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CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR "I'M TIRED OF PUPPY MILLS" BRACELET!
Only $10 each! LCA receives 50% of all sales!
The Dog Whisperer’s Cesar Millan Teams Up
with LCA
To Rescue and Rehabilitate Dogs from Puppy Mills!
Special Episode Dog Whisperer: Inside Puppy Mills
Airs Friday, September 18th, 2009 at 8pm PT/ET!
Click
HERE
for info
Last Chance for Animals’ (LCA) “Puppy Mill Free Stores”
campaign is aimed at:
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Stopping pet stores from selling puppies supplied from puppy
mills, beginning in the Greater Los Angeles area
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Educating the public to "ADOPT,
DON'T SHOP!" when choosing a
companion animal
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Establishing Los Angeles as a national model for putting an
end to the puppy mill industry
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Working with pet store owners by educating them about the
horrific conditions and inherent cruelty of puppy mills
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Supporting pet stores when they agree to stop selling
puppies from puppy mills and to deal only in rescue and
shelter dogs (it is not LCA’s intent for the stores to go
out of business)
December 2007 –
LCA’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU) along with volunteer,
Kim Sill, began investigating the practices of pet stores in Los
Angeles. High profile stores that sold expensive puppies to the
public that originated from cruel and inhumane “puppy mills”
were targeted. Often these stores were practicing consumer fraud
by misleading the customer about the puppies' actual origin.
Utilizing an undercover camera, the
SIU captured the owners, managers and employees of these stores
stating that their puppies are “healthy” and came from breeders
living on idyllic sounding “ranches” that are “USDA licensed.”
LCA investigators traveled to the locations where the dogs were
bred, either in Los Angeles County or the Midwest and documented
the grim reality of the puppies' birthplace and the cycle of
misery their parents were kept in.
April 2008 – The SIU targeted “OrangeBone,” a trendy,
upscale pet store on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood that sold
puppies of various breeds from puppy mills ranging from $1800 to
$3500. The then owner of the store was very savvy. While Kim was
posing as a customer with a hidden camera, the owner thought he
recognized her from one of the many pet store protests she led
that had been uploaded on
Youtube.
The SIU and Kim continued to investigate and protest other Los
Angeles pet stores, while educating the public about the puppy
mill-pet store connection. From the weekly, non-stop peaceful
protests and undercover investigations, LCA shut down four pet
stores in Los Angeles that sold dogs originating from puppy
mills.
December 2008 – OrangeBone on Melrose had a new owner,
Clark DuVal. Using LCA’s undercover footage of puppy mill
conditions, LCA began educating Clark about the large scale
puppy mill industry and that his pet store was contributing to
the problem. Through a series of educational meetings, LCA
convinced Clark to stop selling dogs that he purchased from
major nationwide puppy distributors Hunte and Lambriar and
instead sell only rescue and shelter dogs.
AN INNOVATIVE NEW IDEA WAS BORN AND ORANGEBONE BECAME THE
FIRST PET STORE IN THE NATION TO GO HUMANE!
LCA and OrangeBone faced many challenges, including a
collapsing economy, the huge reduction in price from selling “designer dogs” to
basically mixed breed dogs and the inescapable reality that about 90 percent of
animals in shelters, including new born puppies, have already contracted a range
of potentially deadly diseases. A protocol was created for every puppy going
first to OrangeBone and then a new home; they were first “cured” of any diseases
they might have and also spayed or neutered, which is unheard of in a
traditional pet store.
Before teaming up with LCA and going humane, OrangeBone sold about 40 dogs a
month at high prices. In order to be profitable and present a viable solution to
the puppy mill pet store cycle, OrangeBone would have to re-home at least 60
healthy dogs monthly. The reasons why this had not been attempted before in the
United States were becoming evident.
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A FEW SHELTER DOGS THAT HAVE BEEN
ADOPTED OUT OF ORANGEBONE! |
Rescue organizations, such as
The Brittany Foundation
and
Animal Alliance
rally together daily to ensure the success of OrangeBone and Pets Delight (see
story below); volunteers assist with
the care and maintenance of the puppies and the store. Very quickly, a store
that had sold expensive dogs that originated from puppy mills was transformed
into a place of hope and kindness towards animals. OrangeBone has become a
compassionate, realistic solution to not only the puppy mill problem but also to
pet overpopulation.
