Saturday, March 21, 2009

Help me throw 5 million tomatoes at AIG!

Hi,

The people at AIG who are most responsible for the severity of the financial crisis should be in jail. But instead, they're slated to get $450 million in bonuses. Infuriating, right?

So a MoveOn member created a game to show just how mad Americans are at AIG. It's called The Great AIG Tomato Toss and it's based on the idea that we should stop throwing money at the people who ruined our economy—and start throwing tomatoes.

I just played, and it's a blast. Can you play too—and help reach the goal of 5 million tomatoes thrown? http://www.moveon.org/tomato/

Thanks!


Tuesday, March 3, 2009

By: Jen

I'm glad to see that someone is bringing this issue to a large national audience. I hope it will really open people's eyes. I adopted a dog that was rescued from a puppy mill in Missouri. He was used as a stud for 5 years. When he first came home, he was afraid of grass. He'd never walked on it before. He still has some remaining issues, but with the help of an animal behaviourist, he has overcome most of them.

Read More...

[Source: Comments on: Will Oprah exposure slow down cruel puppy mills?]

New Puppy Crying at Night? Use a Ticking Clock

When getting a new puppy, the easiest thing to do to make your new puppy feel at home is to put a ticking clock beside it in it’s bed.� You might think this is an absurd thing to say but I guarantee that it will help the puppy sleep easier during the first few nights [...]

Read More...

[Source: My Puppy Care Site]

Don�t Hesitate, Vaccinate your Puppy

It is just as important for you to have your dog vaccinated as it is to have your child vaccinated. Vaccines are designed to minimize the risks of your puppy contracting an illness that can kill him or her. Or even pose a threat to your family members.��
Puppies and newborn children are very similar in [...]

Read More...

[Source: My Puppy Care Site]

By: Lis

Oh, my! This is almost funny!

By Legal definition there is no such thing as a Puppy Mill. Why? Because there is no legal definition. So basically there is no such thing as a Puppy Mill being that the definition is left to the individual.

I live next door to a bodega. There is, as far as I know, no legal definition of "bodega." And yet, somehow, no one seems to be confused about whether or not I live next to one, or perhaps might live next to a greengrocer's, or a butcher shop, or a supermarket, or a deli. Even without a legal definition, everyone seems to be able to agree that it's a bodega.

One must ask how legislation is being made against a term with no legal definition?,/i>

Shockingly enough, legal definitions do not need to be handed down from On High during the Dawn Times. They can be, and typically are, written into the legislation that uses them. This is done even when the term and its definition are already in common use, even in other pieces of legislation, to prevent confusion as language and usage evolve.

And also ask what types of people commit themselves to groups who are against a term with no legal definition?

People who are concerned abou the issue, and don't suffer from the confused belief that a definition has to be pre-existing in the law before they're allowed to be concerned about it.

Definitions of things get into the law because people are concerned about them.

One also must ask the professionalism and education of those who freely use a term that has no definition. A civil rights movement was made against similar hate terms.

Once upon a time, not very long ago, "spousal abuse" and "child abuse" and, yes, "cruelty to animals" were terms without legal definition. They acquired legal definitions because concerned citizens worked to give them legal definitions, and make them illegal.

"Cruelty to animals" came first, by the way. Legislation to regulate the care and living conditions of domestic animals is relatively venerable now, compared to the more recent origins of laws regulating how you can treat your children or your spouse.

The Term Puppy Mill is used to bring on emotion.

It's being used to describe the factory production of dogs as if they were mass market consumer goods, rather than living beings.

Animals, especially our dogs can be almost like children to us.

You've come to the wrong place, if you expect anyone reading the Pet Connection to be either embarrassed or appalled by such a statement.

The thought of intentionally harming a child or defenseless animal brings on a knee jerk reaction of pure hatred in most humans.

Your use of the pejorative "knee jerk reaction" is, um, interesting in this context.

Unlike other terms used to divide, hate and caused dangerous finger pointing.

Was there supposed to be more to this sentence?

The Term Puppy Mill can bring on almost dangerous responses, causing regular citizens to join in a battle against something they have never seen or witnessed first hand.

Lots of people have seen it first-hand, and more have seen many, many videos from diverse sources.

But be that as it may, I didn't personally witness the genocide in Rwanda, or the ethnic cleansing in former Yugoslavia, or for that matter the Battle of the Bulge. That doesn't mean I don't have ample evidence that these things happened.

