The Hellish Life of a Puppy Mill Dog Video .....

The National PuppyMill Project Is A Fabulous Organization....see one of their articles below ....

America’s Dirty Little Secret

“Gloved hands reach in to pull the purebred Yorkie out of a cage barely bigger than her body.  Pieces of hair and skin stick to the cage’s rusty-wired bottom.  Her fur is matted – mashed feces and dried blood encrusting nearly every inch.  Her paws and belly are cracked and raw from urine burns.  There is no food or water anywhere to be seen – just rows and rows of cages stacked from ground to ceiling, with dogs just like her inside.  Despite her condition, it is time for her to get pregnant with her seventh litter – and she is only four years old.  This is the life of a puppy mill dog.”  (Excerpt from Tails Magazine, May 2012, reproduced with permission.)

Most people don’t want to believe it, but the truth is the cute puppies in pet stores come from puppy mills and the mothers are still there, suffering endlessly, forced to produce yet another litter.  In fact, recent undercover investigations by the HSUS revealed that 99% of puppies for sale in pet stores come from puppy mills. Same goes for websites that sell puppies.  If they’re selling puppies on-line to just anyone and willing to ship that puppy, or refuse to show you where the puppy was born and raised, that’s a puppy mill.  No responsible breeder would do that.  Yet many consumers are hooked by the irresistible photos of adorable puppies and are willing to live in denial, even convincing themselves that at least they “saved” the puppy from the mill.  The truth is your purchase perpetuates the cruelty.

Puppy mills are inhumane, commercial puppy-breeding ‘factories’ that churn out puppies for profit.  They sell their “product” in pet stores, on-line, at flea markets and through classified ads, and they are a multi-billion dollar industry in the US.  The life of adult mill breeding dogs is one of intense suffering – treated like property, not living beings.  Their health and welfare are disregarded to maintain a low overhead and maximize profit.  Investigations of puppy mills by the USDA reveal the gruesome truth – dogs sharing a cramped cage with the decomposing bodies of dead dogs; dogs left untreated with legs severed by the wire flooring of their cage; dogs with rotting jaws from malnutrition and lack of medical care; dogs suffering with ulcerated eyes, covered in feces and urine from dogs in the wire cages above them; no heat, air conditioning, or light – and the list goes on. There are an estimated 800,000 adult breeding dogs suffering on the “production lines” of puppy mills today.

Though cruel and inhumane, the truth is that puppy mills are legal.  They are regulated by the USDA, however the standards set forth are not meant to ensure a good life for dogs; they are only meant to impose bare minimum of care requirements, which most of us would hardly consider humane. The minimum space allowed a breeding dog, by law, is 6 inches longer than the dog on all sides, with no requirement of ever being allowed out of the cage, for life.

The truth is, your purchase is what keeps puppy mills in business. As long as there is consumer demand, puppy mills will keep supplying. In fact, every seven days, an estimated 40,000 puppies will be born in mills across America.  That’s more than 2 million puppies a year – in a nation where over 4 million dogs are euthanized in shelters annually.

The secret’s out.  Right now, hundreds of thousands of adult dogs are suffering on the “production lines” in America’s puppy mills.  When you buy a puppy from a pet store or website you are supporting puppy mills.

You can help end the suffering (click here)

Vetco Is A Very Affordable Way To Vet Your Animals......

If you take your pet to Petco they offer very reasonable vaccination days. This is a wonderful service to pet owners and is a great way to keep the cost down. Remember though you should take your dog or cat yearly to your vet to do a wellness exam. Call the closest Petco by you and see what their schedule is. They offer rabies vaccines, microchips, heart worm testing, flea,Tick & Heartworm prevention and deworming as well as all the vaccinations an animal needs. It is a fabulous way to vaccinate your pet at a reduced rate. 

Don't forget: All year long your dogs should be on a heart worm prevention and flea and tick prevention.

This My Friends Is How Real Men Act Towards Animals ....