LCA wishes to thank Katherine and Nancy Heigl for their compassion and
continuing support that has contributed greatly to the success of “Puppy Mill
Free Stores”.
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OrangeBone After
Going Humane |
LCA’s Approval Sign |
In 2008, Oprah
Winfrey did a special on puppy mills in the U.S. and brought national
awareness about the problem to millions of previously unaware viewers.
Oprah said the show is "for anybody anywhere who loves a dog, has
ever loved a dog, or just cares about their basic right to humane treatment.
I would never, ever adopt another pet now without going to a shelter
to do it. I am a changed woman after seeing this show."
By January 2009, LCA was offering a viable solution and a total paradigm shift
to the inhumane practices of the pet store industry and the pet stores they
supply.
It’s projected that OrangeBone alone will re-home approximately 900 shelter and
rescue dogs annually. It is estimated that for every puppy mill dog that is
bought by uninformed consumers, TWO dogs die from breeding, neglect, illnesses
and the horrors of transport. The number of lives saved from ONE pet store going
humane will be nearly 3,000 annually!
February 2009 - LCA held a star-studded event to re-launch OrangeBone as the
FIRST PET STORE IN THE COUNTRY TO “GO HUMANE!”
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Clark DuVal, Cori & Susie Feldman
and Chris DeRose |
Chris DeRose,
Kim Sill,
and Katherine & Nancy Heigl |
There is growing public support of Puppy Mill Free Stores and the new humane pet
store model. Through education and the media, people are becoming fed up with
the cruelty of the puppy mill pet store connection, the resulting problems of
pet overpopulation and the misery of overcrowded shelters.
J.T. Austin, Geezer Butler, Rachelle Carson and Ed Begley, JR., Elizabeth G.
Daily, Corey and Susie Feldman, Katherine Heigl, Quincy Jones, Kim Kardashian,
Jack Lesley, Cesar Millan, Sharon Ozbourne, Charlotte Ross, Bianca Ryan, and
Diane Warren are just a few who support LCA’s new humane pet store model and
“ADOPT, DON’T SHOP!” campaigns.
Click
here to see LCA’s
"ADOPT, DON’T SHOP!” PSA!
A vital part of LCA’s strategy to break the connection between puppy mills and
the stores that sell their “product” has been realized. Once the stores stop
selling puppies originating from the inhumane conditions of puppy mills, there
will simply be no reason – no profit incentive – for puppy mills and their
distributors to continue their cruel trade.
PET’S DELIGHT – ANOTHER PET STORE GOES HUMANE!
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LCA & Cesar Millan at
Pets Delight Press Conference |
Window at Pets Delight |
In February and March 2009, LCA helped an additional three stores switch their
business models: Pets Delight in West Covina, Pasadena and Monrovia, California
have aligned with LCA to GO HUMANE! by replacing the puppies in their windows
with shelter and rescue dogs.
Shannon Anderson, owner of Pets Delight in Covina, sold animals from puppy
mills for the past 20 years, only stopping recently after learning about the
practices of puppy mills.
Click HERE
to see Pets Delight Pet Shop Owners Taken to Kern County Animal Shelter By LCA!
This is why LCA and The Dog Whisperer’s Cesar Millan chose her store to have a
press conference announcing the special episode, “The Dog Whisperer: Inside
Puppy Mills.” Click on the links below for coverage on the press conference:
CBS
at Pets Delight
NBC
at Pets Delight April 29th
ABC Seven
April 29th Pets Delight
San Gabriel
Valley Tribrune-Cesar
Pasedena
Star
WuffingtonWag.com
Selling only rescue and shelter puppies is a bold venture; nothing like this has
been attempted before. While the program is exciting and innovative, it’s still
in its infancy and needs your support! LCA cannot do it alone. With your help,
LCA can bring the cruel puppy mill industry to its knees. The solution has been
implemented; the humane pet store model. Your help is needed to assure its
continued success. Do not buy products from pet stores that carry puppies from
commercial breeders. Support the pet stores that have gone humane and educate
others to
“ADOPT, DON’T SHOP!”
