In yesterday’s post,  Come Join The “Stop The Puppy Mills” Stroll,  I mentioned the Pennsylvania Puppy Mill Ban  that was going before the PA House of Representatives.  The law was to improve conditions for dogs in Pennsylvania kennels.

I wrote that we, as dog lovers and owners, need to take a stand and help change the laws.  The power of the people has spoken,  we now have House Bill 2525.

Today is a great morning, hopefully the start of many, because the House Bill has made it through the PA House of Representatives and is now on to the Senate.

HARRISBURG - Governor Edward G. Rendell today praised the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for voting to pass House Bills 2525 and 2532, which he said will protect kennel dogs and the families that welcome them into their homes.

He urged swift passage of the bills in the Senate to help rid Pennsylvania of its reputation as “Puppy Mill Capital of the East.”

“The bills that passed in the House today with overwhelming, bi-partisan support will go a long way to protecting dogs kept in kennels with poor but currently legal conditions,” the Governor said. “I applaud the House of Representatives for defeating the many amendments to House Bill 2525 filed on behalf of special interest groups and aimed at weakening the bill. The House has delivered strong legislation that reflects not only the needs of dogs, but the will of the public in improving the minimum standards in the worst of Pennsylvania’s kennels.

“Current Pennsylvania law allows dogs to be kept in cramped, stacked cages their entire lives with no opportunity to exercise and minimal care,” the Governor said. “These conditions lead to dogs with physical and behavioral problems. Pennsylvania must ensure that the standards of care are raised for the sake of dogs and the families that will eventually own them.”

Governor Rendell said widespread public support could help move the legislation through the Senate, and urged Pennsylvanians to let their senator know their thoughts on the issue.

As you can see from Governor Rendell’s statement, our help is still needed to make sure it is passed swiftly in the Senate and becomes law.  Again, I ask you, please go over to DogLawAction and show your support by putting paw to paper.

Puppy Mill Awareness Day is barking at your heels. On Saturday September 20th at the Intercourse Community Park (in the heart of Lancaster County, PA - as seen on Oprah!) you can join in a day of fun and learning.

Until recently most people didn’t even know what a puppy mill was.  Thanks to Oprah for airing a show, one of her most watched, on the subject that helped bring the horrors of what was happening behind the scenes to light.

Puppy mills are nothing new. These mass dog-breeding operations have been around for decades. They continue to thrive because they prey on unwitting consumers who are smitten by too-cute-for-words puppies in pet store windows and on fancy websites.

But behind the friendly facade of the local pet shop, the pastoral scenes on a “breeder’s” website, or the neighborhood newspaper ad, there often lies a puppy mill. These canine breeding facilities house dogs in shockingly poor conditions.

Life is particularly bad for “breeding stock,” dogs who live their entire lives in cages and are continually bred for years, without human companionship and with little hope of ever becoming part of a family. These dogs receive little or no veterinary care and never see a bed, a treat or a toy. After their fertility wanes, breeding animals are commonly killed, abandoned or sold to another mill. The annual result of all this breeding is hundreds of thousands of puppies, many with behavior and/or health problems.

Sadly, few states have laws directly effecting the treatment of dogs in puppy mills. We, as a collective group of  50 million plus dog owners, have the power to take a stand and contact our legislators to demand a change. Stricter laws need to be passed into legislation and enforced to stop the inhumane treatment of these dogs.

Logan, our Bernese Mountain Dog rescue, was a dog used for stud at a puppy mill. He spent over 4 years in a 2×4 cage where he couldn’t even sit up. His only human contact came when it was time to be pulled from the cage to fulfill his role. When he stopped producing, he was discarded just as a 64 pound bag of flea and tick infested garbage would be.

Something minor in the whole scheme of things, but something that really drove home the reality of his situation to me, was that fact he never even had a name. As Lisa and I work with Logan to get him to trust humans, I have no doubt that puppy mills are a business, in it for profit, with no concern over the welfare of the dog. That’s why the word needs to be spread far and wide about these despicable actions.

Puppy Mill Awareness Day is committed to educating the public about the connection between consumers and commercial breeding facilities.  Don’t miss this fun filled day.

Free Food, Free Gifts, Our Famous Dog Walk

Many speakers, including AnneMarie Lucas of Animal Planet.
Local rescue groups with pets for adoption.

Sponsored by Adopt A Pet, Inc., Last Chance for Animals,
Inc., and Best Friends Animal Society.

For more information and to register for the dog walk,
please visit WWW.AWARENESSDAY.ORG or email us at Awarenessday@aol.com.

Whether you walk or run this is definitely an event not to be missed.

He may have been pandering to his children but if there’s one thing Senator Barack Obama will learn, there’s no going back on commitments when kids and puppies are involved.

I’m sure many of you already know, the junior senator from Illinois promised his kids they would be able to get a dog if he is voted into the White House in November of this year.

This has dog lovers around the globe intently watching the race for the next President of the United States just to see what type of dog the kids are going to get. I’ll put dollars to donuts that he’s still going to be getting the kids a fuzzy little ball of fun even if he loses.

