Puppy mills-close all of them please

I wish all puppymills to close and that the rescued dogs get all the time they need to recover from the abuse.


 
Last week, New York City enacted new laws to stop the sale of puppy mill dogs. Thanks to Mayor Bill de Blasio's leadership and the leadership of the City Council, all dogs sold in NYC must come from reputable sources, not puppy mills that violate federal standards of care. Of course, why go to a pet store when there are so many wonderful pets ready to be adopted from the shelters? Nevertheless, this new law is a step in the right direction to crack down on the puppy mill pipeline to NYC.

That's going to ensure pets purchased here don't come from "puppy mills" and weren't subject to such cruelty. On behalf of those pets, let the New York City Council know you appreciate their work.

Far too often, breeders give no regard to the health and well-being of the dogs they are raising. In these puppy mills, female dogs are kept in narrow wire cages, forced to bear litter after litter without any break to recover their health. The wire floors of the cages hurt their paws and legs and after a mother can no longer have puppies, whether because of age or because of poor health due to the confined, unnatural conditions, the dog is often killed.

The puppies don't fare better, either. They're often ripped away from their mothers at an early age and sold to unsuspecting pet owners. Many become ill or have other health problems because of their cruel upbringing. Their owners buy them from stores that deceive customers into believing that the store is "puppy mill free." And then their owners are saddled with sick dogs and expensive health bills because they didn't know their beloved family dog came from a puppy mill.

But not any more.

Breeders with some of the most egregious violations will be banned from selling their animals in NYC, period. And the store will be required to provide the breeder's inspection information so that potential pet owners will know for sure that their new dog did NOT come from a puppy mill.

That's not all, though. The new law will also require legitimate stores to care for the pets they sell. Dogs and cats sold in New York will have to be spay/neutered and microchipped. Dogs will also be licensed before being sold. That means it'll be much easier to reunite lost pets with their owners and reduce pet homelessness. Stores will be banned from selling dogs and cats to anyone convicted of animal abuse, keeping animals safe. These are big steps for animal protection.

We have to thank Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council for protecting puppies in New York City. Let the Council Members hear your appreciation!

For all NYC animals,
Chelsie


NYCLASS
http://www.nyclass.org/


I think it´s good news they are not going to sell puppies from puppymills anymore but remember to adopt not shop when it comes to animals
 
Puppy farm raided: 36 dogs rescued near Bendigo

An alleged illegal puppy farm in rural Victoria has been raided after the RSPCA uncovered squalid conditions on the property.

The animal welfare organisation rescued 36 puppies and dogs from a property north-west of Bendigo on Wednesday.

"These were some of the worst conditions I have ever seen," said Dr. Suffien Suharaju, a veterinarian who attended the rescue.

RSPCA, claiming the factory conditions were deplorable and unhygienic, has launched an investigation into the breeding facility.
"The dogs were living in squalor," said Allie Jalbert, RSPCA Victoria's Inspectorate Manager.

"Certainly we had serious concerns for the housing conditions and the welfare of the dogs and puppies."

The possibility of future legal action prevents the group from giving specific details of the case or releasing photos of conditions at the factory.

Ms Jalbert said all of the animals seized were being assessed by veterinarians.
The group was first made aware of the facility after a tip-off and, upon inspecting the property, quickly notified Loddon Shire Council that the breeding facility was breaching the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Warrants were swiftly executed, culminating in the raid on Wednesday, where every dog on the property was removed.

Ms Jalbert said the investigation and raid show the RSPCA is cracking down on illegal and inhumane breeding facilities in Victoria.

"We are gathering intelligence and information about breeders across the state," she said.

"Trying to hide animals from authorities is not going to work anymore because we are getting smarter and better at collecting this information."

The puppies are in protective custody and will not be available for adoption until legal matters are settled.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/p...ogs-rescued-near-bendigo-20150313-1438j8.html
 
Puppy Mill Rescue: Puppy Mills As Legal Cruelty

“I can only describe it as an invasion,” says Cari Meyers, founder and president of the non-profit Puppy Mill Project, as she witnessed the assault on a puppy mill, as an organized convoy came to the rescue of 81 dogs and two cats in St. Anne, IL. near Kankakee, IL on April 7.

The dogs were all housed in a basement, kept in wire cages, sometimes several dogs per cage, according to Meyers. The cages were about the size of an average cat carrier, maybe a tad larger.

“These dogs never went outdoors, spending their entire lives – every waking and sleeping moment standing or lying on wire cages,” says Scotlund Haisley, president/founder of Animal Rescue Corps, a non-profit that rescues animals from puppy mills and other abusive settings, as well as rescuing animals in natural disasters.

“The ammonia smell from urine was overwhelming, horrible,” says Meyers of the Puppy Mill Project, whose mission is to educate the public the truth about mills and advocate for closing them down. “I can’t imagine living like that. And there were mouse droppings everywhere. When we walked into the basement, it was like walking into hell.”

Haisley says the facility was a puppy factory. “Dogs there were production machines, who never experienced what dogs crave more than anything - the human touch.”

The dogs were mostly Chihuahuas, also Shih Tzus, Yorkshire Terriers, and Toy Poodles.

There were two nursing Chihuahuas; their litters required medical care, particularly one puppy who needed to be tube fed in order to survive. “I think the little guy will make it,” says Dr. Derrick Landini of Chicago, the lead veterinarian on the team of three veterinary volunteers.

