We’ve Got to Get Rid of all Pet Mills!

Every time I pass by a pet store in a local mall, I cringe. The owners strategically place cute little puppies and kitties in the display windows to tug at your heartstrings (and purse strings as well), which coax you to step inside. Years ago, I just stopped going in there - it was just too damned depressing for me.

I have 2 cats and 2 dogs and all of them have come from local shelters and rescue groups. I have never bought a cat or dog from a pet store. I can’t - I know that those poor animals have come from mills somewhere, most likely under deplorable conditions. I just wish there was a way to outlaw all of those pet mills, and maybe limit private breeders for a few years until we can play “catch up” with all of the discarded pets that end up at shelters.

I read an article today on Yahoo titled Massive dog breeding farm rescue in Va.. This rescue was due to the diligence of the Humane Society of America and a 5-month investigation into puppy mills in Virginia. The Humane Society rescued nearly 1,000 dogs from Horton’s Pups, and now all of those dogs will need good “forever” homes.

Every time I read stories like this, I really have to cry. When are humans going to wake up and realize that God (or whatever higher power you subscribe to) never intended his precious creatures to become commodities and money-makers?! I really believe his intent was to give us the privilege of having all of His creatures teach us just what love means and how to become a more compassionate human race.

Even though these stories and their photos break my heart, I hope to continue reading them more often because that means that it’s a step in the right direction. I wrote an article on my company’s website about visiting your local animal shelter if you’re looking for a pet and help save a precious life.

I wish more people wouldn’t care about having the latest “it” dog or a designer dog (which keeps the puppy mills and breeders in business), and just go adopt a loving pet - there’s a lot of them out there that are counting on us to save their lives.

And I leave you with the conclusion from my article, “And please realize that whether these animals are pure or mixed breeds, they all have one thing in common: they just want to love and be loved. And that’s all that really should matter.”

Thanks for “listening.”

Michelle