Kasey’s Cure

10 Ways You Can Help Fight Puppy Mills

1. Do Not Buy Your Puppy From a Pet Store
That puppy who charmed you through the pet shop window has most likely come from a large-scale, substandard commercial breeding facility, commonly known as a puppy mill. In these facilities, parent dogs are caged and bred as often as possible, and give birth to puppies who could have costly medical problems you might not become aware of until after you bring your new pet home.

2. Make Adoption Your First Option
If you’re looking to make a puppy part of your family, check your local shelters first. Not only will you be saving a life, but you will ensure that your money is not going to support a puppy mill. There are many dogs waiting for homes in shelters all across the country―and an estimated one in four is a purebred! Your second option is breed rescue. If your heart is set on a specific breed you haven’t been able to find in a shelter, you can do an Internet search for a breed-specific rescue organization.

3. Know How to Recognize a Responsible Breeder
If you’ve exhausted your options for adopting and are choosing to buy from a breeder, remember that responsible breeders have their dogs’ interests in mind. They are not simply interested in making a sale, but in placing their pups in good homes. A responsible breeder should screen you as thoroughly as you screen them!

4. See Where Your Puppy Was Born and Bred
One sign that you are speaking to an unscrupulous breeder is that they will not let you see the facility in which your puppy was born. Always ask to see the breeding premises and to meet both parents (or at least the mother) of the puppy you want to take home. You should also ask for an adoption contract that explains―in terms you understand―the breeder’s responsibilities, health guarantee and return policy.

5. Internet Buyers, Beware!
Buying a puppy from the Internet is as risky as buying from a pet store. If you buy a puppy based on a picture and a phone call, you have no way of seeing the puppy’s breeding premises or meeting his parents. And those who sell animals on the Internet are not held to the Animal Welfare Act regulations―and so are not inspected by the USDA.

6. Share Your Puppy Mill Story
If you have—or think you have—purchased a puppy-mill puppy, please tell us your story. Every bit of evidence gives us more power to get legislation passed that will ban puppy mills.

7. Speak Out!
Inform your state and federal legislators that you are disturbed by the inhumane treatment of dogs in puppy mills, and would like to see legislation passed that ensures that all animals bred to be pets are raised in healthy conditions.

8. Tell Your Friends
If someone you know is planning on buying a puppy, let them know that there are perfectly healthy dogs in shelters waiting to be adopted.

9. Think Globally
Have a webpage, a MySpace page or a blog? Use these powerful tools to inform people about puppy mill cruelty.

10. Act Locally!
When people are looking to buy or adopt a pet, they will often ask the advice of their veterinarian, groomer or pet supply store. Download and print our flyers and ask to leave them in the offices of your local practitioners.

Thanks to the Virginia legislature’s strong stance against animal fighting, the Commonwealth is in the process of establishing one of the nation’s most effective laws to eradicate cockfighting and dogfighting.

H.B. 656 was introduced by House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) and passed today by a vote of 93 to 2. A companion bill, S.B. 592, was introduced by Sen. Tommy Norment (R-Williamsburg) and passed unanimously last week.

The legislation will toughen Virginia’s animal fighting penalties by making organized cockfighting a Class 6 felony, attendance at an animal fight a Class 1 misdemeanor, and allowing a minor to attend or participate in an animal fight a Class 1 misdemeanor.

The House of Delegates took a powerful stance against animal fighting and made it clear that Virginia will no longer be a haven for dogfighters and cockfighters.

You hear something on the news almost every day about dog attacks. The news is usually horrifying, the injuries unthinkable and the result inevitable – putting the dog who attacked down.

I understand the reaction – I myself am not a huge pit bull fan, but is there a better answer? Is it passing new laws? Enforcing new breeding standards? What can be done?

About 120 cities nationwide have passed breed-specific legislation targeting certain dogs like pit bulls or Rottweilers.

Most people who have heard of these laws assume they only apply to pit-bull types of dogs. But in some states, the law includes German shepherds and other guard dog breeds.

In fact, 26 different breeds, including golden retrievers, chow chows, shar-peis are now banned or subject to special restrictions somewhere in the U.S. These laws require anything from simple spay/neuter to outright confiscation and execution.

Have these laws gone too far in reaction to dog attacks? Is this the answer? Are we once again not holding the owner to a certain level of responsibility here?