Landini says all 81 dogs necessitated medical care, and most will receive ongoing care for a variety of ailments including painful eye infections, respiratory conditions, various dental problems,, skin and coat issues and lameness due knee problems. All the dogs also required a thorough cleaning, as their coats were matted and covered in feces.

While the good news is that none of these medical problems are life threatening, it’s apparent that the dogs never received veterinary care. That alone is abuse. Of course, it challenging not to suggest that the daily conditions that the dogs existed was obviously abusive.

Landini says “Remarkably, many of these dogs were happy to see us – maybe they knew we were there to help them. Some of the dogs were fearful – but all in all I believe they are adoptable.”
Do the laws – in some ways – offer the benefit of doubt to the puppy mills? “No question,” he adds. “The system is broken.”

In fact, the operator of the puppy mill had been repeatedly inspected by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. She inexplicably passed inspections, though she was repeatedly served with citations. And because she reportedly paid those citations, she wasn’t shut down.

However, it seems obvious authorities should have shut her down well before the rescue. “I hear this all the time,” says Haisley. “The reality is that we’re obviously not serious enough about shutting down puppy mills, though that is changing.”
The rescue was a long time in the making. First Kankakee Animal Control had tried repeatedly to get inside in order to shut the operator down. “The laws are tricky, and that’s not an easy thing to do,” Haisley says.


Meyers said that a team had been working on a puppy mill rescue, doing something about this mill for over a year.

Haisley said he “got wind” that the mill operator was about to let some dogs go that she no longer wanted. Cooperating with the rescues who received these dogs, Landini’s medical evaluation indicated that the dogs had clearly been abused. It’s this proof of abuse which finally got the attention of authorities to obtain a warrant to get inside her facility.

As evidence continues to be gathered, as of this date, the charges to be filed against the puppy mill operator haven’t been specified by authorities.

At least the puppy mill operator did allow for the relinquishment of the dogs and two cats. This means that once each individual animal is documented by a veterinarian, and given any needed immediate medical treatment, adoption may soon follow by various agencies in the region partnering with Animal Rescue Corps.

One lesson is for the general public – to be aware of where you purchase a dog . The puppy mill operator mostly sold dogs based on a roadside sign located along a highway. She also apparently sold some dogs online. “Of course, she never let anyone into the basement to see where the dogs were bred, selling dogs $500 a piece,” Meyers says.

“People do this for money,
” says Haisley. “Of course, it blows me away, and most people – you don’t need to be a dog lover to be horrified that somehow she was allowed to operate for years as legal cruelty. We can no longer accept puppy mills.”

http://www.chicagonow.com/steve-dal...ppy-mill-rescue-puppy-mills-as-legal-cruelty/
 
The AKC: Worst in Show
Why won't the American Kennel Club protect dogs from the filth and neglect of puppy mills?

Every year, breeders and trainers gather in New York for the Westminster Dog Show to celebrate the beauty and grace of purebred dogs.

It's a delightful event for any dog lover. But investigations have repeatedly shown that one of the major players at Westminster is not what the public imagines it to be.

Dogs competing for Best in Show at Westminster are registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC), which holds itself out as “the dog’s champion.” But in fact, the AKC regularly fights laws designed to stop puppy mills. And in recent months, two former AKC "Breeders of Merit"—who had just passed their AKC inspections—were reportedly found to be keeping dogs in dismal conditions.

When our 2012 report was published, the AKC had opposed more than 80 different laws around the country that would protect dogs from puppy mills. Since then, that number has climbed to more than 150.

The AKC even opposed a North Carolina bill modeled after the AKC's own care and conditions policy for breeders.

Through its political action committee (PAC), the AKC has funneled thousands of dollars in donations to some of the most aggressively anti-animal welfare politicians in the country.

The AKC is sustained by fees breeders pay to register puppies.
Simply put, the more dogs registered with the AKC, the richer the organization gets.
The organization's PAC then fights many laws that would protect dogs.

If you don't understand why a group that claims to support dogs would fight legislation cracking down on puppy mills, just ... follow the money. The more puppies high-volume breeders produce and then register with the AKC, the better for the AKC's bottom line.


The AKC says that it inspects its high-volume breeders. But the cases of those former "Breeders of Merit" indicate its inspection system is broken. One breeder pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges. The other sold more than 100 AKC King Charles Cavalier spaniels at a dog auction in the heart of puppy mill country, just as public complaints began to mount about her dogs’ living conditions.

This isn't a new problem. In 2012, an AKC “champion” malamute breeder was charged with animal cruelty after 161 emaciated and diseased malamutes were found on his property. Under oath, he testified he felt confident he was obeying all laws and the stricter AKC rules, since an AKC inspector had twice recently found him to be in compliance. He was convicted of 91 counts of animal cruelty, and sentenced to 30 years in prison with 25 suspended.

While AKC once prioritized the protection and quality of purebred dogs, it has now hitched its operations and fundraising to high-volume breeders. These days, AKC papers guarantee nothing in terms of animal care—nothing about a dog’s health, quality, behavior or even whether the pup’s parents were kept in humane conditions.