LCA needs your support to bring an end to puppy mills!
CLICK
BELOW TO DONATE TO
LCA’S “PUPPY MILL FREE STORES” CAMPAIGN!
LCA PUPPY MILL INVESTIGATION LEADS
TO THE RELEASE OF WORLD KENNEL DOGS!
LCA’s puppy mill investigations in Los Angeles County led to the exposure of
World Kennels in May, 2008. World Kennels supplied puppies to the now closed
high-end, Posh Puppy stores in Beverly Hills and Tarzana. LCA and many dedicated
animal lovers protested Posh Puppy pet stores for over five months before they
closed!
Click here to see CBS report on World Kennels.
LCA President, Chris DeRose,
with dogs rescued from World Kennels
LCA’s undercover investigation into Southern California puppy
mills, reported by CBS reporter David Goldstein, resulted in an
inspection of World Kennels, a puppy mill located in Lancaster,
California and the surrender of dogs. It was discovered the
kennel was housing 402 dogs in inhumane conditions. The County
ordered World Kennels to reduce the number of dogs to 100 or
else be shutdown. Over 50 of the dogs were released directly to
LCA.
LCA uncovered that LA County is riddled with pt sold for up to $4,000.
LCA and many dedicated animal lovers began protesting pet stores
in 2007 in Los Angeles to expose the pet store-puppy mill
connection and to spread the message, “ADOPT, DON’T SHOP!”
LCA SPEARHEADS JOINT TASK FORCE TO
FIGHT PUPPY MILLS
Following the exposure of World Kennel puppy mill, LCA’s SIU is
spearheading a county wide Joint Task Force with Supervisor Mike
Antonovitch’s office, aimed at eliminating puppy mills within
the County of Los Angeles. With your help and continued
financial support, LCA perseveres to investigate and expose the
practices of large scale dog breeders and the stores that sell
dogs supplied by them.
Puppy Mill Awareness Day 2009! CLICK HERE!
CLICK HERE to read about Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania
The “Puppy Mill Capital of the East Coast”!
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
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DONATE to LCA and allow our Special Investigations Unit
to continue investigating and exposing puppy mills and the
pet stores that sell animals supplied by puppy mills.
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Attend a Protest or Organize Your Own! Contact us for
information on joining the weekly protests! Not in L.A.?
Start a protest in your town.
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Spread the message, "ADOPT, DON’T SHOP", 99% of pet stores
are supplied by puppy mills. Your local shelter and rescue
groups have plenty of puppies, all kinds of dogs, and many
purebreds.Contact us for brochures to hand out.
Contact:
Campaigns@LCAnimal.org or
310.271.6096 x 27
INFORMATION ON THE PUPPY MILL
INDUSTRY
A puppy mill is a mass breeding facility that produces puppies for sale. There
are thousands of puppy mills across the country, producing over 2 million
puppies per year. These facilities, most of which are inspected and licensed by
the U.S.D.A., are notorious for their filthy, overcrowded conditions, and the
unhealthy animals they produce. Many of the dogs suffer from malnutrition and
exposure, usually remaining outside year round, enduring both freezing
temperatures in the winter and intense heat in the summer. Cat breeding occurs
on a smaller scale and under similar conditions.
Mill Life
Puppy mill kennels generally consist of small, outdoor wood and wire cages
or crates. The animals are cramped into these filthy cages. Their eyes are
filled with pus and their fur with excrement. Many of the puppies suffer from
malnutrition and exposure. Like pet store owners, breeders save money, and thus
maximize profits, by spending little on food, shelter, and veterinary care.
Puppies consequently receive below standard food, minimal if any veterinary
care, and inadequate shelter which, combined with the inbreeding prevalent in
puppy mills, produce animals with genetic diseases and abnormalities. Puppies’
legs often fall through the bottom of their wire cages, causing additional
injuries. Since they are mistreated (instead of socialized by humans) during an
important developmental period, they may be excessively timid or ferocious and
thus unsuitable as house pets.
