On Wednesday, the day we’ve been waiting for finally happened.

Pennsylvania House Bill 2525 was passed by the Senate.

The Senate and the House on Wednesday approved a bill that gives most commercial kennel owners an additional three years to comply with an array of new regulations to make their kennels more humane. The bill also gives the state agriculture secretary the power to extend that waiver even longer.

But even with provisions that supporters said water down the legislation, it still was an advancement for animal welfare in Pennsylvania, they declared.

”This is the day that we eliminate” Pennsylvania’s reputation ”as the puppy mill capital of the East,” said Rep. James Casorio, D-Westmoreland, the prime sponsor. ”The mistreatment of thousands and thousands and thousands of dogs kept in deplorable and inhumane [conditions]  will no longer stand.”

The bill has been changed from the original, but at least this is a beginning, you have to start somewhere.

Hopefully,  what Pennsylvania has begun will force every state to take a look at their laws, or lack of, so that humane treatment of dogs in puppy mills will be the norm rather than the exception.

A kennel in Emmaus (PA) will have its license revoked after an inspection by The Department of Agriculture cited the owner for severe sanitation issues.

Derbe Eckhart, the owner of Almost Heaven Kennel, will be cited for violating the state’s dog law and will have to sell or transfer enough dogs to no longer be considered a kennel. Any kennel housing more than 25 dogs is required to be licensed and inspected.

“Mr. Eckhart allowed conditions at his kennel to deteriorate into a deplorable state,” said Jessie Smith, special deputy secretary for dog law enforcement. “While we continue investigating his operations, we are taking this action to protect the health and welfare of the animals there.”

Thanks to House Bill 2525, recently passed by the House making progress in the Senate, if passed it will strengthen the current dog laws concerning commercial breeding kennels.

“Raising the minimum standards for commercial breeding kennels and requiring annual veterinary checks will benefit all dogs in these types of settings,” said Smith. “Current law does not require that dogs ever receive routine medical care and as a result, many go without.

H.B. 2525 would require veterinary examinations for each dog twice per year. It would also double the minimum floor space for dogs, eliminates wire flooring, and requires access to an exercise area twice the size of the dog’s primary enclosure. Current law does not require dogs ever be taken out of cages, much less given access to exercise areas.

I realize this is only a start,  but at least we’re beginning to see some change.  You can visit DogLawAction, to learn more about Pennsylvania’s Dog Law proposed legislation.

The Bernese Auction Rescue Coalition, BARC, is having a raffle to raise money for their amazing organization.

They are a non-profit corporation dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating Bernese Mountain Dogs from dog brokers, dog auctions, puppy mills, and any other dangerous, exploitative or abusive situation.

BARC, Inc. places these dogs in loving pet homes as spayed or neutered companions. This wonderful group is who Lisa and I went through to adopt our beautiful boy, Logan. They rely on donations to be able to keep doing the work they do.

BARC is having a fundraising raffle offering some really cool prizes. Everything from books, clothing, gift baskets, jewelry, ltd. edition prints, to wood carvings. To enter you buy tickets, single or in books, and choose the coveted prize you’re seeking. The biggest problem is deciding what item(s) to choose,  there are so many great prizes.

On the site it has the raffle ending tomorrow, but it has been extended through this Friday, October 3rd.  So run, don’t walk, over to BARC’s raffle page to buy your tickets. You do need to send in a check for the tickets, as long as you get it mailed on or before October 3rd you’re fine.

This is a win-win situation, your donation goes to a great organization who rescues and saves innocent dogs, and in the process you get the chance to win a terrific prize.

In honor of Puppy Mill Awareness Day , I’m devoting the first post to some of our very own Dogsters who were from puppy mills.

I also want to take a moment to thank all those who put in their time, effort, and money to help rescue these dogs.

It’s because of those rescue groups, and individuals, that people like us have a chance to adopt these wonderful dogs.