Many of the AKC-registered pups sold at pet stores and online later turn out to be sick or have expensive, painful genetic defects. The same is true for other dog registration organizations, such as APRI (America’s Pet Registry, Inc), the CKC (Continental Kennel Club) and others. But because the AKC and its member clubs sponsor many Best in Show competitions such as Westminster, many consumers are duped into thinking AKC papers denote a healthy, well-treated animal. It’s gotten so bad that some breed clubs have even fought AKC recognition of their breed because they don’t want to see the animals exploited like a cash crop.

t’s clear that the AKC has aligned itself with the puppy mills that cause so many problems for dogs in our society.

We hope that the organization will one day shift its focus to supporting humane, quality breeders. But in spite of rhetoric about caring for the health and welfare of dogs, it’s been moving in the opposite direction.

It may be the largest and richest dog registry in America, but it can no longer lay claim to being "the dog's champion."

That's why we're giving the AKC our Worst in Show award.

We hope they'll perform better in the future.
http://www.humanesociety.org/news/n...-in-show.html?referrer=https://www.google.se/
 
Puppy Mill Mom Trapped In Cage for 12 Years Finally Treated With Dignity

The death of a dog is never a time to celebrate. Not ever. But, what if that dog's death can sweep through the hearts of enough people that a major change comes about, which means no dog will ever have to suffer in a puppy mill again? While we wouldn't celebrate the dog's passing, we would be all out fandangling over-the-moon-and-back happy over their legacy of awakening change. Especially if the dog in question had suffered most of their years on earth in the crazy world of human cruelty that is the puppy mill industry. It would be a tall order for any dog to leave this kind of legacy, but if there's a dog who might just impact sufficient numbers of hearts and mind, it's Lil Olive who died this weekend in Colorado.

Lil Olive, a fragile, tiny, Italian greyhound, was rescued in 2011 from a Missouri puppy mill after spending twelve years in a small wire cage, being bred successively and forced to churn out her puppies for sale in the puppy trade. For twelve years her world was contained within the wire mesh of the mill where she suffered physical pain, neglect, trauma and emotional agony. All this, as her life as the companion she should have been for all those years was kept from her. But her stunted, scarred, abused body hid an enormous, strong spirit which kept her alive, and just about well enough to get out to freedom when her rescuers came.

When she was first adopted by Pam, it wasn't at all certain that Lil Olive would have long to enjoy her freedom before death would steal her away. She'd suffered dreadfully in her years in the puppy breeding industry, and the grim toll it took on her body was hard. She had lumps, scars, bad hips, tumors, a mouthful of rotten teeth and a large mammary tumor. But, Lil Olive decided that she was going nowhere fast once she settled into her first and only home and came to enjoy a handful of years of untold love and perfect care with Pam and her family.

Pam has shared Lil Olive's life — and passing — with hundreds of thousands of people across the world through Lil Olive's Facebook page with the intention of raising awareness about what the breeding industry did, and does, not only to Lil Olive, but to all the many thousands of other dogs, most of whom will never get out of the puppy mills alive. Lil Olive's page sits amid all the many thousands of social media sites that are dedicated to promoting animal welfare and raising awareness of cruelty to our furry friends, but it stands out as one of the few gems of specialness and ranks above the ordinary. She was extraordinary, her page reflects this.

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Pages like Lil Olive's are a rarity among the mediocrity. They're the ones that make a difference, a real and lasting difference and they do it by reaching into our minds and staying there. They affect not only our thoughts but, and this is essential if animals are to benefit, our actions.They make us sit up and want to do something to stop the cruelty that so many modern animals are caught up in. Lil Olive's is one of these. It goes beyond a hackneyed rehashing of memes which is so often found in the online world of clichés. It's given followers a true and honest picture of life with an abused puppy mill dog. Lil Olive's story is one based firmly on foundations of genuine compassion and love.

And as Lil Olive runs free for the first time ever, and many thousands mourn her, she leaves behind a legacy with the potential for great things to come from her life and death. It may well trigger such a powerful groundswell of compassion that change might speed up. Thousands are paying tribute to Lil Olive, in words and pictures, prayers and memories that demonstrate a depth of human compassion for one little dog who was for twelve long years, nothing more than a cash machine for her breeders. In just a few hours, her Legacy of Love fundraiser has raised almost $20,000.

The words of the Pulitzer Prize winning poet, Mary Oliver in her poem "Her Grave" are a fitting tribute to this one, tiny dog.
"How beautiful is her unshakable sleep.

Finally,

The slick mountains of love break over us".

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https://www.thedodo.com/lil-olive-puppy-mill-rescue-1338655807.html
 
Little Belle is a dog who survived many years in a puppymill , forced to have litter after litter
 
Harley, the Puppy Mill Survivor, Wins American Hero Award

This week one tiny little chihuahua is making big headlines after going from the deplorable conditions of a puppy mill to the red carpet as a winner at the fifth annual 2015 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards.

Harley spent the first 10 years of his life in a puppy mill where he was robbed of everything that makes life good. His multiple health conditions and missing eye – lost as a result of his cage being power-washed with him it – are testaments to the years of neglect he suffered before being saved by the National Mill Dog Rescue and later finding his forever home with Rudi and Dan Taylor in Colorado.

Since being rescued four years ago, Harley has done so much more than just survive. He’s gone on to be an ambassador for mill dogs everywhere and is working to raise awareness about just how badly commercial breeding is hurting an animal we call man’s best friend.

[video=youtube;ONbctB1hgHo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONbctB1hgHo[/video]

Through his Harley to the Rescue campaign, he and his friend Teddy have helped educate the public about the conditions in mills. They have raised enough money to save more than 500 other mill dogs and provide much-needed veterinary care for them over the past two years. Now he’s been honored for his efforts as the winner in this years Emerging Hero Dogs category, for “ordinary” dogs who do extraordinary things, and his story is taking off.

