FOR ALL THE ANIMALS - LIERRA\'S BLOG

PRISONERS FOR PROFIT: THE SCOOP ON PUPPY MILLS

Tue, 14 Jul 2015 22:50:24 GMT

COLORADO CITIZENS FOR CANINE WELFARE - (3CW)

A citizen's group working to end the puppy mill trade.

Photo found on yousign.org

When I was given the assignment to interview activists against puppy mills, I didn't know much at all about the issue. I contacted an organization in Arvada, Colorado, called Colorado Citizens For Canine Welfare (they go by 3CW) working to raise awareness about the horrendous conditions dogs are bred into when they come from puppy mills. I posed a list of questions that were answered by three people; Cheryl Saipe, President of the organization; Sharon Howard, VP; and Pat Young, Rally Chair.

QUESTION - When you first heard about puppy mills, what was your first impression and what made you decide to create an organization against puppy mills?

ANSWER
Thunderstruck was putting it mildly! We read about Lily, a mill dog rescue that started our search to learn just what a mill was. We researched undercover mill videos along with mill rescues. After watching the videos, sleep was beyond us for several days. We could not believe how horrid of lives these helpless creatures were forced to live. We could not believe the horrid conditions the parents of the puppies endure at the puppy mills. And all for profit, all for a market that had no idea of the secret industry behind puppies for sale in pet stores, over the Internet, roadside, flea markets and auctions. An unsuspecting public that had no idea of the industry they were supporting and an industry that worked very hard at keeping their secret. It is amazing that in 2014 this cruelty is still going on. We strongly feel there is a need to be part of the solution to End Puppy Mills and get laws passed to help the animals. Colorado Citizens for Canine Welfare started May 2011, but did not become a 501C3 until November 2012. . Several concerned citizens decided it was something very dear to our hearts and was needed. We need to BE the CHANGE and BE THEIR VOICES and END PUPPY MILLS.

QUESTION - What are some things you would advise the public to do to take a stand against puppy mills?

ANSWER ( In 3 parts )

The parent dogs at the puppy mills live their entire lives in a cage, no TLC, no grass upon their paws, no rubs behind their ears, no compassion at all. They are their just for profit and greed for the puppy millers. To take a stand against mills is actually a three pronged approach and we work on all three fronts. Keeping the money out of pet store owners, brokers and millers pockets has an impact on the mill business.

FIRST
Since this business is market driven, never, never buy from a pet store, over the Internet, newspapers or auctions. 99% of puppies in pet stores come from USDA licensed facilities-mills.

SECOND
Adopt first and foremost. This saves two lives-the one adopted and the one space has been created for from that adoption Go to shelters and rescues. Many shelters are kill shelters and many dogs lose their lives simply because there isn't enough space to keep them very long.

20-25% of dogs in shelters are purebreds. There are hundreds of dogs in breed specific rescues There are mill dog rescues that do an amazing job of saving mill dogs from a mill dog auctions or from being killed.

THIRD
The third thing the public can do is to take a stand. Call legislators or city council members, county commissioners or government organizations and state their opposition to how breeding dogs are treated. Start petitions when something happens and share the story. Talk to friends and family about this cruel business. Educating one can lead to a hundred in a short time. The movement will grow and legislators will have to pay attention. Changing laws and making mills and other breeders accountable for the cruelty perpetrated for profit is, ultimately, the only way to stop this.

FINAL NOTE
The last avenue to help stop mills would be a reputable breeder. Research the breeder before one buys! Never buy from a breeder that wants to meet you somewhere other than their home, doesn't want you to see the housing or how the dogs and puppies are socialized. Never buy from a breeder that doesn't have a contract that wants to know more about you than expected.

QUESTION - What are some of the things that puppy mills are doing wrong that
directly harm the dogs?

ANSWER

Puppy mills are in business for profit. Like big corporations, the bottom line is all that really matters. Therefore, these factory farms for puppies keep breeding dogs repeatedly in wire bottom cages 24/7/365, breeding every cycle, producing puppies until they no longer throw litters big enough to make their cost worth while. The dogs in puppy mills get minimal substandard care which is regulated by USDA.(shelter, water, food). Because of this the dogs are exposed to numerous health and behavioral conditions which are then passed on to their litters. They receive rare to no vet care and therefore live with rotting jaws, disease, blindness, deafness, genetically compromised, injuries, matted with their own feces (or feces from the cages above), urine burns, foot damage from the wire and a multitude of other conditions that anyone would find disgusting and unbelievable. (as one breeder said i an undercover video-"she is my favorite little girl-she doesn't need to walk to breed." Or an auctioneer saying: "This one's blind but she doesn't need to see to breed!" Nutritional food is rare, after all, the dogs are not kept very long and it's easy to replace them. Usually a breeding dog lasts 4-5 years before their bodies are worn out. They are replaced by one of their own puppies.