Rescued puppy mill dog suffering from a severe case
of untreated mange and a ruptured eye.
“Brood Bitches”
Female dogs kept in puppy mills their entire lives are called “brood
bitches.” They are typically undernourished and receive little
veterinary care, in spite of being kept perpetually pregnant. Their
puppies are frequently taken from them before being weaned. As a result,
some puppies do not know how to eat and thus die of starvation. At
approximately six or seven years of age, when they can no longer breed
more puppies, “brood bitches” are killed.
“Brood bitches”, like this dog, could easily have 50 puppies before
she is killed.
The hind leg of this "brood bitch" was eaten off by another
dog in a puppy mill. She lay for two days without medical attention
-- even though the puppy miller was aware of her condition and died
in a hospital shortly after being rescued.
Transportation and Sale
At four to eight weeks of age, puppies are taken from their mothers and
sold to brokers (or retail businesses). The brokers then pack them in
crates and transport them for sale at various pet shops. Frequently, the
puppies are not provided with adequate food, water, ventilation, or
shelter during transport; consequently, many die en route. Those that
are not sold will be killed, brought back to the mill to breed, or sold
to laboratories for research.
Cramped, filthy conditions like the ones in this mill are common to
the industry.
Diseases Common to Puppy
Mill Dogs
This mill dog’s body is covered with sores. Her cage barely allows room
to turn around.
The Problem with Pet Stores
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Most of the puppies sold in pet stores
come from puppy mills. Purchasing pet store animals entails
not only supporting the cruel puppy mill industry but also
taking a home away from one of the 4 to 5 million unwanted
shelter animals killed each year.
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Because of the inbreeding and filthy
conditions common to puppy mills, they often produce animals
with serious health problems, which typically result in
hefty vet fees.
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Pet stores generally do not socialize
their animals. The puppies may consequently develop
behavioral problems which do not make them ideal as pets.
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Most pet shops do not check the
references or histories of their customers. Subsequently,
they send animals home with potentially abusive and
irresponsible “owners.”
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Pet shops dispose of unsold animals in,
at times, unscrupulous ways. For instance, former pet store
employees have reported finding animals starved or frozen to
death.
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Cockroach and rodent infestation may
spread disease to animals in pet shops.
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The overcrowding common in pet stores sometimes causes
animals such as birds to attack one another.
Ailments Common to Pet Store
Puppies
The American Kennel Club
Although the AKC claims to be devoted to advancing the health of purebred
dogs, it typically spends only about 2% of its total yearly income on
research towards that end. Moreover, AKC papers do not guarantee the
value or health of a puppy. The organization does not try to work with
breeders to improve mill conditions, perhaps because breeders pay the
AKC millions of dollars in registration fees for purebred dogs each
year.
The Law
Anti-cruelty
laws are rarely enforced in rural areas where most puppy mills are
located. The United States Department of Agriculture is responsible for
inspecting puppy mills to ensure that they are in compliance with the
Animal Welfare Act, but kennels are inconsistently inspected. When
violations are found, puppy mill operators are allowed to remain open
while they remedy them. Repeat offenders often refuse to allow Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service workers to enter and inspect their
facilities; these kennels sometimes remain licensed in spite of this
noncompliance.
What You Can Do
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Adopt from an
animal shelter or rescue group; never buy from a pet store.
Remember that 25% of shelter animals are purebreds
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Do not shop at
stores that sell animals
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Volunteer at
your local animal shelter or rescue group
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Ask your
elected officials to outlaw puppy mills. Urge them to demand
that the USDA enforce the Animal Welfare Act. For your
senators’ and representatives’ contact information, visit
www.vote-smart.org/index.phtml
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Write letters
to the editors of your local newspapers about the horrors of
the puppy mill industry and its connection with pet stores
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Distribute
brochures about puppy mills and pet overpopulation outside
of pet shops
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Ask shopping
mall managers not to renew the lease of the pet store on
their property
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Report pet
store abuses to whomever is responsible for enforcing
anti-cruelty laws in your town. Write a detailed statement
of the abuses and take photographs, if possible
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Educate others
about the cruelties of puppy mills and the importance of
adopting from shelters
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