As more awareness is raised about the ongoing horrors mill dogs face, more people and communities are taking action by working to shut down the pet store sales of mill dogs. Animal advocates hope the increased awareness will help stop people from unwittingly supporting bad breeders and adopt instead.

While animal advocates continue to work on that front, this week the Humane Society of the United States, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association filed a petition to get the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase the ridiculously low standards of care breeders are supposed to adhere to in an effort to protect an estimated 100,000 dogs at USDA licensed facilities across the nation.

Among other things, some of the requested changes include increasing minimum cage sizes, getting rid of wire flooring and stacked cages, implementing requirements for exercise, restricting the frequency of breeding, and requiring breeders to work with rescues to place “unsellable” puppies, instead of killing or abandoning them.

“This petition requests much needed enhancements to existing regulations concerning the treatment of dogs used and bred for commercial sale, including the physical conditions of the breeding facility and the health and welfare of the individual dogs. These new regulations would greatly improve the living space, physical health, and psychological well-being of literally tens of thousands of dogs in the United States,” said Dr. Susan Krebsbach, veterinary advisor for HSVMA.

For more info on how to help puppy mill dogs, check out check out National Mill Dog Rescue and follow Harley’s efforts to help on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The full award ceremony featuring all of this years amazing winners will air on the Hallmark Channel on October 30 at 8 pm ET/PT, 7 pm Central.



Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/harley-...r-wins-american-hero-award.html#ixzz3mlbiFaCi
 
[video=youtube;vAvfIIRorj0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAvfIIRorj0[/video]
I think many things in this video about dogrescuer also is consistent with rescuing other animals, from little chickens to elephants.
It´s all for love for the animals
 
Nathan Winograd
den 2 november 2012 ·
Los Angeles just became the largest city in the U.S. to ban the sale of commercially sourced animals in pet stores, joining Austin, West Hollywood and others.
Animals (dogs, cats, and rabbits) in pet stores will have to be rescues: http://bit.ly/RtX6N6.
This is indeed good news as cutting off markets is one tool in the fight against mills: http://bit.ly/Uo7lmU.
It also gives shelter animals under the threat of a death sentence a better chance of being adopted, especially in light of the city's poor efforts in that area.
Though animals in shelters are not dying because of pet overpopulation, they are still dying. And as long as that is true, people should adopt from a rescue or shelter.

But do not be confused.
This does not mean that No Kill is around the corner and this does not replace the necessary work of reforming the shelter system. L.A. shelters were not and are not killing animals because commercially-sourced animals were being sold in pet stores.

L.A. shelters have a per capita intake rate five times less than Reno and the second largest adoption market in the U.S. But Reno is saving 94% of animals communitywide and L.A. is still killing healthy and treatable animals.
In fact, comparing adoption rates with Reno and adjusting for population, L.A. shelters should be adopting out 86,443 animals a year, more than total impounds. And with 9,452 dogs killed and 13,467 cats killed, the achievement of a No Kill Los Angeles should have already been achieved.
And so while I offer a big congratulations to animal lovers in Los Angeles, they still have to turn their attention to shelter practices: animals will be killed today, tomorrow, the next day, the day after that, and the day after that.... until the system is reformed: http://bit.ly/RB7B5a.

https://www.facebook.com/nathanwinograd/posts/1065771146780462:0
 
Aussie magazines join the fight against puppy factory cruelty!

Thanks to generous Animals Australia supporters, our eye-opening TV ad is back on air — bringing the truth about puppy factories to millions of people. Now we're hitting the pages of iconic magazines, too!

Whether you love fast cars, current affairs, or collecting Art Deco furniture, chances are you're going to see our ad on TV soon. With screen-time during top-rating programs like Top Gear, The Project and Antiques Roadshow — and even appearing across juggernauts like The Discovery Channel and National Geographic Channel — our doggy ambassadors will be reaching millions of Australians, no matter what their interests are!

We've now also teamed up with some of Australia's favourite magazines, on behalf of Australia's favourite furry companions, to reach even more people with the 'Know Your Best Friend' message that caring about your dog means also caring where they came from.

From now until the Christmas season, these bold print ads are featuring in best-selling magazines like Marie Claire, Better Homes and Gardens, New Idea and Who. And with 'Better Homes' alone reaching more than 2.2 million people, that's barking great news for dogs!

But the best news of all is that the 'Know Your Best Friend' message is getting through loud and clear. Surveys reveal that after discovering the truth about inhumane puppy factories through our ads, some 3 million newly informed people would be less likely to buy a puppy online or from a pet shop.

Politicians are sitting up and taking notice too, with the Victorian government pledging tougher restrictions on dog breeding. They'll also only allow pet shops to rehome dogs and cats from rescue shelters — which will sever a critical link in the cruel puppy factory supply chain.

There's still more to be done in the fight against puppy factory cruelty. But we're constantly working on making a kinder world for man's best friend. Stay tuned for further exciting developments...

More bark, more bite: help spread the word.
Puppy factory cruelty only continues because caring people have been kept in the dark. But you have the power to help the dogs still suffering in inhumane puppy factories.
Simply by encouraging your friends to "adopt, not shop",
http://www.animalsaustralia.org/features/reasons-to-adopt.php

and sharing the Know Your Best Friend video online, you can help drag puppy factory secrets into the light!
http://www.knowyourbestfriend.com/
 
Las Vegas bans sale of animals from puppy mills
Associated Press
Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016 | 9:53 a.m.