They never feel grass under their feet, a kind human touch, being held, or knowing what is feels like to smell or run. Their puppies are taken too early and placed in with other puppies, sick or healthy, in cages for transport to pet stores-by semi or van. The very creatures man has genetically overhauled to be companions, to work, to care for humans, to be our best friends, are bred and discarded like trash.

There are many sites to research for undercover investigations and, of course, the USDA Animal Welfare Act rules as well as files and start to read the attached USDA Inspector General's May 2010 report on the very mills that are licensed by the USDA. Attached.

QUESTION - Where are the most common puppy mill locations?

ANSWER

Per HSUS, there are approximately 10,000 puppy mills in the United States. Puppy mills are most prevalent in the Midwest back to the Eastern states. However, the western states are working to catch up. Colorado has 157 licensed commercial breeding facilities. The largest one we know of has 300 breeding dogs with several of the large scale facilities having up to 200. Colorado has no limit on the number of breeding dogs one can have as long one has a license. They may breed and transfer as many puppies as they want. A pet store representative on the PACFA advisory committee stated he only sold 1,200 puppies last year and states he ships puppies in from out of state because he can't supply the demand. Hundreds of thousands of puppies are produced yearly that "just want to have one litter", increasing overproduction and resulting in 3-4 million dog deaths yearly. Colorado killed about 7,000 dogs, alone, in 2013. Those are records from licensed shelters.

Colorado has the Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act. PACFA (Pet Animal Care Facilities Act) is a Colorado organization within the Colorado Dept of Agriculture that regulates commercial breeding facilities, aka, puppy mills. The laws are weak but are better than most states. There are 5 inspectors and over 2000 pet animal care facilities to inspect each year. Pacfa also regulates Pet Stores, Groomers, Doggie Day Cares and other pet animal care facilities. The USDA also regulates commercial breeding facilities. The laws and enforcement are more lax than PACFA. The inspection reports from PACFA and USDA are public record and anyone can access the information and get a glimpse of what the conditions are like in a puppy mill. Otherwise mill owners do not routinely allow people on to their property to see the deplorable conditions. The USDA recently had a rule change that closes the loop hole that allowed dogs and puppies to be sold on the internet without regulation. Now, anyone breeding 5 or more females needs a USDA license. The law is good, enforcing it is difficult.

PACFA is better than the USDA but still it is business oriented so, as of now, cannot live up to it's missions statement. It works to bring breeders into compliance at the expense of the dogs welfare. Please don't think any registry organization like AKC means anything because it doesn't. Mills have AKC papers in stacks waiting to be filled out. At one time, the AKC signed a contract with a chain pet store allowing the puppies to become registered AKC puppies before they left the store. Reason being, it put money into their pockets. Eventually the contract was rescinded but they totally support mills and the money they bring into the organization.

QUESTION - Are there any ways to restrict puppy mills with policies or laws?

ANSWER

Ideally, having laws that put animal welfare before business. Laws that require vet care and common care that includes living outside a cage or box or not breeding every cycle. Laws that set a standard of care like the U.K. has as it's Dog Care Code. Laws that don't allow secrecy and selling to an uninformed public. Laws that are uniform and punished when transgressed. The most important thing is to have enforcement of those laws. Right now, animal welfare laws are not only minimal but not enforced consistently. We have found it takes a huge social media outreach to get any help for an animal because laws are minimal. Teaching kids compassion and understanding that an animal is not a thing. That it fears and hurts and has as much right to live well as we do.

QUESTION - Compared to other issues that animals are facing, how would you
rank puppy mills among other issues?

ANSWER

We rank puppy mills very high in the realm of animal cruelty-right along with factory farming of any animal. Because that is what it is. Factory farming of animals for consumption or wearing or, in this case, for a pet, is inhumane and cruel. Factory farms hide what goes on behind closed doors under the disguise of great marketing and many states are passing Ag Gag laws to keep undercover investigations from happening. All life deserves respect.

QUESTION - What is your organization doing to fight against puppy mills?