On June 7th Lisa and I adopted Logan.  He is a gorgeous 4 year old Bernese Mountain dog who came from a puppy mill.

He was a dog used for stud at a puppy mill, spending 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.

After the breeder was through with him he was  put up for auction.   To possibly be bought by someone with no concern for his welfare, another breeder or someone to resell him because he’s a purebred, and continue his life of torment.

Luckily, that was where the Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue Coalition group stepped in and changed his life forever. They bought him and sent him to a wonderful foster home, to be socialized and allow him a chance to find a forever home.

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.

I’ve recently been made aware of a few other Dogster dogs, all who have one thing common, their origin from puppy mills. You can visit the homepages of Kaluha, Merlin, Angel, Breeze, Fawn, and Heidi to read about their amazing stories, from tribulations to triumphs.

I know there are many other Dogsters, I’m not aware of, that also come from puppy mills.  If you have a puppy mill dog please add your dog’s name in the comment section to be honored.

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.

As you know, Puppy Mill Awareness Day is only 3 days away.  The day is devoted to educating the public about the connection between consumers and commercial breeding facilities.

The big event will be taking place on Saturday September 20th at the Intercourse Community Park in the heart of Lancaster County Pennsylvania, and you can join in the day of fun and learning.

Over the past few months Dogster has been vigilantly working to get the word out about the horror of puppy mills.  While legislation has been slow to change, there have been more crackdowns on puppy mills due to increased attention from the media.

We at Dogster plan on continuing to do our part,  by educating the public to the horrors that go on behind closed doors.  We all know when the “dirty little secrets” that take place from public view are exposed in the light of day, change starts to take place.  Now, it can no longer be ignored.

We recently posted an article, A Day In The Life Of A Rescuer, of a heartbreaking look at one of the amazing people who put themselves on the line to help save these dogs.  For those of you who have not read it, I urge you to take a few minutes to do so, then pass it on to a friend. Here’s a snippet…

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A RESCUER
E.S. EVERITT

I rise at 4 a.m., get coffee, check supplies, and leave by 5. I drive alone, my van full of empty crates. As I drive through the cold dark morning, my only company is the churning of my emotions. Hope that most of the crates will be full of dogs on the way home. Anger than anyone could bring puppies into this world with no plan other than a quick profit. Sorrow that companion animals are viewed as, even legally classified as livestock, rather than the family members they should be. And fear that I will fail them.

I know that I will fail some of them. I cannot save them all. Neither I nor my organization have the money, the manpower, the political clout or enough other resources to remove all of them from harm. But we will keep trying, because we can and because we have to. We can at least save some, give them the gift of love and family and future.

We, as dog lovers and owners, need to take a stand and help change the laws.  We can start by taking part in the Pennsylvania Puppy Mill Ban. The bill, which we’ve been waiting for quite some time, is intended to reduce the number of dogs in puppy mills and end suffering.

We’re encouraging Dogsters and Catsters to tag photos with “stop puppy mills” so that we can create a stroll to highlight our members’ concerns about this problem.  If you’re not sure how to tag photos just follow these instructions, it’s easy.

Dogster link to the stroll is http://www.dogster.com/photos/tags/stop+puppy+mills

Catster link to the stroll is http://www.catster.com/photos/tags/stop+puppy+mills

What a great way to take your loved one on a stroll, even if it’s raining outside!

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.

A breeder in Parkersburg, W. VA. area  has surrendered 1,000 dogs to the humane society.

While there were no signs that the purebred dachshunds had been abused, officials say it would be impossible for any human being to properly care for that many animals.

The board president for the Humane Society in Parkersburg, Carrie Roe, stated many of the dogs have never been touched by a human.

Sheriff’s deputies investigating possible dog-related pollution found the dogs Saturday while executing a search warrant on the property.

Wood County Prosecutor Ginny Conley says the owner hasn’t been cited for animal neglect but has agreed to never operate a dog-breeding business again.