The Las Vegas City Council is banning the sale of animals from so-called "puppy mills," or breeders who raise a large number of animals for sale, often in unpleasant conditions.
KSNV-TV reports that the council on Wednesday approved the ordinance that stops pet stores from selling puppies, kittens and piglets obtained by puppy mills.
Existing pet stores will have two years to comply. They will have to sell animals from shelters, rescue operations, or humane societies
http://lasvegassun.com/news/2016/jan/07/las-vegas-bans-sale-of-animals-from-puppy-mills/.

More cities with pet store sales bans
http://bestfriends.org/resources/jurisdictions-retail-pet-sale-bans
 
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Massive Puppy Mills Get Permission To Breed Even More Dogs

Amish farmers in Minnesota have been granted permits for dog breeding operations — massive operations many have condemned as puppy mills.

Photos from the farms in Utica and Saratoga Township area of Minnesota appear to show dogs in deplorable conditions, covered in feces, some too weak to stand on their own.

But that hasn't stopped the Winona County Board of Commissioners from signing off on permits, the Winona Post reports. In all, six farmers — David Yoder, Menno Yoder, LeRoy Yoder, Toby Detweiler, Henry Yoder and Menno Bontrager — will be allowed to breed dozens of dogs on their properties.
The permits come with the condition that the number of dogs at each property must be curtailed.

LeRoy Yoder had requested a permit for 150 adult dogs at his site, but the board allowed him no more than 85. The other breeders will be permitted a maximum of 50 dogs per farm.

The decision comes despite extensive citations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) — and the fact that the operations had been running illegally.
Photos from a 2011 inspection of LeRoy Yoder's farm, reported on by NBC affiliate KTTC, show dogs in harrowing conditions, including animals with rotten teeth, eyes that no longer opened and fur so acutely matted, it ripped the dog's flesh.

Just two years later, the USDA cited Yoder with 11 violations, including animals with open, rotting wounds and bowls covered in feces.
Last year, City Pages reports, the Yoder property housed 170 adult dogs and 133 puppies.

The county's decision to grant these farms permits fueled a storm of protest among animal lovers.
"Shame on Winona County. Shame on the commissioners," wrote animal activist and author Becky Monroe in a local newspaper editorial. "I don't know how you will sleep at night knowing hundreds of dogs are suffering in silence because of what you decided."

A Facebook group, dedicated to chronicling puppy mills in Minnesota, has published the names and addresses of eight Amish men, claiming they sell the animals to pet stores across the country.
Meanwhile, an estimated 80,000 to 90,000 unwanted animals are euthanized each year in Minnesota shelters.
A protest near LeRoy Yoder's farm is being planned for this weekend, with organizers hoping to "draw attention to the deplorable conditions these animals are forced to live in.

Want to join the fight against puppy mills? Here's what you can do.

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues...y_mills.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/

https://www.thedodo.com/amish-puppy-mills-winona-1544537772.html
 
87 Million Missing Puppies?

The commercial breeding industry is fear mongering about a shortage of millions of puppies to meet demand over the next 10 years and they are not alone.
Others have taken a more measured tone, but likewise are suggesting that animal advocates need to embrace some commercial breeding to address what they claim will be an upcoming shortage in dogs.
Nonsense.

Despite more widespread and affordable sterilization, puppies are in no danger of disappearing from the U.S.; there are still a million dogs or more dying for a home in shelters every year; we can transport animals in and out of communities to meet demand, including community dogs and dogs from other countries if the need arises; and of course, we can do a better job of marketing the ethics and benefits of adopting young adult, adult, and mature animals to change community preferences.

Given the increasing success of the No Kill movement, the cliché that no one will adopt out certain breeds, adults, or animals with impediments has been thoroughly debunked–except by shelter directors looking to justify their own failures.
While the vast majority of dogs entering shelters are young and have no impediments to adoption, even those who do are finding homes in those cities were the shelter has embraced a culture of lifesaving.
Animals are being saved and finding homes, regardless of perceived “breed,” whether they are young or old, healthy or sick, unweaned, injured, or traumatized.

So if the combination of sterilization and proactive, innovative, and competent sheltering allows a community to drop intakes at local shelters significantly enough so that local demand for animals can no longer be met, the community can begin importing animals from high-kill rate jurisdictions, saving those lives, too, as some shelters in No Kill communities are currently doing. Until all communities become No Kill, this is a very good thing to have happen.

In short, the sky is in no danger of falling.

So what is motivating this doom and gloom scenario, at least among the commercial breeding industry? Pet Business magazine writes that, “An increasing number of local pet sale bans and a steady decline in the number of commercial breeders have undoubtedly decreased the supply of healthy, well-bred puppies available in the marketplace, and without some intervention, the trend shows no sign of slowing.” (Even if communities don’t ban the sale of these animals, if more Americans adopt dogs and cats from shelters rather than acquiring them from alternative sources like pet stores, demand for commercially bred animals will necessarily decline, leading in some cases to closure of pet stores and breeders).
If this continues, they warn, “ownership of a healthy dog [will] become[ ] a luxury, so too will the ownership of a healthy pet store.”