[INCREÍBLE VÍDEO] Rescate aéreo de un perro atrapadoNo te pierdas este increíble vídeo donde bomberos de la unidad de rescate aéreo de Los Ángeles rescatan a un perro que estaba atrapado tras varios días lluvias torrenciales.Compártelo para mostrar al mundo que la solidaridad no entiende de especies. Gestos que cambian el mundo.• Síguenos en www.Facebook.com/IgualdadAnimal
Posted by Igualdad Animal / Animal Equality on Sunday, June 30, 2013

National Puppy Mill Project Needs Your Help ......Mark Your Calendars for September 27

ACTION ALERT: 2015 National Puppy Mill Awareness Day (PMAD) êê MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND SAVE THE DATE! êê
Sunday, September 27, 2015 is National Puppy Mill Awareness Day
Help end puppy mills and their cruelty—hold a PMAD in your city/town! There are many ways you can raise awareness—find one that works for you! Here are a few ideas:

• If you already know of an event taking place in your town that day see if you can join forces.
  
• Hold a pet store protest.
  
• Plan a pet walk.
  
• Lead a “March”.
  
• Ask pet-friendly businesses in your town to hold a PMAD promotion
  offering discounts.
  
• Hold an adoption event with a rescue.
  
• Hold an educational event at a local library.
  
• Organize a walk.
  Any event will work, large or small. Raising awareness is the point! Here is how to start planning your event!
  ê Are there any related events already scheduled this day that could tie in to or incorporate Puppy Mill Awareness Day? An adoption event, peaceful protest, dog festival, dog walk, etc. Check local ordinances to see if permits are needed for the additional large groups that will attend.
  ê Hold a peaceful protest in front of a pet store that sells puppies. Find out what the laws are regarding where you can be in proximity to the store (contact your local law enforcement).

ê Hold the event in a city park or other public space nearby which is easily accessible by the public and with ample parking (you may need an event permit; check with your local Park/Recreation District). Do you know of a local band or entertainer that would donate their time and talent to the event? Honor a local leader or organization for their support of animal welfare and consumer protection. Anything that will attract positive public and media attention to the cause!
ê Lead a march/walk down a main street (in Chicago, we walk down Michigan Avenue), or from a pet store to a park. Invite rescue groups and shelters to participate, as well as veterinarians, vet hospitals/emergency clinics/specialty clinics. You may need a permit and will need to alert your local police department to see if you need a police escort or additional police presence, and possibly alert business owners along the route. Have posters and signs made for the event to pass out to your team to carry and be sure to use our National logo for your posters and put your town on it (contact NPMP for branding/logo information). Encourage participants to make and bring their own signs as well.
Ask some of the pet-friendly businesses in the area to offer a special PMAD discount/promotion. Might they offer to donate water and snacks (health bars, cookies, healthy dog treats, etc.) to participants for after the walk? Will they sponsor the walk by providing goods/services in exchange for free advertising/exposure?
Invite a local celebrity/well-known animal welfare advocate to emcee the march/walk. Or secure a legislator that supports our mission and have them do a short speech to kick off the march/walk. Contact your Mayor, Village President, Councilman, Senator, etc.
ê Hold an adoption event with local rescue groups and shelters. Have them bring adoptable dogs and rescued puppy mill dogs (for their safety, only those that are well-behaved and used to crowds).
ê Hold an educational event to share the message. Have a local veterinarian give out information on pet care, and speak about the common medical issues seen in puppy mill/pet store puppies.

ê Organize a pet walk. Encourage people to bring their dogs, children, and friends (but only those that are well-behaved and used to crowds— this applies to all three—we do not want any negative publicity) to all activities.
To help promote your event, have t-shirts printed with the NPMP logo + ‘Puppy Mill Awareness Day 2015 (your city/town)’ on the front. Print ‘#WipeOutPuppyMills’ on the back. You can add your own PMAD logo and sponsor logos if you would like. Contact us for the NPMP logo or suggestions.
Don’t forget to take lots of pictures!
BE CREATIVE! Again, any event, large or small, dedicated to raising awareness of the existence of puppy mills, is the goal.
Be sure to let National Puppy Mill Project know what you will be doing so we can add you to our press and social media campaigns.
How to ‘get the word out’ about your event:
Identify free/low cost advertising outlets: local radio stations, local cable TV channels, college radio stations, etc.
Have posters, flyers and postcards printed (ask for a non-profit discount or sponsorship opportunity) and place them around the city to promote your event. Think community bulletin boards in local coffee shops/restaurants, college campus student centers, public kiosks, etc. Be sure to use our National logo for your printed material and put your town on it (contact NPMP for branding/logo information).
Hold a news conference with elected officials to raise public awareness of the existence of puppy mills and their connection to pet stores selling puppies and the problem of pet overpopulation.
Invite elected officials to visit a local rescue or shelter to showcase the wide variety of pets available for adoption and to promote pet adoption over ‘shopping’.