ANSWER

Colorado Citizens for Canine Welfare supported legislation on the Greyhound racing bill, the PACFA bill, Humane Lobby Day, supporting solid flooring for mill dogs, speak at meeting at the capitol, meetings at PACFA. we protest, ask people to call or email policy makers. We obtain petition signatures, we present at schools, at churches, at events and we research breeders in Colorado and through the USDA. We did the bus tail campaign and we have a website and a
very active FB page. Colorado Citizens for Canine Welfare (www.caninewelfare.org) rallies every weekend at a puppy mill pet store to educate the public, we are at events throughout the year to talk to the public and make them aware of humane options to get their next puppy. 3CW's mission is to END PUPPY MILLS by educating the public and policymakers about mills and their connection to pet store, Internet and other sales venues. 3CW advocates for animal welfare issues, encourages pet adoptions and supports ethical breeding practices.

Currently 3CW Rally Volunteers are peacefully rallying at Puppies N Stuff in Northglenn. We have been there for 2 years to educate the public about puppy mill pet stores and give out informational packets. Before starting the rallies we researched this store with PACFA and found it to have numerous complaints and violations. Several volunteers bought puppies from this store that ended up with costly veterinarian bills or lost a puppy to parvo or another illness. We have very dedicated volunteers that pledge to continue the rallies until this puppy mill store switches to a humane style of holding adoptions similar to Petco and Petsmart.

An Unusual Issue: "Real Life" Animal Keychains

Tue, 14 Jul 2015 19:22:51 GMT

When most people think of the three words “animal” and “key chain” together, they think of a harmless key chain that might have an animal painted on plastic, or even a small, three-dimensional figurine of an animal. However, in China, there has been a trend of sealing small creatures--such as fish, lizards, and turtles--in plastic pouches filled with a colored fluid and selling them as keychains. The fluid is usually packed full of nutrients, but after a few days, the animal usually suffocates.

Where Are These Sold?

These key chains are sold by street vendors in China--and sometimes at subway stations--usually to tourists and children. The key chains generally get sold around $1.50 for one, but the price tends to vary depending on the vendor selling them.

How Are They Viewed By the Natives?

As there are still businesses manufacturing these key chains, the vast majority of natives aren’t bothered enough to take serious actions. For the native children in China, purchasing and owning one of these portable torture chambers may not seem wrong at all, and might be the equivalent of a child owning and caring for a betta fish in another country.

There are many customers who purchase the key chains for the sole purpose of freeing the animals, while there are still other customers who purchase them for “good luck” or simply for entertainment purposes. Currently, the only law to protect animals in China only protects “Wild Animals”, which don’t include the creatures trapped in the key chains. This shouldn’t be surprising, as a lot of farms exist in China for the fur industry (specifically tanuki fur farms). There are groups of animal rights activists that are attempting to change this issue in China, but they don’t have a law to back their petitions.

What Actions Can Be Taken?

Some basic actions that can be taken include signing various petitions online for banning these abusive accessories. Also, awareness can be raised about these key chains to get more people to sign the petitions. Here are some links for petitions:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/61/e2/39/61e23957c0fdfb20fdc772a1cbfa1210.jpg

Works Cited:

Kaushik. "Live Fish and Reptiles Sold as Keychains in China." Amusing Planet. Amusing
Planet, 12 Apr. 2011. Web. 10 July 2015.
<http://www.amusingplanet.com/2011/04/live-fish-and-reptiles-sold-as.html>.
Klonoski, Brian. "Chinese Vendors Sell Live Fish and Turtles as Key Chains." RYOT News.
RYOT Corp, 26 Mar. 2013. Web. 09 July 2015.
<http://www.ryot.org/photos-chinese-vendors-sell-live-fish-and-turtles-as-key-chains-fyi-they-make-great-snacks/110385>.
Staff and Agencies. "Crazy World: Live Animals in Keychains." Emirates 24|7. Dubai Media, 11
Apr. 2011. Web. 09 July 2015.
<http://www.emirates247.com/offbeat/this-is-life/crazy-world-live-animals-in-keychains-2011-04-11-1.379602>.
Snopes Staff. "Shell Shock." Snopes.com. Urban Legends Reference Pages, 22 Mar. 2015. Web.
09 July 2015. <http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/keyrings.asp>.

Think About These Things When You Want to Visit Wild Animals

Wed, 03 Jun 2015 16:37:15 GMT

Zoos. The first thing that comes to mind for most people is a fun place to take children where animals can be observed. And what’s wrong with that? Aren't they good for the animals and provide them with a place to live, with food, as well as interaction with other animals? I looked into this topic and learned some things I didn't know.