Not surprisingly, they are calling on municipalities to stop banning the retail sale of purposely-bred animals as many cities, such as Palm Springs, CA and Camden County, NJ., have done. In the latter, a local pet store reliant on puppy mill dogs closed and reopened with a new mission: rescuing puppies from the street, from shelters, and even from U.S. territories, like Puerto Rico. That, too, is a good thing to have happen–unless you are a puppy mill.
In other words, follow the money.

As more cities ban the sale of commercially bred animals in pet stores, those stores and the mills that supply them have been filing lawsuits in order to protect industry profits and losing. Federal Judges in Rhode Island, Arizona, and Illinois have upheld local laws that ban the sale of commercially-bred dogs and cats from pet stores. Pet stores in cities such as Chicago and Phoenix are now only allowed to adopt out rescued animals from shelters and rescue groups with which they partner.
These laws were passed based on concerns about the treatment of dogs in puppy mills and in order to increase the number of rescued animals in need of homes who find them.
They also strike to the heart of so much animal suffering: their commodification. When there is profit to be made on the backs of animals, history shows that those backs are often strained and broken.

Indeed, puppy mills fuel inbreeding, provide minimal to no veterinary care, lack of adequate food and shelter, lack of human socialization, overcrowded cages, and cause neglect, abuse, and the killing of animals when they are no longer profitable. To protect dogs and truly promote healthy communities, America should end the commercial breeding of dogs, and all the harm that doing so entails.

https://www.facebook.com/nathanwinograd
 
Victory! Puppy Mill Dogs Win Big in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has become the latest major city to crack down on pet stores over concerns about the inhumane conditions companion animals are bred and raised in.

Earlier this year Councilman Kenyatta Johnson introduced a bill that would ban pet stores from selling dogs and cats who come from commercial breeders and would require stores that want to offer animals to work with shelters and rescues instead. It also included a provision that addresses unregulated sales in outdoor spaces, including flea markets and parking lots, that would shut them down.

The City Council just stepped up in support to make Philadelphia a more compassionate and humane city by passing it.

The ultimate goals are to protect companion animals from cruelty, and to protect consumers from unwittingly taking home pets with heartbreaking and potentially expensive health or behavioral problems by closing the city’s doors to commercial breeders.

Even though commercial breeders that sell in pet stores are required to be licensed and inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Animal Welfare Act, the bill points out that current state and federal regulations aren’t doing enough to protect puppies and kittens being sold.
There are still numerous problems with “over-breeding, inbreeding, minimal to non-existent veterinary care, lack of adequate and nutritious food, water and shelter; lack of socialization, lack of adequate space and lack of adequate exercise.”

According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), there are an estimated 10,000 puppy mills in the U.S. churning out hundreds of thousands of dogs every year, while Pennsylvania is home to 900 of them, which makes this a big win for companion animals.

Hopefully it will also encourage more people to adopt animals who are already waiting for their forever homes. According to the bill, in 2012 alone, Philadelphia Animal Care and Control, which is just one of several shelters in the city, took in close to 30,000 dogs and cats and euthanized more than 11,000 of them.

While commercial breeders have their supporters, growing awareness about the problems inherent with large-scale breeding have led to more and more places around the country to put a stop to it.

Now Philadelphia is joining a growing list of major cities that have enacted legislation to keep commercial breeders from selling in their stores, including Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, and Boston, which passed legislation last month.

For more info on how to help mill dogs, check out the Puppy Mills Project, National Mill Dog Rescue, the ASPCA’s No Pet Store Puppies and the HSUS’ Puppy Mills Campaign.



Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/victory-puppy-mill-dogs-win-big-in-philadelphia.html#ixzz46ebmnxYu
 
[video=youtube;ChAonBhGpqc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChAonBhGpqc[/video]

It upsets me that those people treating dogs so bad are not punished at all.
But it´s up to us too.. don´t shop, adopt.
 
Your Beloved Pet is Their Marketable Inventory
When I first decided to move my advocacy to an actual website with content, as opposed to just having a Youtube channel, my plan was to expose people who care for animals to some subjects they might not otherwise know about. I considered myself pretty informed on “animal issues” a decade ago but I just wasn’t. There are a host of serious issues related to companion animals in our country that are just not on the “public radar,” for lack of a better description. Most people who care for and spend their lives with companion animals are focused on what affects them personally and don’t spend much time thinking about issues outside of their own household or community. One of the first issues I learned about years ago was about puppy mills.

Most Americans have heard the phrase puppy mill and don’t give it a whole lot of thought. I want you to think about what it means because whether you know it or not, puppy mills affect us all, even people who don’t consider themselves “animal people.”

Puppy mills are commercial dog breeding operations where dogs are produced in large numbers for profit and with little or no regard for the “breeder stock.” As I have written about before, this is big business in America. Whether a mill has hundreds of dogs or a handful of dogs, they are infusing dogs into the market and into American homes by the millions each year. The products pretty much sell themselves. Puppies are cute and it is easy for us to either not think about where they came from or not care
about it.

At the same time that mills are producing millions of dogs a year and making big money off of our love affair with the canine species, millions of dogs are being destroyed in our “animal shelters” each year using our tax dollars. You may think those dogs are sick or damaged in some way. You may even think that they simply cannot be saved because we just have too many of them. The reality is that the vast majority of dogs destroyed in shelters every day are perfectly healthy and treatable and there are homes for those dogs. They are destroyed because that’s what we have been doing in America for about 150 years and it’s just easier to keep doing it than to stop and ask “why?” More and more no kill communities are being created across the country with each passing month and year, but most shelters in most cities are places where animals essentially go to die using our money and while we are blamed for that process. The mind set is that if we were just more responsible, if we cared more, if we spayed and neutered more, if we did not treat our pets as disposable, etc., the animals would not have to die.