I think this is one of those great teaching moments that come along every once in a great while. What if the Obamas were to go to a local shelter to pick out their dog or opt for a dog rescue organization to select their dog of choice? What a great message that would send.

That’s why when I found out what the Best Friends Animal Society was doing to promote this very thing I got so excited. They’ve set up a website www.ObamaFamilyDog.com to petition the Senator to go down the rescue path rather than the purchasing one. The website has great information on why adoption is such a great choice and you’ll be amazed at the wonderful things this organization is doing to create “a better world through kindness to animals”.

The ObamaFamilyDog.com site was created as a response to The American Kennel Club which quickly identified a list of five possible “pure” breeds that the Obamas could buy from a pet store or breeder.

Best Friends’ has a different thought…

“With millions of homeless pets still being killed in shelters every year, they’re proposing that the Obamas NOT buy a dog – instead, that they adopt their next dog from a shelter or rescue group.”

Anyone who’s looked into how pet stores get their dogs is appalled when they find out about the realities of puppy mills and backyard breeders. This is not directed at ethical breeders, but at those who breed their dogs without thought to the welfare of the animal, the offspring and the future owners. It truly disgusts me.

Ted has previously written about the little known world of puppy mills and backyard breeders that were exposed by Oprah on her show. In that piece he makes a great point.

“..if people simply knew about puppy mills and backyard breeders, we could kill all their business.”

He’s right. If someone were to watch the Oprah show on puppy mills, I guarantee they will be adopting their next best friend.

As a Dogster member, chances are you more aware of this problem than the average person, or dog owner. I urge to take this opportunity to influence the education of the world on dog rescues by helping the Obamas make the right choice. Go sign the petition now.

Welcome to Dogster, Hannah!

You may have read about Hannah’s case. She was held by a Georgia canine cop under the pretense that she was being used for police work. Instead, the man was breeding her while barely keeping her alive. Shameful!

But there’s a happy ending here. Hannah was rescued and now lives with a loving family who has let her join Dogster where she has met many caring dogs and cats who want to see her abuser brought to justice.

Dogster Lena Malik barked in this information and wants to encourage us all to sign Hannah’s petition.

Lena Malik wrote:

Dear Joy,

My sweet and brave pup pal Hannah joined
dogster about a month ago.

Unfortunately, she had a tragic start in life but is currently learning how to simply be a beloved family member. Her case is still under investigation and we are getting either the runaround or invalid excuses from authorities. This is concerning because she was involved in unethical breeding purposes (this topic along with puppy mills was recently in the national media thanks to Oprah).

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Please Crosspost!!!!

Now is the time for us to help our fellow doglovers in Korea fight the horrific dog meat trade. Please take a moment to sign this Care2 Petition.

Please be warned that the information in this petition is very upsetting. You do not need to read through all the information if you just want to sign the petition.

This is some of the information on the petition.

Animals in Korea currently are in a horrible situation. But we find it too difficult for us to protect our suffering furry friends on our own in this country.

1. Korea is a country of cruelty to animals. A large number of people in Korea have no trouble accepting the fact that animals are being taken advantage of and mistreated as long as it is done for human purposes.

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PLEASE CROSSPOST!

Now this is a petition I can REALLY get behind! It seems the only way to get the message across to Amish communities that puppy mills are evil is to hit them economically.

Thanks to Karen S. for barking in this petition. It only takes a moment to sign and all our signatures are important.

Here’s more information from the Boycott Amish products until puppy mills are discontinued petition.

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What do you do if you’re the mayor of Randolph, Iowa and you want to cut decrease the numbers of stray cats and dogs. You take a page from history and enact a bounty of them. Why use more modern (and sensible) tactics when its so easy to do something so 18th Century?

How many ways is this wrong? Let’s start with unscrupulous adults and children kidnapping dogs and cats to make money.

Here’s the mayor’s own newsletter openly admitting his retro tactics.

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Many of us would like to do something to show our support for Tammy Grimes as she goes in for sentencing for saving the abused Doogie. Now you sign a petition designed to send to Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.

Follow this link to sign the petition to Pennsylvania Governor Rendell.

Wolves are our canine furbabies’ closest relatives and many Dogsters are concerned about their well-being. If you’re as upset about the ruthless war on wolves as I am, here’s one small way you can help. It only takes a few minutes to sign this Care2 petition.

It happened today - the Bush administration has just eliminated federal protections for hundreds of endangered wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies.

Please protest this decision now - it will only take a minute to send your message in support of protecting these wolves!

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A few weeks ago Edna was kidnaped from her home and tortured to death by two boys as they talked on the phone with Edna’s furdad. We can’t bring Edna back but we can help her family get closure on her murder by signing a petition.

My deepest sympathies to Edna’s family, including her furdad Bill.

I had my dog, Edna kidnapped, held for randsom, and killed by children who tortured her while I was on the phone pleading with them. There is an on-going police investigation. Its become a big news story in the Philadelphia area.

Could your site promote this petition?

I know this is a disturbing story, but I need help and I need answers.

Bill Whiting

Here is some of the information from The Petition Site.

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