Like the Term Teacup when used to describe a smaller dog. The Term Puppy Mill is a marketing Term. Non profit rescues have learned that placing the term Puppy Mill next to their inventory, will cause it to be sold very rapidly.

Um. "Sold" implies at least a remote chance of making a profit, rather than a remote chance of breaking even. There is a real, practical difference between sale and adoption.

In all Honestly if the thousands of groups wanted to end the ideal of the term Puppy Mill to the supposed 10,000 of them residing in the USA. All the groups had to do with their hundreds of millions if not billions of un-taxable donations

Oh, my. Such lovely delusions! To get those numbers, you're counting the donations to PETA and other Animal Rights extremist organizations, which have no interest in fighting puppy mills, or educationg anyone on how to produce healthy, happy pet puppies.

was to use the money to educate kennels and use the money in research to bring the living conditions to that of what they deem Humane.

You can't achieve those conditions in any facility organized around the mass production of puppies as consumer goods. Healthy, happy, well-adjusted puppies, suitable to be family pets, need to be raised in conditions that allow them to be socialized in those conditions--which means small-scale, responsible, hobby breeders, and the higher-end, more responsible kind of backyard breeder. Puppy mills can't do it; most BYBs have no interest in working that hard.

That said they should start firstly with their own facilities.

Many kill shelters euthanize puppies and dogs for a simple common cold many times labeled a Upper respiratory infection (URI) , or Kennel Cough.

This is all too true, and has no bearing on how puppy mills operate, or whether they're good or bad.

Instead of killing these animals for an infection that can be self eliminating a needed study could have been done to end it. As with leukemia in cats that helped discover a cure for leukemia in children. that study may have found and end to the common cold. Yet these organizations are against animal study even if it means saving animals themselves.

You are conflating Animal Rights and Animal Welfare organizations--perhaps intentionally, perhaps from ignorance. Animal Rights groups oppose any use of animals in research, even to help animals. Animal Welfare groups do not. Animal Welfare organizations do want animals used in research to be treated humanely, but with that proviso are generally okay with animal research even if the "only" goal is helping humans.

You have contradicted yourself; you've noticed that research was conducted on cats, on feline leukemia, to help humans with leukemia--and yet claim research is not being conducted on kennel cough and the common cold because animal welfare groups are hypocrites. No, sorry, animal welfare groups don't have the resources to conduct advanced medical research. It needs to be funded and conducted by other organizations, that have the resources and the knowledge--and those concentrate most of their resources on things that kill humans. Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Syndrome are interesting to researchers because they are related to things that kill humans. Kennel cough "only" resembles the common cold. The common cold, at least by itself does not kill humans. No one who could do so is interested in researching the common cold.

To say ALL pet stores buy from Puppy Mills.

They do, or from the worst kind of BYBs. Responsible breeders and even the best BYBs won't sell to pet stores, because they care what happens to the puppies, and don't want the sold to whoever walks in with enough space on their credit cards.

And that ALL licensed and inspected USDA commercial kennels are dirty Puppy Mills.

Oh, no, I freely concede that some of them are clean puppy mills. They're still puppy mills, designed for the mass production of puppies as mass market consumer goods.

Comes from a thought process that many Americans hoped would have been outgrown in today�s America. By Supporting your local Pet Store which sells Puppies and Kittens you are helping to eliminate the need for the Term Puppy Mill.

How? That's a serious question. I'd be genuinely fascinated to read your reasoning on that, in the unlikely event that you've actually stuck around and are reading this.

But first Pet Stores need the billions of lost taxable income back into their hands so they can do the right thing . To once and for all end the 60 year battle against a term that has matured into a pure marking tool, to take jobs and taxable income away from hard working Americans.

Nothing is stopping Pet Stores from doing the right thing--ceasing to sell live animals, selling supplies and services only, supporting adoption, and perhaps providing some guidance on how to find responsible breeders. Many pet stores, in fact, have made this switch--and not just the two Big Name Chains that have done it, really, only for dogs and cats. Independent stores have done it, too, some of them more completely than the PetSomethings.

It's not a term we're battling; it's the reality of conditions in puppy mills.

(I realize that, in terms of reaching "concerned", this is a complete waste of our precious phosphor resources. However, I have typed it anyway, in the hope that it may reach someone else.)

Read More...

[Source: Comments on: Will Oprah exposure slow down cruel puppy mills?]

By: concerned

What is a Puppy Mill?