It is not a coincidence that millions of dogs are bred in mills and then millions of dogs die in our shelters. Millers, both large and small, put millions of products in front of us which we find incredibly hard to resist and we keep buying them. As long as we keep buying them, millers will keep producing them. And as long as millers keep producing dogs by the million, we will continue to destroy dogs in our shelters who have been overlooked or stereotyped, simply because they are unfortunate enough to have landed in our sheltering system. Yes, there are people who surrender animals to shelters and who should never have an animal in the first place. But not every animal entering a shelter is there due to someone’s callousness or irresponsibility. Pets get lost, people die, people get sick, houses burn down, people lose jobs and people often to not make the best decisions about their animals when life gets really hard and they aren’t thinking clearly. Every shelter animal deserves to be treated as an individual and to be given an opportunity for a new life. To do otherwise blames the animal for the failings of our society and of us as individuals.

I got an email recently from an advocate in New Jersey named Candace Quiles about a dog auction being held in Missouri on August 6, 2016. A miller with a terrible reputation for abuse is auctioning off his “stock” through a company called Southwest Auction Service and Marketing. I was contacted to see if there was something I could do to stop the auction. I cannot. Dog auctions are perfectly legal in our society and they happen all the time. This is what millers do and this is part of the business of puppy milling. Millers breed dogs, auction them off to brokers, individuals or even to rescue groups. Some in the rescue community have been known to pay thousands of dollars for a dog while describing their behavior as “rescue," leaving millers laughing all the way to the bank. Make no mistake. People who mass produce dogs for a living think no more of those dogs than they would any other form of livestock. The USDA is to thank for the mill industry and it is high time that the USDA got out of the business of regulating that industry so we can work to bring an end to them once and for all. Just because farming dogs is easier than farming cotton or soy beans doesn’t make it right. And just because rescuers can come up with 5 grand to "rescue" a dog in an auction doesn't mean they should. A sale is a sale is a sale.

After I was contacted about the auction, I looked into a little bit even thought I knew I could not stop it. I found the sales list for the auction. If you squint just a little bit and don’t look too closely, you might think this was an auction for used farm equipment or auto parts. It is an auction of living, breathing, feeling, sentient creatures and while those hosting it and attending it may find it perfectly normal business activity, I find it sickening and horrific.

Puppy mills may very well be one of the two greatest public shames in the American society regarding companion animals, the second being our broken animal sheltering system. We consider ourselves animal-friendly. We hold ourselves above other cultures where animals we keep as companions are consumed or bred for fur. But how can we possibly claim moral high ground while mills still flourish in our country and while we still kill dogs by the millions with our collective funds?

Man’s Best Friend. Made in America. Shame on us.

Position Clarification on Auction Payment for Dogs
I received a comment on this blog yesterday from a rescuer related to my position on rescuers who go to auctions. I want to clarify my position in light of her comments to me.

I fully support organizations and even rescuers who work will millers to have mill dogs relinquished to them and which then turn around and work to educate the public toward ending the mill industry. I have volunteered for a national organization which does just that for many years. I even support organizations which pay some small, nominal fee to save breeder dogs through direct contact with the miller and not as part of the auction setting.

I do not support people who go to auctions and who pay large sums of money for dogs using the label of rescue. I have first-hand accounts from people who have been to auctions to have seen thousands of dollars paid for a single dog. They have seen rescuers buy puppies for huge sums while leaving the parent dogs behind. In some cases, this behavior has driven up the prices.

There is just no polite way to say this so I'll just say it. If you think that going to an auction and paying for puppies or dogs under the name of rescue is a good way to spend your donor funds or even your own personal funds, you are enabling the entire process. You are putting money into the millers' pockets and to them you are no different than a broker or than someone who will take the dogs and sell them to a pet store to then sell to the public. For them, this is not an emotional topic at all. By making it an emotional topic yourself, you are helping them breed and sell more dogs.

I understand that this is an upsettting topic for most of us. But if you behave emotionally about a multi-million dollar industry, you will not change it. Yes, you can say that you “saved that one dog” and “kept her from living a life of servitude.” But you have also provided money to that miller to keep his or her business going. You are helping to perpetuate the very industry you say you oppose so fervently. If you really want to help mill dogs and end mills, saving dog A, B, C, or D is not having the effect you desire and is having the opposite effect.

The person who emailed me said that I am not in a position to judge because I have never been to an auction. It is true that I have not personally attended a dog auction. But dozens of my “clients” have and what they tell me from first-hand experience is good enough for me. I do not need to go to an auction to know that buying dogs is not helpful related to ending this industry. I am equally hard on rescuers who condone shelter killing by helping regressive shelters which kill healthy and treatable pets while telling themselves they are providing love and care to those animals in their last days, as if their deaths are some foregone conclusion. It is not. And their silence is their consent. I do not need to be in the "E room" while a happy dog or cat is being killed to know it is wrong.