Ask your mayor or other elected official to send a letter/memorandum to all city employees about Puppy Mill Awareness Day. Ask your local leadership to issue a proclamation recognizing Puppy Mill Awareness Day.
Submit an editorial or letter to the local newspaper.
Encourage your newspaper or schools to sponsor essay or other contests.
Contact the press and let them know about the event. We can help you write a press release about your event to send to local media outlets.
Please share your ideas with others! Together, our voices WILL be heard and puppy mill cruelty WILL end!
Have you already scheduled your Puppy Mill Awareness Day event? That’s great! Please let us know the date, time and location and we will include it in National Puppy Mill Project’s advertising, press releases, social media campaign, website, etc.
Questions? Suggestions? Successes? Challenges? Contact other NPMP members in your area or e-mail info@nationalpuppymillproject.org.
THANK YOU! 

Don't Ever List Your Pet For Free Anywhere .....

FUR & FEATHER ANIMAL SANCTUARY 

ALWAYS CHARGE A RE-HOMING FEE, CONTACT A RESCUE THAT WILL DO A HOME CHECK FOR YOU AS WELL AS HAVE THE PERSON APPLY WITH AN APPLICATION - MOST RESCUES WILL ASSIST YOU - BUT NEVER DEVALUE YOUR PET WITH THE WORD "FREE" - THEY ARE WORTH SO MUCH MOR

Whose Really The Boss ?

Petland Store In Lakeland Permanently Closes .....

Petland Store in Lakeland Permanently Closes Following Arrest of Owner

A small printed sign informs customers that Petland is closed. The store has permanently been shuttered following the arrest of its owner, Wendy Carrier. She was arrested Wednesday on charges involving fraudulent pet certificates. Her husband, Christopher Carrier, a veterinarian with Care Animal Clinic in Lakeland, was arrested on similar charges.

Gary White / The Ledger

By Gary White
THE LEDGER

Published: Friday, June 5, 2015 at 12:26 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, June 5, 2015 at 12:26 p.m.

LAKELAND ­| The Petland store in Lakeland Square mall has permanently closed following the arrest of its owner.

A metal grate blocked entrance to the store Friday morning, and a small printed sign read, "CLOSED TODAY. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE." Christopher Beth, a business consultant for the chain, supervised a few employees inside the darkened store in removing merchandise and preparing to remove the animals still at the store.

A Petland spokeswoman says it is permanently closed.

Wendy Carrier, the store's owner, was arrested Wednesday on charges involving fraudulent pet certificates. Her husband, Christopher Carrier, a veterinarian with Care Animal Clinic in Lakeland, was arrested on similar charges.

What Is Your Motivation ???

The problem with Puppy Millers and People who have spend their life profitting off animals with little to no regard for the simplest of pleasures for these animals they are breeding is they try to intimidate and scare everyone who are CONCERNED about these poor animals.  It would serve them well to spend positive energy trying to help make the life of animals in their facilities better and loving....... or at the very least not a miserable existence. So when anyone calls them out in the slightest way rather than doing a bit of inventory on their lives they resort to bullying and intimidation thinking this will solve the problem. Sadly they don't realize this only fuels the fire of those who have nothing to gain from their passion of helping animals who don't have a voice. When you look at the motivation behind actions of people lets see:

Motivation of a Puppy Miller:  $$$$$$$$
Motivation of a animal lover: Better treatment of animals in our world with no self serving motivation other than this.

Given the fact that motivation is what drives us God help the individuals who spend their lives full of such negative, fear based actions rather than actions based in love. It would serve many well who have embedded in the PUPPY MILL INDUSTRY that went astray many years ago to stop being so defensive and paranoid but rather look at ways you could help your industry. Many industries have had to do this and their image was salvage because of their prompt constructive actions. Obsessing over blogs and organizations who try to shed a light on this issue isn't the answer and is getting them nowhere. I suggest WEED OUT the bad seeds and start trying to clean out the puppy mills and people will respect you so much more. People Love Their Pets and NOW people from every walk of life are aware of puppy mills. Very influential people now are on this bandwagon  and won't back down so the time has come to WEED OUT THE PUPPY MILLERS for the sake of animals suffering so much. 