By Legal definition there is no such thing as a Puppy Mill. Why? Because there is no legal definition. So basically there is no such thing as a Puppy Mill being that the definition is left to the individual. One must ask how legislation is being made against a term with no legal definition? And also ask what types of people commit themselves to groups who are against a term with no legal definition? One also must ask the professionalism and education of those who freely use a term that has no definition. A civil rights movement was made against similar hate terms.

The Term Puppy Mill is used to bring on emotion. Animals, especially our dogs can be almost like children to us. The thought of intentionally harming a child or defenseless animal brings on a knee jerk reaction of pure hatred in most humans. Unlike other terms used to divide, hate and caused dangerous finger pointing. The Term Puppy Mill can bring on almost dangerous responses, causing regular citizens to join in a battle against something they have never seen or witnessed first hand.

Like the Term Teacup when used to describe a smaller dog. The Term Puppy Mill is a marketing Term. Non profit rescues have learned that placing the term Puppy Mill next to their inventory, will cause it to be sold very rapidly. In all Honestly if the thousands of groups wanted to end the ideal of the term Puppy Mill to the supposed 10,000 of them residing in the USA. All the groups had to do with their hundreds of millions if not billions of un-taxable donations was to use the money to educate kennels and use the money in research to bring the living conditions to that of what they deem Humane. That said they should start firstly with their own facilities.


Many kill shelters euthanize puppies and dogs for a simple common cold many times labeled a Upper respiratory infection (URI) , or Kennel Cough. Instead of killing these animals for an infection that can be self eliminating a needed study could have been done to end it. As with leukemia in cats that helped discover a cure for leukemia in children. that study may have found and end to the common cold. Yet these organizations are against animal study even if it means saving animals themselves.

To say ALL pet stores buy from Puppy Mills. And that ALL licensed and inspected USDA commercial kennels are dirty Puppy Mills. Comes from a thought process that many Americans hoped would have been outgrown in today�s America. By Supporting your local Pet Store which sells Puppies and Kittens you are helping to eliminate the need for the Term Puppy Mill. But first Pet Stores need the billions of lost taxable income back into their hands so they can do the right thing . To once and for all end the 60 year battle against a term that has matured into a pure marking tool, to take jobs and taxable income away from hard working Americans.

Read More...

[Source: Comments on: Will Oprah exposure slow down cruel puppy mills?]

By: Gina Spadafori

Exactly, Lis.

We write for others, for people who may see those puppies in the window of "concerned"'s puppy-mill outlet store, that they may NOT set a foot inside that store to support her delusions of how wonderful a clean factory farm for puppies can be.

That they may not support a sick and cruel industry that treats dogs like widgets on an assembly line.

Ugh. And I suppose when she's cradling the puppies she sells to anyone with a credit card she believes she "loves" animals.

Read More...

[Source: Comments on: Will Oprah exposure slow down cruel puppy mills?]

By: Gina Spadafori

"But first Pet Stores need the billions of lost taxable income back into their hands so they can do the right thing . To once and for all end the 60 year battle against a term that has matured into a pure marking tool, to take jobs and taxable income away from hard working Americans."

The puppy-mill industry has never and will never care about "doing the right thing." Going back half a decade of documented industry abuse, this has been very, very clear.

There is no way, and no how that the folks behind this blog will ever sign on to the idea of raising puppies as livestock, no matter how much the puppy millers clean up their kennels, no matter how many white frocks and name tags they put on their kennel staff. U.S.D.A is the United States Department of Agriculture, and a "clean" puppy mill is nothing more than a factory farm for the production of pets to be shipped and sold to a public that doesn't know any better.

A cleaned-up puppy mill still will not give a rip about congenital diseases. Still will not give a rip about socializing. Keeping costs of production down will still be the primary goal, not producing healthy, well-socialized pets. A reputable, ethical breeder isn't in it for the money; a puppy-miller always will be. There's a definition for you.

I cannot and will not ever recommend a pet-store puppy to anyone looking for a family pet. Ain't never gonna happen, so take your "concern" about all those "hard-working Americans" who are puppy-mill scum or puppy-mill outlet scum somewhere else.

"By Supporting your local Pet Store which sells Puppies and Kittens you are helping to eliminate the need for the Term Puppy Mill."

But you're not eliminating puppy mills. Sell it elsewhere, sister.

Read More...

[Source: Comments on: Will Oprah exposure slow down cruel puppy mills?]