Zoos only chooses animals that are the best in show. If the animal has a nervous habit, or a health condition, it won’t be chosen. At the zoo, the animals aren’t really provided with everything they need because food and a cage with some “living space” isn’t enough. Often animals are deprived of the company of other animals of the same species, which can leave them lonely. Very lonely. Also, if zoo animals were in their natural habitat, they would be forced to engage their survival mode, including hunting for food and avoiding potential predators. You might wonder why this would be important. What's wrong with an animal living on easy street? In a word, boredom. Severe boredom.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/01/07/2477394F00000578-0-image-a-18_1420594059373.jpg

When animals are protected from all threats, as well as from any other instances of survival to occupy their time, many of them suffer a condition called zoochosis. Have you ever seen elephants at a zoo swinging their trunks back and forth while they sway with their whole bodies or watched animals pace back and forth? These are examples of what happens when their mental needs aren't being met. When animals are “deprived of everything that is natural and important to them” according to PETA, it shows up in their behavior and it's very unhealthy. When zoo animals are deprived of factors not only that occupy them physically, but also mentally, it can lead to animals living very sad lives.

According to LCA, (Last Chance for Animals) other symptoms of zoochosis include bar biting, consuming fecal matter, self-mutilation, circling, rocking, rolling of the neck, frequent licking/grooming, and vomiting. When the animals grow to be too unhealthy for the zoo to publicly display them, the animals are sold, or even killed.

Zoos have marketed themselves as being educational institutions. They project to the public that by showcasing animals they are helping them by getting people to care about them. I suggest you do your own research and think about ways where education can occur without sacrificing what's best for the animals.

So What Can Be Done?

In order to help decrease the number of abusive zoos, multiple actions can be taken. A major one includes refraining from visiting zoos, and visiting sanctuaries instead. Animal sanctuaries take in animals that have been previously abused, and nurture them while still being safe for everyday individuals to visit.

How Is a Sanctuary Any Different?

While they might seem the same, there are many major differences between sanctuaries and zoos. Really, the only thing in common is that both are locations for the public to see wild animals living in a public space. Most sanctuaries find animals that are being illegally owned and take them in to raise them back to health. Many sanctuaries keep the animals in cages, until the animals are more comfortable. The more time that the creatures spend there, the greater the size of the cage is, until the animal is comfortable with more space. Eventually, the animals are moved to large plots of land, some being multiple acres large. Another main difference is the objective between zoos and sanctuaries; zoos only display their animals to the public to earn money as a business whereas sanctuaries have the objective of helping the animals survive and regain health.

So Where Can Sanctuaries Be Found?

Most sanctuaries aren’t very popular among “everyday citizens”, so it may seem slightly difficult to find one in a convenient location. To view a map of sanctuaries, click here. On the map, only sanctuaries that have been inspected and are certified as safe are marked.

Here's a link to some RESCUE STORIES from The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado. Find out how some of their animals ended up needing to be rescued.

The WILD ANIMAL SANCTUARY north of Denver, Colorado currently houses approximately 67 Tigers, 63 African Lions, 26 Wolves, 98 Black Bears, 32 Grizzly Bears, just to mention a few, and all have been rescued from illegal or abusive situations. They have rescued over 1,000 animals in their 35 year history, and currently have over 350 living with them today. Thy also currently house approximately 17 Mountain Lions, 3 Leopards, 1 Camel , 4 Coati-Mundi, 9 Bobcats, 7 Lynx , 3 Fox, and 6 Coyotes all rescued from illegal or abusive situations. Pictured above is Eddy, a Black Leopard that was born and raised as an orphaned cub and was featured on a one hour special show on Animal Planet TV. Click image to see the show and read more about this very famous Leopard...

Works Cited

Carr, Michelle. "The Reality of Zoos." PETA. PETA, 2015. Web. 22 May 2015.
http://www.peta.org/living/entertainment/reality-zoos/
GFAS Staff. "GFAS ACCREDITED SANCTUARIES AND GFAS VERIFIED
SANCTUARIES." Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. GFAS, 2013. Web. 23 May
2015. http://www.sanctuaryfederation.org/gfas/about-gfas/gfas-sanctuaries/
LCA Staff. "Last Chance for Animals - Zoos." Last Chance for Animals. LCA, 2015. Web. 22
May 2015. http://www.lcanimal.org/index.php/campaigns/animals-in-entertainment/zoos
Shea, Rachel Hartigan. "Are Wildlife Sanctuaries Good for Animals?"National Geographic.
National Geographic Society, 20 Mar. 2014. Web. 23 May 2015.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/03/140320-animal-sanctuary-wildlife-exotic-tiger-zoo/>.

Why Are Gorgeous Animals Suffering and Dying For You?

Tue, 02 Dec 2014 05:18:29 GMT

By Lierra Coburn

Innocent animals squirm in cages. They have no choice. They’re entirely vulnerable. Their life will be a life of torture, of being skinned alive, being beaten, and forced to stay in cages, all for the purpose of pleasing people who want to wear fur.