Please Get Your Dogs Spayed & Neutered.......

Dogs Need TO Be Loved and Spoiled ....

You Can Help By Your Signature .......

Right now in China, dogs are being rounded up and stuffed into cages -- crammed so tightly you can see tufts of hair and noses and paws bulging between the rusty bars.

From here the suffering begins to multiply as they are transported long distances, bound for the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in southern China on June 22.

For those who actually survive the suffocating journey, horror awaits. The dogs continue their caged confinement without food or water, until they are subjected to being beaten, slaughtered while conscious and, ultimately, eaten.

Most Chinese citizens reject this practice, and we are committed to supporting them in changing their laws. Pressure from around the world by people like you can make a difference. In fact, just a few years ago, a similar event in China was shut down due to bad publicity.

Tell Chinese officials to end the Yulin Dog Meat Festival»

This Is What Can Happen When You Rope Tie Your Dog Outside .....

This poor dog was saved by Hope Rescues and is getting much needed medical attention. Any donations towards her bill would be greatly appreciated and very much needed. It is a tax deduction as well.

http://hoperescues.com/

WARNING GRAPHIC PICTURES: This is the 9 month old dog that was rescued today with a serious injury to her neck in Alton. She is at our vet now in surgery to close the deep gash in her neck.

Using a rope as a collar is dangerous to your dog and in the state of Illinois a crime, the police are involved and this is being treated as such.

Sadly this is what people in rescue see way too often. Please don't adopt or buy a dog unless you are ready for the lifetime commitment and love of these precious innocent creatures who just want to love you !!!

Can't Believe This Women Got Off of Animal Abuse........

Courtesy of Stray Rescue

Randy Grim, center, holding up a photo of a different dog who suffered from torture.

For Randy Grim, founder of the Stray Rescue of St. Louis, the burning death of a terrier mix named Brownie was "one of the most inhumane, cruel acts I've ever heard of." 

That's the way Grim put it to Daily RFT back in July 2013, two weeks before police arrested a woman named Adrienne Martin. According to a probable cause statement, Martin admitted responsibility for dousing the chained-up dog with gasoline and setting him aflame. A witness stated he saw Martin holding a lighter as the helpless animal burned. Prosecutors charged the 35-year-old St. Louis woman with two counts of felony animal abuse. 

It was exactly the kind the case Grim had envisioned pursuing with the Animal Cruelty Task Force, a city-sanctioned partnership between Stray Rescue, police, the circuit attorney's office and the health department. This was how to hold animal abusers accountable. 

"This demonstrates again that we are serious about this," Mayor Francis Slay said in a press release touting the arrest. "Our Animal Cruelty Task Force will continue to catch and arrest criminals who torture or hurt animals."

Now, nearly two years after Brownie's death, the charges are being dropped.

Adrienne Martin.

On Monday, the office of Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce announced there were "issues securing testimony" against Martin -- even as Joyce vowed to try to resurrect the case.

"The statute of limitations has not run out and the option of refiling the case remains open," Joyce said in a statement. "Despite prosecutors' belief in a defendant's guilt with any crime committed in our city, we must have the evidence and cooperation of witnesses to testify in court for prosecutors to seek justice."

See also: Stray Rescue: Brownie The Dog Clinging to Life After Suspect Badly Burns Chained Up Animal

It's a shocking development in a case that appeared, at least initially, to be a slam dunk for prosecutors. Along with Martin's apparent confession, her Facebook posts seemed to indicate that she was a sickeningly unrepentant animal abuser.

On July 9, 2013, the day before Brownie was rescued, Martin posted: "I'm on killa mode .....#killdogs.com.....today." The next day, she wrote: "I mean what I say and I say what I mean....#alldogsdontgoheaven.com"

via strayrescue.org

Brownie the dog was found barely alive with burns covering most of his body.

But the case quickly grew complicated. Despite Martin's apparent confession, her lawyer, Philip Dennis, insisted his client could not have burned Brownie because she was at the Harlem Tap Room that night and had witnesses to prove it. As for the Facebook posts, Dennis said she was merely venting because Brownie had recently bitten her son. 

"There were quite a few people, in fact, who had been hurt by this dog," Dennis said a month after Martin's arrest. "Brownie was not a very friendly animal."