Dog Care: Tips for Traveling with your Dog

Summer is the time when most of us take a vacation with the family.� This means either taking and caring for our dog on the road or leaving fido at home to be cared for by others.� Of course, if your dog is ill you are probably going to want to leave him/her at home [...]

Read More...

[Source: My Puppy Care Site]

By: Luisa

Here are a couple Lassie blog posts from 2007: the first one illustrates what the USDA considers "adequate" room for puppy mill dogs -- be sure to click on the links -- and the second has an excerpt from a NY Times article on Puppy Haven Kennel, a "1,600-dog compound" in Wisconsin.

For the mandatory spay/neuter crowd to equate puppy mill owners with responsible, hobby breeders -- the dog lovers that understand genetics, screen homes, socialize pups, breed only the healthiest dogs with the best temperaments, and willingly take back any dog they've bred at any time, for any reason -- requires a degree of stupidity, or dishonesty, that simply defies belief.

Read More...

[Source: Comments on: Will Oprah exposure slow down cruel puppy mills?]

Puppy and Dog Care - Vaccinations Can Save Your Dog�s Life

It is common in puppies and in dogs to have some side effects as a result of being injected with the immunizations. It is wise for you to watch your dog closely and monitor his or her behavior after a trip to the veterinarians office. Watch for signs of being lethargic, disoriented, vomiting, trembling and [...]

Read More...

[Source: My Puppy Care Site]

A Natural Repellant for Fleas

You can purchase cedar oil to spray on your dogs sleeping area, pillows and blankets. The cedar scent is believed to keep not only fleas away but also other insects. You can also buy shampoo that has a cedar scent to it and alternate between the flea repellant shampoo and the cedar repellant shampoo.� Not [...]

Read More...

[Source: My Puppy Care Site]

By: Gina Spadafori

Barbara, thank you for sharing that WONDERFUL story. Hooray for that family ... and those puppies. :)

Read More...

[Source: Comments on: Will Oprah exposure slow down cruel puppy mills?]

By: slt

I think Oprah possibly falls into that "clueless" category. She already had a couple adult dogs I think but somehow when she bought 3 PUPPIES AT ONCE she didn't realize it would be a nightmare. She had Cesar Milan and other professionals to help her but she ended up hiring someone to care for the pups.

If you scroll down to the bottoms of this page
http://www.oprah.com/tows/slide/200509/20050919/slide_20050919_350_201.jhtml
there is a video titled "Who can resist those puppy eyes?"

Read More...

[Source: Comments on: Will Oprah exposure slow down cruel puppy mills?]

Puppy and Dog Care - What Different Breeds of Dogs Have to Offer

As you may already be fully aware, there are more than one hundred different types of dogs that are recognized by the American Kennel Club. Each dog is recognized by its breed. If you are contemplating buying a purebred dog to add to your family, it is important that you know a little about the [...]

Read More...

[Source: My Puppy Care Site]

By: Barbara Copley

My husband and I volunteer at the Panhandle Animal Shelter, Sandpoint, Idaho. This is a no-kill shelter, and I wanted to share a feel good story. We received two Dalmation mix puppies, one was deaf. He relied on the other one to help him out. At an Adopt-A-Thon both puppies were taken to the local mall and we were worried about the healthy one being adopted without the deaf one. A family came by with a deaf child and took both of them. Someone was watching out for them. Thank You.

Read More...

[Source: Comments on: Will Oprah exposure slow down cruel puppy mills?]

By: The OTHER Pat

Comment by concerned � August 31, 2008 @ 1:34 pm

"To say ALL pet stores buy from Puppy Mills. And that ALL licensed and inspected USDA commercial kennels are dirty Puppy Mills. Comes from a thought process that many Americans hoped would have been outgrown in today�s America. "

Except that you've mis-stated it here. Let's try again:

NO Responsible Breeder will sell their animals to pet stores or through other commercial outlets. A Responsible Breeder accepts the *responsibility* of finding a home for each and every life they have had the *responsibility* of bringing into existence. And that rules out letting someone who's being paid to run a cash register and run credit cards be the one who sends puppies to their new homes.

So, to fix your statement above - by definition - NO Responsible Breeder will sell their animals to pet stores or through other commercial outlets. And as for all the other kinds of breeders - well, they don't need to be bringing animals into this world at all.

Read More...

[Source: Comments on: Will Oprah exposure slow down cruel puppy mills?]