Do you know someone who wants to buy a puppy for Christmas? Do them a favor and have them read this post before they head to the pet store or read through the classified ads.

Winter is a difficult time to house train a puppy and with all of the commotion around the holidays not the best time to bring a new member of the family home. Puppies are a lot of work — they need constant care. They pee, they poop, they chew, break things, throw up and cry — just like babies do.

Animal shelters report a sharp increase in unwanted pets just after Christmas. This is because the owners underestimated the time and energy it takes to train a puppy. They fall in love with the idea of a sweet bundle of fur wearing a big red bow, but are unprepared for the constant care and supervision that a puppy requires.

Bringing a puppy home for Christmas is a major decision that should involve the entire family making sure that everyone understands the long term commitment involved.

If hearing this still does not dissuade you and you are certain you are up to the challenge, then consider adopting from a shelter rather than through a breeder or pet shop. For every puppy bought at the store, there is another one just like him at the pound, just months older – potty trained and ready to be adopted.

Some pet owners want a certain breed and cannot find that dog at the shelter. I totally understand — personally I am crazy about Westies. No problem — www.petfinder.com can help you find even the rarest of breeds. The website tells individual stories about the pets, like where they came from and why they ended up in foster homes or at a shelter. Foster care-givers know the personality of the animal and how he interacts with others, including children. You can even go and meet the dog with your other pets or your children to see how they all get along.

So this holiday season, if you just cannot wait until the Spring to bring a puppy home then I hope you will consider visiting you local animal shelter or going online to petfinder.com and a bring a rescued dog or cat home.

An adopted pet is a gift that keeps on giving, with gratitude, loyalty and love for years to come.

Happy Holidays!

Do you have room in your home and heart to adopt sweet George? He is a gentle gray, tabby kitten found on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. We have had him neutered and he has had all of his shots.

If you or someone you know is interested in adopting George, please email me. kl

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The Humane Society of the United States is warning shoppers to be on the lookout for real fur described as faux when shopping at department stores and online retailers this holiday season.

Following up on last winter’s HSUS investigation that uncovered a faux fur scandal in the retail and apparel industries, HSUS discovered again this winter that many leading retailers — including Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor, Dillard’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Yoox.com — have not addressed this consumer deception.

Certain jackets sold by these companies with the brand names Burberry, Andrew Marc, Marc New York, Preston & York, Aqua, Ramosport and Adam+Eve were found to be falsely advertised or mislabeled as faux fur or “ecological fur” when in fact they are trimmed with real animal fur.

SaksFifthAvenue.com Burberry “faux” rabbit
Neiman Marcus Andrew Marc “polyester” raccoon and dog
Neiman Marcus.com Adam+Eve “Faux” rabbit
Lord & Taylor Marc New York “polyester” raccoon dog and rabbit
Dillards.com Preston & York “Faux” raccoon
Yoox.com Ramosport “Ecological fur” raccoon and dog

Falsely advertising or mislabeling a real fur product is a violation of the federal Fur Products Labeling Act, which the Federal Trade Commission is empowered to enforce by seizure of false or deceptively advertised or labeled garments, the initiation of proceedings for injunctive relief, and the imposition of monetary penalties, which can range up to $5,000 per violation.

The violations documented by HSUS include a Burberry brand jacket advertised online by Saks Fifth Avenue as “faux.” The jacket’s label does not indicate that it contains fur, but laboratory tests reveal that it is trimmed with rabbit fur. The Fur Products Labeling Act currently requires the labeling of fur apparel only if the garments contains more than $150 worth of fur.

Because of this loophole, consumers don’t even realize they’ve been duped into buying real fur — so be on the lookout this holiday season when buying any garment labeled “faux” — it may be the real thing

A resent analysis of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ data from the first three years of bear hunting in the state, reveals that nearly one in every five bears killed by trophy hunters has been a cub.

Most states that allow bear hunting—including neighboring Virginia and West Virginia—prohibit the hunting of cubs, but Maryland’s bear hunt has taken cubs as small as 54 pounds and as young as a half-year old.