Things got even messier during the first court hearings. Grim claimed that Martin's family and other supporters made harassing calls to Stray Rescue and had disrupted a vigil his group held for the slain dog. 

See also: Adrienne Martin, Accused Dog Killer, in Court: Family Intimidating, Harassing Stray Rescue?

Since Martin's high-profile arrest, other cases of animal abuse -- including another dog burned dead -- have been adjudicated with guilty verdicts and even prison sentences. 

In Brownie's case, however, justice has proven more elusive. 

"His case is unique...in terms of the way he was killed," Grim said after Martin's bond reduction hearing. "You don't even have to be an animal lover to go, 'Dear God, that's sick.'"

Follow Danny Wicentowski on Twitter at @D_Towski. E-mail the author at Danny.Wicentowski@RiverfrontTimes.com

Pet Owner Says Dog Died After Being Left In Dying Cage Too Long During Petco Grooming Visit

Once Again Good Prevails In Puppy Mill Issue ......

VICTORY! Cook County, IL pet stores are still not allowed to sell puppies produced in inhumane, commercial dog breeding facilities. The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois dismissed an attempt by the puppy mill industry to strike down the ordinance passed by Cook County Commissioners last year. This victory sends a strong signal to all industries that exploit puppies for profit.

Wake Up Puppy Millers .... The Time To Keep Treating Dogs Horrible Is OVER !!! Find God & A New Industry Cause Someday You Will Have To Look Your Maker In The Eyes & Try To Justify How You Could Be So Cruel !!!

People Do Care About Animal Rights Says Gallop Poll .....

Story Highlights

• A third of Americans want animals to have same rights as people
• Support for this view up from 25% in 2008
• Majority, 62%, say animals deserve "some protection"

In U.S., More Say Animals Should Have Same Rights as People

by Rebecca Riffkin

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Almost a third of Americans, 32%, believe animals should be given the same rights as people, while 62% say they deserve some protection but can still be used for the benefit of humans. The strong animal rights view is up from 2008 when 25% thought animals' rights should be on par with humans'.

Very few Americans, 3%, believe animals require little protection from harm and exploitation "since they are just animals." But, as noted, a modestly increasing minority now believe animals should have the same protection from harm and exploitation as people. Gallup first asked Americans about the rights of animals in 2003 and repeated the question in 2008 and again in the latest May 6-10, 2015, poll.

The percentage of Americans who support the idea that animals' rights should be equal to those of humans increased across all major U.S. demographic groups. Women remain more likely to support this view than men do, but support among both groups has increased by a similar amount since 2008. Similarly, Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents are more supportive of this view than Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are, but both groups have seen an increase from the last time Gallup asked them. There continues to be little difference between younger and older Americans.

Most Concern for Treatment of Animals in Circuses, Sports, Research

To further discern Americans' feelings about animal rights, for the first time, Gallup asked Americans about their level of concern for the treatment of animals in various settings. The percentage saying they are "very" concerned ranges from 33% for animals used in research to 21% for animals in the zoo. When combined with those "somewhat" concerned about each, Americans are most concerned about animals in the circus, animals used in competitive animal sports or contests and animals used in research, with just over two-thirds expressing concern about each. They are least concerned about the treatment of household pets, with 46% saying they are very or somewhat concerned.

Overall, Americans are a bit less concerned about the treatment of marine animals in amusement parks and aquariums (62% are very/somewhat concerned) and animals in the zoo (57%) than about the treatment of circus animals.

The level of concern for marine animals is especially intriguing after documentaries such as Blackfish claimed to expose the truth about the treatment and status of animals in captivity. After the release of Blackfish, the stock price of SeaWorld dropped substantially, and some lawmakers have discussed banning the use of orcas in shows.

And despite increasing attention focused on the treatment of chickens, cows and other animals mainly used for human food -- as exposed in the 2008 documentary Food, Inc. -- Americans show relatively less concern for how these animals are treated, with 54% at least somewhat concerned, including 26% very concerned.

While the fewest Americans are concerned about the treatment of household pets, still close to half are very or somewhat concerned. This may be prompted by publicity aimed at stopping cruelty toward pets, including a long-running, poignant commercial for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) showing abused and neglected dogs and cats.

