difference? "What we can do is we strongly discourage people from going to a pet store to obtain an animal. Go to a shelter. That's got to be your first stop," Wayne says. "A third of the animals are purebreds—go to a breed rescue group. And if you insist on going to a breeder, go visit the breeder, talk to them. See the condition of the animals, especially the breeding females."
Resources to help you fight puppy mills
What you need to know before you get a puppy
What you need to know about animal shelters and responsible breeders
Change the world you live in
"To see what goes on at puppy mills, Lisa Ling brings a hidden camera and joins Bill on a tour of puppy mills in Pennsylvania. According to The Humane Society of the United States, there may be as many as 10,000 puppy mills operating across the United States.
Bill has fostered relationships with hundreds of breeders across Pennsylvania. He asks them to give him the dogs they no longer want or, worse, the ones they're planning to kill. Bill says these breeders most often want to get rid of older females and younger males. Breeders only need one or two male dogs to breed with every 20 fertile females, so young female dogs are valuable in puppy mills.
Before they go to one breeder's property, Bill warns Lisa about what she may see. "It's probably the worst place I've ever been to in my life. He has dogs running on wheels in fan casings," Bill says. The contraptions look like big gerbil wheels. "[The breeder] claims that it's good for them because they get exercise," Bill says.That breeder wouldn't let them see his dogs, but Lisa and Bill saw two dead animals on the property.At a third breeder's facility, Lisa and Bill see outdoor cages that house scores of Pomeranians. Bill tells Lisa that not only have those dogs probably never been out of those small cages, it's likely that they remain outside even in bad weather and could die from exposure.
Bill says many breeders call him to see if he wants to pick up unwanted dogs. "We form relationships with some of these people, and they're actually the good breeders because they give us the dogs," he says. "A number of times they'll call us and give us 45 minutes to an hour to come out and pick up a dog before they shoot it when they no longer want it. It's always amazing to me when I go out to pick up a dog, they've had the dog eight or nine years and it doesn't have a name. It's never been out of the hutch. It doesn't know how to walk. I have to carry it to the car. It's heartbreaking."
Bill says he's asked the breeders who own puppy mills why they treat the dogs so badly. "They think that we're fools when we pick the dogs up," he says. "I just went back to one of the mills, and they were asking me about the cocker spaniel we pulled out. … And I said, 'Well, she's fine. She's walking around the house and everything.' And he said, 'You let that dog walk around the house, where the people in your family live?' And I said, 'Yes, we do.' He just couldn't get over it. It's a different mentality. [Dogs] are considered agricultural products. They're like an ear of corn."
For some dogs, the medical care is urgent. Some have mammary tumors caused by years of nursing and overbreeding. Bill estimates that one cocker spaniel could have given birth to as many as 140 puppies. Before they were rescued, many of these dogs spent their entire lives in wire cages and had trouble walking on the ground once they were out. Some had their vocal chords damaged by a pipe in order to keep them from barking. Others were completely filthy, with their coats overgrown and soaked in urine.
Bill says Main Line Animal Rescue has rescued approximately 7,000 to 8,000 animals—about 5,000 of those from puppy mills. Their mission is to ultimately place each rescued animal in a loving family, and they are remarkably successful. "We have one of the highest placement rates in the country," Bill says. "We place about 99 percent of the animals we take in because we have a really good trainer who comes and works with us. We actually have something called a 'shy dog' class where we do massage therapy on them and everything else. It's great."
If you are thinking about adopting a new pet, make your first stop the local shelter or animal rescue office. "You can find any kind of dog you want, any age you want, at a shelter or rescue," Oprah says. Consider these facts when adopting a dog. Sometimes, what you see isn't always what you get when it comes to that doggie in the window of a pet shop. "You can be deceived when you see these cute puppies in the stores," Lisa says.
What you need to know about animal shelters and finding responsible breeders.
The Lange Foundation was founded in 1993 by Jillian Lange, a woman who turned her passion for animals into her life's work. At least twice a week, Jillian visits Los Angeles's animal shelters to rescue dogs and cats that are unlikely to be adopted. Her mission is to save as many animals as possible before their time runs out. "I know that saving one dog is not saving the world, but it sure makes a heck of a difference in that one dog's life," Jillian says. During a typical day Jillian drives out to shelters and picks animals as she can—including dogs who have been disfigured or have expensive medical needs. "When I get in the car and leave here, all I do is think about the ones left behind," Jillian says. After rescuing the animals, Jillian brings them to her no-kill shelter, which has placed 17,000-18,000 animals in loving homes over the years.
Taking care of animals is a duty that every person should assume. "It's precisely because we are intelligent and powerful that we have responsibilities to these animals. They are helpless before us, and they rely on our good conscience," Wayne says. "The terrible thing is the inhumane treatment of these animals at the puppy mills. It's awful. It's contributing to the larger pet overpopulation crisis, which is resulting in over 4 million dogs and cats being killed every year." So what can we do to make a difference? "What we can do is we strongly discourage people from going to a pet store to obtain an animal. Go to a shelter. That's got to be your first stop," Wayne says. "A third of the animals are purebreds—go to a breed rescue group. And if you insist on going to a breeder, go visit the breeder, talk to them. See the condition of the animals, especially the breeding females."
Resources to help you fight puppy mills
What you need to know before you get a puppy
What you need to know about animal shelters and responsible breeders
Change the world you live in
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