I can think of no good reason to shoot bears for their heads or their hides. And my own home state is adding insult to injury by killing young, dependent animals who have yet to develop any skills to evade a hunter,

In Maryland’s first three bear hunts after a half-century of protection, a staggering 18 cubs were killed – three in 2004, four in 2005, and 11 in 2006 – out of 101 bears taken by trophy hunters. Maryland’s 2007 black bear hunt ended last month with the death of 51 bears - data from this hunt has not yet been released.
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179 dogs rescued from puppy mill in Virginia

There were pugs and pomeranians, westies, scotties, beagles, chihuahuas, poodles, shih tzus, cocker spaniels, and dachshunds…to name a few. Some were pregnant females who had clearly been cruelly over-bred for years and years.

In all, there were 179 dogs and puppies who had never been allowed to play on the grass or be held. These were the animals that Best Friends and local animal groups in Virginia rescued from a dilapidated puppy mill late in the night of Friday, October 12, and into dawn the next day.

The puppy mill in question was operating under medieval conditions—kerosene lamps, no electricity, small confinement cages, and no running water. In March of this year, it caught fire and, tragically, nearly 200 dogs and puppies lost their lives.

The puppy mill owner wanted to rebuild, but Best Friends joined other rescue organizations and lobbied local officials for higher standards on puppy mill facilities. As a result, officials rejected the breeder’s bid to rebuild and stay in operation—and at least this one puppy mill was forced out of business.

By Sunday, all the dogs rescued from the puppy mill—and the three litters of puppies born during rescue operations—had been taken from Virginia to the Pets Alive facility in New York.

Best Friends staff veterinarians and behaviorists will be managing medical issues as well as advising an ongoing assessment of the impact of puppy mill confinement on the dogs’ physical and mental health. During that time, Best Friends will be coordinating with breed rescue organizations across the nation to find forever homes for all the Virginia rescue dogs. A few of the dogs- in particular older dogs whose health has been too compromised by years of forced breeding- will return to the Best Friends sanctuary in Utah for long-term medical care and a new life.

If you are interested in adopting one of these dogs rescued by Best Friends, please visit their website and follow the adoption links — www.bestfriends.org

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US House Resolution 503 would do just that — end both the slaughter of American horses for human consumption and prohibit their export for slaughter in other countries. This bill passed a crucial Senate committee on April 25, 2007 but now it goes to the US House of Representatives where its future is less certain.

TAKE ACTION
Check to see if your U.S. Representative is already a cosponsor of H.R. 503 and if your two U.S. Senators are co-sponsors of S. 311. If so, please call and thank them. If not, please call them today to urge them to co-sponsor the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. You can reach your federal legislators by calling the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121

As you know, Kasey’s Cure has rescued a number of farm animals over the years — including 3 horses, 1 donkey, 10 chickens, 2 geese, 10 rabbits and 6 goats. Mostly of them came to us because either their former owners no longer had use for them or like the Perdue chickens they fell off a truck en route to slaughter.

I am not advocating that you turn your backyard into a sanctuary or become a vegan, but there are ways that you can limit the inhumane treatment and conditions that many farm animals face. Here are just a few easy suggestions:

1. LET MONEY TALK
As a consumer, you have a great source of power in your back pocket—your wallet. You can choose to buy foods that come from small farms where animals are raised in humane conditions. Buy foods with the Certified Humane Raised & Handled® label. Just about all of the meat that you find at Whole Foods is from animals raised in humane conditions. But still ask….

2. FIND OUT WHERE YOUR FOOD COMES FROM
Ask questions! Find out whether the products you buy come from a farm that uses intensive confinement practices, or a farm that allows the animals access to fresh air, exercise and good quality food. Always read labels. Does the product contain artificial growth hormones or genetically engineered ingredients?

3. EAT LOCALLY, THINK GLOBALLY
Support your local food suppliers. You can do this by joining a food co-op, buying food at green markets or farmer’s markets. There are a number of new recipe books that focus on local. fresh ingredients. Check out Amazon.com for more information.

4. GROW YOUR OWN GARDEN
Planting, growing and harvesting vegetables is an amazing experience. Because of the drought this year, my garden needed a lot of watering and the numbers of vegetables harvested was unimpressive. But gardening can instill a new knowledge and respect for the process of harvesting food. You don’t need a large plot of land — you can grow your own herbs in a few pots with soil in a sunny place.

5. THROW YOUR VIRTUAL WEIGHT AROUND
Have a website, MySpace page or blog? Get everyone you know on the Web to be conscious about what they’re eating. Let them know they have a choice to buy foods―without antibiotics or hormones―from farms that raise healthy animals in a humane environment.