Bottom Line

Animal rights have been top of mind for Americans in recent years because of an increasing number of films and news stories depicting the poor treatment of animals. Congress requested a review of a government-funded animal research lab in late 2014, and cosmetics testing on animals was banned in the European Union in 2013. Ringling Brothers recently announced that it will retire its circus elephants by 2018, a decision that comes after years of allegations of animal abuse and complaints that circus acts are disrespectful to animals. Organized segments of the American public are very vocal about protecting animal rights, with groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) even creating advertisements for prime-time events such as the Super Bowl.

Traditionally, the Bible gives humans domain over animals, and specifies that animals don't have souls -- but also warns that righteous men should have regard for the lives of their animals, a view that could still influence religious Americans.

While it is not clear which, if any, of these factors have influenced public opinion, it is clear that Americans have become more likely to believe that animals should have the same rights and protections as people, though this still remains the minority viewpoint.

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted May 6-10, 2015, on the Gallup U.S. Daily survey, with a random sample of 1,024 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the sample of 497 national adults who were asked about the protection of animals, the margin of sampling error is ±5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the sample of 527 national adults who were asked about their concern for animals in various settings, the margin of sampling error is ±5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.

Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 50% cellphone respondents and 50% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods.

View complete question responses and trends.

Learn more about how Gallup Poll Social Series works.

Humane Nation Reports: Ag-Gag Vetoed! Another Wonderful Victory For Animals !!!

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory today vetoed a dangerous ag-gag bill that would have punished whistleblowers who report abuse at any workplace in the state, including factory farms, nursing homes, and day care centers.  “I won’t discourage employees from reporting illegal activities, which is why I vetoed HB 405,” the governor tweeted to his followers.

The bill’s defeat is the culmination of a major boots-on-the-ground campaign by The HSUS, including television ads that called on the governor to veto the bill. The AARP, ASPCA, Mercy for Animals, Compassion Over Killing, The Humane League, and other groups weighed in with their own memberships, and the governor’s office heard from so many North Carolina constituents who don’t want cruelty to be hidden from the public.

The Carolina Farm Stewardship Association delivered a letter from 47 North Carolina-based farmers to the governor. The News & Observer, Charlotte Observer, Fayetteville Observer, and News & Record all editorialized emphatically in favor of a veto.

A recent survey showed that 74 percent of North Carolinians support undercover investigations of animal abuse and food safety hazards, which this bill would have prevented. More than 130,000 people signed a petition urging Gov. McCrory to veto, and thousands of you tweeted, posted, and called.

A bevy of celebrities added their voices to a call for a veto, including North Carolina’s own Bellamy Young and  Andie MacDowell, as well as Kesha, Martha Stewart, Eric McCormack, Nikki Reed, Katherine Schwarzenegger, and more.

The factory farming industry does not want the public to see how animals are confined for their entire lives in small cages, and treated in such miserable ways.  They are lobbying to shield their activities from public view and from public scrutiny, and your HSUS is fighting back to pull back the curtain.

We applaud Gov. McCrory for standing up for the principles of promoting transparency and rooting out cruelty, whether to animals or to veterans or to senior citizens. We hope the North Carolina legislature will respect the veto and not attempt an override. Thanks to all of you who contacted the governor’s office and stood with us in this fight – you made a difference.

One Green Planet Reports: How Buying "teacup" & Hypoallergenic Dogs Contributes To Puppy Mills

Sixty million people suffer from asthma or allergies and allergies are the third most common chronic disease among children, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. It’s understandable that a family thinking about getting a puppy would be concerned about the potential reaction in children or other family members who have allergies. But too many parents think that buying a hypoallergenic puppy is the panacea. Responsible breeders and humane organizations alike are concerned about the hype.

Because allergies are different for every person, “hypoallergenic” or “nonallergenic” dogs don’t necessarily exist. All dogs can carry outside allergens inside on their coats and a breed that can be tolerated by one individual may not have the same effect on another.

The Myth of Hypoallergenic

A study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that“there is no evidence for the classification of certain dog breeds being hypoallergenic.” Many national breed clubs agree and dislike seeing dogs deliberately cross-bred just to follow a trend. The Labradoodle was one of the first hybrid dogs marketed to the public as hypoallergenic, presumably because poodles do not shed, but instead have hair that must be trimmed. The Labradoodle was soon followed by Yorki-poos, Malti-poos and almost any other breed crossed with a poodle. But the parent clubs for both poodles and many other breeds agree that the hype is a problem.