The rescue operation could cost over $100,000 placing a tremendous strain on the Humane Society of Parkersburg. Below is information for anyone who would like to make a donation or potentially adopt one of these precious dogs.

If you would like to assist the HSOP at this time of great need, we are accepting monetary donations to help cover the costs of this effort. We are also in need of clean towels and rolled newspapers. All donations should be taken directly to the main Shelter at 29th and Poplar.

People interested in volunteering for the effort should call the Shelter first at 304-422-5541 and leave a message on the Volunteer line. We appreciate all volunteers, but in order for things to work smoothly we must schedule volunteers for needed jobs. So PLEASE call first and leave a message of what you can do and when you are available. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

While some of the surrrendered animals will be made available for adoption locally, they will not be available until August 30th and will be adopted out using our normal adoption process. See Adoption Process on this website. Many of the animals will be going to rescues around the nation that are better equipped to deal with puppy mill animals, but animals that we feel are appropriate for local adopiton, will be available beginning on that date.

The following is an update from the Suncoast Animal League concerning the case of Teresita Hughes.

PALM HARBOR, FLORIDA                August 7, 2008

We have recently learned that the Office of the State Attorney for Pinellas County has filed a46-count information against Teresita Hughes for cruelty to animals. Each count is for misdemeanor animal cruelty, punishable by up to one year imprisonment and/or up to a $5,000.00 fine for each count. Ms. Hughes’ arraignment is scheduled for August 18, 2008.

After the update on the woman from Tarpon Springs, FL getting 60 of her dogs back I received a moving letter from my friend Paddy Boy.  He, along with mom Nancy, are fostering one of the dogs that were removed.  Cinnamon, their foster girl, is a two year old Pomeranian who was used and abused at the puppy mill.  She was bred too many times and as a result is dealing with many medical issues.  Under the loving care of her foster family, and with proper medical attention,  she was finally starting to get well and now she may be handed back to the person that hurt her.

Paddy sent me an entry from his diary that’s a tribute to Cinnamon and all her companions that were removed from the deplorable conditions in Tarpon Springs.

Missing Blue
July 30th 2008 11:55am

For my friend, Cinnamon and all her pals; Imagine this if- you can….

You are living in a cage; small crowded space. You have been there your entire life. You have never been outside; you have no concept of the world except for your imprisonment.

You have no place to relieve yourself except for that cage; neither does anyone else. It smells rotten in there but you have no other choice. The food comes and you fight to get some but when you start to chew, it hurts because your teeth are rotting. You give up; you go lay down if you can find room. You try and sleep on your side but that is agony because of the lumps on your right side. You try and lay on your left but it makes your painful ear worse.

You have it bad but others have it worse. The two-year old female next to you can barely walk with her bloody paws. The one next to her can’t breathe from a collapsed trachea. Is this what life is really like? Do you want to exist anymore.

Can you imagine living like this????

One day you wake up and these people come. You are really scared and become more frightened when they start to take you away. You can’t help wondering if you are going to another place as bad as the one you are leaving.
You arrive at your new destination. They speak softly to you as they bathe the horrible smells away. They give you your own bowl of food and it is soft so that you can eat it. They tend to your hurts. They take you outside to this wonderful place and you sniff the grass for the first time. You want to thank them but you are still scared. You approach and they touch you lovingly. God, this is wonderful, you think. You slink up to the first person and she whispers “good dog”. You don’t really know what that means but the tone of her voice is so pleasing. You lick her hand and she begins to cry. I think she knows what you have endured. You are lucky you have survived.

IMAGINE LIVING LIKE THIS???? Imagine this as if it were your life and tell me truthfully if you can ever let this happen again.

STOP THE FLORIDA PUPPY MILL BREEDER NOW….Stop Theresita Hughes from getting these 121 puppies back; they deserve so much better!!!

Thank you Paddy for the insight into the life of a puppy mill dog.  Thank you Nancy for putting action behind your words,  for taking in a foster dog that needed your help.  We commend you both.