Many different types of animals are forced to go through various torturous methods of killing. According to PETA, “Fur farmers use the cheapest and cruelest killing methods available, including suffocation, electrocution, gas, and poison.” It's all about what is cost effective regardless of the suffering. Some animals are even alive to feel pain when they’re being skinned. The victims aren’t just getting tortured through the killing methods, but some begin to harm themselves from the anxiety of being kept on a fur farm.

The animals being skinned for fur aren’t only wild animals, such as foxes, but domesticated animals as well. In the United States, most of the cases of domesticated animals are generally accidental due to dogs and cats getting trapped in the fur traps. In China however, many cats and dogs are intentionally skinned for their fur. Most people own pets and enjoy their pets, so wouldn’t it be ironic if they owned fur from the same type of animal as their pet? It happens and consumers just don't know it.

I don't think it's right to wear any fur, but wearing the fur of domesticated animals seems worse. Also, some fur is intentionally mislabeled. Sometimes, it may be labeled as “faux fur” when it’s actually real fur, sometimes even dog and cat fur.

To make a fur coat, it doesn’t take just the life of one creature, but, depending on the style of the garment and type of fur, it can take between 6 and 400 animals. With all the fur coats that are made each year, the amount of animals killed for fur is beyond heart breaking.

The fur industry commonly interferes with the species’ “natural cycle.” An example of this is the harp seal, which migrates between November and March. During this cycle, large amounts of the harp seals are killed by the fur industry, which disrupts this migration cycle, harming the harp seals. Also, the animals are used to living in their habitats, not in tiny, cramped cages with a hose supplying their water.

Despite the monumental suffering in the fur industry it continues because of money. As long as there's a demand for fur there will be companies ever ready to meet the supply. Purchasing and wearing fur supports the mindless abuse, suffering and death of hundreds of thousands of innocent animals each year. How is this okay? How are the lives of these animals so meaningless? All life matters. Please think about the suffering the next time you consider buying a beautiful fur garment. I mean really t h i n k about it. Can you seriously separate all the horror associated with obtaining fur and simply wrap yourself up in it while ignoring, denying and dismissing what the animals went through just so you can wear their fur? Not so stunning and luxurious anymore now, is it?

The International Fur Federation (below) has developed a global fashion campaign to communicate the modern face of fur and to break down stereotypes around what fur is and who wears it. After knowing what it takes to bring you fur, can you justify buying it?

September 11, 2014 "A two-year investigation reveals horrifying treatment of rabbits allegedly supplied to top fashion designers." READ article or click on image below to watch video.

click to go to undercover video

Works Cited:

Fur Free Staff. "Fur Farms." Fur Free Alliance. Fur Free Alliance, 2014. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. <http://www.infurmation.com/index.php/issues/fur-farms>.

Humane Society Staff. "Fur : Humane Society International." HSI. Humane Society International, 2014. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. <http://www.hsi.org/issues/fur/>.

LCA Staff. "Fur Trade Facts." Last Chance for Animals. Last Chance for Animals, 2014. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. <http://www.lcanimal.org/index.php/campaigns/fur/fur-trade-facts>.

LCA. "Last Chance for Animals - China's Cat & Dog Fur Trade." Last Chance for Animals - China's Cat & Dog Fur Trade. L, 2014. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. <http://www.lcanimal.org/index.php/campaigns/fur/chinas-cat-a-dog-fur-trade>.

Pacelle, Wayne. "Fur Production: Caged & Trapped Animals : The Humane Society of the United States." RSS. The Human Society of the United States, 2014. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. <http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/fur_production/?credit=web_id65489429>.

PETA Staff. "The Fur Industry." PETA. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. <http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/fur/>.

Respect for Animals Staff. "Fur Farming." Respect for Animals. Respect for Animals, 2014. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. <http://www.respectforanimals.co.uk/facts-and-reports/fur-farming/53/>.

Respect for Animals Staff. "How Many Animals Have to Die for a Fur Coat?." Respect for Animals. Respect for Animals, 2014. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. <http://www.respectforanimals.co.uk/facts-and-reports/how-many-animals-have-to-die-for-a-fur-coat/133/>.

The Independent Staff. "The Fur Trade: Bloody Fashion." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 26 Nov. 2006. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. <http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-fur-trade-bloody-fashion-425837.html>.

The Voice for Animals Staff. "The Fur Trade // Animals Australia."AnimalsAustralia.org. Animals Australia, 2014. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. <http://www.animalsaustralia.org/issues/fur.php#toc2>.