The Poodle Club of America asserts that so-called designer mixed breeds are a marketing ploy for irresponsible breeders to sell puppies for highly inflated prices. Responsible breeders do not practice breeding purebreds together to produce “designer dogs.” The Labrador Retriever Club even states on its website that “a Labradoodle is nothing more than an expensive crossbred. Because the genetic makeup is diverse from the Poodle genes and the Labrador genes, the resultant first generation offspring is a complete genetic gamble … Indeed Labradoodles do shed.”

Why then do so many puppy-selling websites offer “hypoallergenic” puppies? Puppy mills are irresponsible dog breeding operations that churn out large numbers of puppies with little regard to their health or quality. Due to their focus on profit over welfare, puppy mills are eager to cash in on any popular breed or trend – such as “designer” mixes and consumer desires for tinier and tinier pups.

What About Teacups?

Another trend that grates on the nerves of responsible breeders is the interest in “pocket,” “micro” or “teacup” varieties of certain breeds. Teacup puppies are deliberately bred to be much tinier than the norm, which often results in frail and unhealthy puppies. According to The Yorkshire Terrier Club of America’s website, the club’s code of ethics “precludes the use of the words ‘teacup,’ ‘tiny specialists,’ ‘doll faces,’ or similar terminology by its members, and for good reason. All breeders may occasionally have an unusually small Yorkie, though no responsible breeder breeds for this trait.” The club also confirms that tiny dogs “are extremely susceptible to both hereditary and non-hereditary health problems, including birth defects that may go undetected for a long time.”

The Chihuahua Club of America (COAA) agrees, adding that micro-size dogs are not any more valuable than standard size Chihuahuas, which are already quite small. “Teacup, Pocket Size, Tiny Toy, Miniature or Standard – are just a few of the many tags and labels that have been attached to this breed over the years,” according to the club’s website. “The CCOA is concerned that these terms may be used to entice prospective buyers into thinking that puppies described in this way are of greater monetary value. They are not, and the use of these terms is incorrect and misleading.”

Irresponsible breeders “risk the overall health and wonderful distinguishing breed characteristics that responsible breeders have worked long and hard to preserve” when they breed solely for size, according to the American Shih Tzu Club. The club’s website goes on to state that “the same is true of ‘breeders’ who deliberately cross-breed two different AKC-recognized breeds to create what they call ‘designer dogs.’”

The Better Option

There are many topics that responsible breeders and humane organizations don’t always agree on, but this is one issue upon which both groups concur. Allergy-prone families who are seeking a puppy should visit a shelter or a responsible breeder in-person and interact with both puppies and adult dogs. But above all, don’t be swayed by marketing hype into buying an overpriced puppy from a puppy mill. Responsible breeders don’t need marketing hype to sell dogs.

Image source: Jonathan Silverberg/Flickr

H.S.U.S. Reports Harvard Medical School Closes Primate Research Center.....

May 29, 2015

Harvard Medical School Closes Primate Research Center

The Harvard Medical School’s New England Primate Research Center is scheduled to close on May 31. The university announced the decision to close the center two years ago, citing funding issues and a shift in priorities. Kathleen Conlee, vice president of animal research issues at The Humane Society of the United States is issuing the following statement:

“We are pleased to see Harvard University divest itself of its primate center. We applaud its support and investment in the development of innovative research that doesn’t involve harming animals, such as the on-a-chip work at the Wyss Institute. These organs-on-chips are microchips lined by human cells that could revolutionize drug testing and development. Such research will ultimately be more effective, less costly and is where the future lies. We hope other institutions will follow suit. The replacement of primates in research should be an urgent priority, and there should be a critical analysis of the use of primates in the U.S., as was done for chimpanzees.”

In the meantime, improvements must be made to the living conditions for primates used in research at other facilities. In April, The HSUS submitted a petition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture urging improved conditions for primates in laboratories and other regulated facilities.

In 2013, when Harvard announced the primate center closure, the facility housed approximately 2,000 monkeys. The center was previously cited for numerous Animal Welfare Act violations since June 2010 that resulted in the death of four primates and compromised the welfare of numerous other animals. The string of violations led the USDA to open an investigation. With the closure of Harvard’s primate center, there are seven National Primate Research Centers supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Media Contact: Samantha Miller 301-258-1466; smiller@humanesociety.org