If you think that paying $5,000 for a mill dog to “rescue” that one dog is a noble effort, consider this. You could use that same money to help many more relinquished mill dogs be rehabilitated and find homes while helping to educate the public to stop the industry. And if you didn't pay big money for the sick or injured dogs you see, they may very well be relinquished to an organization which will help them.
http://www.paws4change.com/blog/your-beloved-pet-is-their-marketable-inventory
 
so sad that this goes on in a supposedly civilized country. Truly sad and shameful for all of us. Poor animals...
 
Puppy Farming

The Illegal Puppy Trade

The growing demand for pure breed puppies in the UK and Western Europe has lead to an increase in the number of puppy farms being set up in Eastern Europe to supply private buyers, pet shops and puppy dealers. This has been driven by the relaxation of rules regarding pet animals coming into the UK.



The demand for cheap puppies is strong, profit margins are extremely high and the risk of being caught is low. Even if an illegal trade is discovered, the fines to be paid by the trader are manageable and the next transportation alone will more than sufficiently cover the losses of the previous.



Many people are interested in pure breed puppies, but they don’t want to pay a lot of money. Most of the puppies from Eastern European Countries are offered cheaply via the internet, with fake information and documents and accompanied by very cute pictures which hide the depressing reality.



In the mass breeding business dogs are generally not housed or treated in a manner adequate to their needs. Nor are the mothers or puppies provided with the medical care they require. Dogs languish under the worst conditions confined in basements, sheds and garages. The puppies and their mothers are kept in small, cramped spaces, with little lighting, no ventilation or heat. The breeding dogs are sometimes chained and are not given any exercise, often underfed and mistreated.



The puppies bred on these illegal farms are likely to travel hundreds of miles, over several days in horrendous conditions and may be suffering from medical conditions. Some simply won’t make it to their destination and will die during the journey. A certain level of illness and death is expected, and even calculated for, in this cold-hearted business. The puppies can end up anywhere in Europe, but some will end up in the UK, to be sold on as cheap ‘homebred’ pedigree dogs.



These so-called “bargains” come attached with a high price. By buying a puppy cheaply the people support a cruel, illegal trade. The breeding dogs are treated appallingly. The puppy that is bought has not been socialized and may suffer from behavioural problems. Removed from their mothers far too early, some as young as four weeks old, the puppies are often sick, because they are not vaccinated, there is no medical care given to them in the beginning of their lives and sometimes they carry genetic diseases, because the breeders do not monitor inbreeding and good lines of breeding. There is also the slim risk that the puppies may carry rabies, if the puppy is identified as illegal the owner may be responsible for paying the quarantine fees.


We always recommend adopting a rescue puppy or a dog rather than buying one. However, if people are determined to buy, we suggest that they always buy from a reputable breeder, that they insist on seeing the mother of the puppies, that they check that the puppy is healthy, has had its injections and is at least eight weeks old before it leaves its mother. We strongly recommend to avoid buying from online classified sites especially from people advertising different breeds of puppies for sale and from pet shops, which may be supplied by puppy farms.

http://www.four-paws.org.uk/campaigns/companion-animals/puppy-farming/
 
The Illegal Puppy Trade

The growing demand for pure breed puppies in the UK and Western Europe has lead to an increase in the number of puppy farms being set up in Eastern Europe to supply private buyers, pet shops and puppy dealers. This has been driven by the relaxation of rules regarding pet animals coming into the UK.



The demand for cheap puppies is strong, profit margins are extremely high and the risk of being caught is low. Even if an illegal trade is discovered, the fines to be paid by the trader are manageable and the next transportation alone will more than sufficiently cover the losses of the previous.



Many people are interested in pure breed puppies, but they don’t want to pay a lot of money. Most of the puppies from Eastern European Countries are offered cheaply via the internet, with fake information and documents and accompanied by very cute pictures which hide the depressing reality.



In the mass breeding business dogs are generally not housed or treated in a manner adequate to their needs. Nor are the mothers or puppies provided with the medical care they require. Dogs languish under the worst conditions confined in basements, sheds and garages. The puppies and their mothers are kept in small, cramped spaces, with little lighting, no ventilation or heat. The breeding dogs are sometimes chained and are not given any exercise, often underfed and mistreated.



The puppies bred on these illegal farms are likely to travel hundreds of miles, over several days in horrendous conditions and may be suffering from medical conditions. Some simply won’t make it to their destination and will die during the journey. A certain level of illness and death is expected, and even calculated for, in this cold-hearted business. The puppies can end up anywhere in Europe, but some will end up in the UK, to be sold on as cheap ‘homebred’ pedigree dogs.



These so-called “bargains” come attached with a high price. By buying a puppy cheaply the people support a cruel, illegal trade. The breeding dogs are treated appallingly. The puppy that is bought has not been socialized and may suffer from behavioural problems. Removed from their mothers far too early, some as young as four weeks old, the puppies are often sick, because they are not vaccinated, there is no medical care given to them in the beginning of their lives and sometimes they carry genetic diseases, because the breeders do not monitor inbreeding and good lines of breeding. There is also the slim risk that the puppies may carry rabies, if the puppy is identified as illegal the owner may be responsible for paying the quarantine fees.


We always recommend adopting a rescue puppy or a dog rather than buying one. However, if people are determined to buy, we suggest that they always buy from a reputable breeder, that they insist on seeing the mother of the puppies, that they check that the puppy is healthy, has had its injections and is at least eight weeks old before it leaves its mother. We strongly recommend to avoid buying from online classified sites especially from people advertising different breeds of puppies for sale and from pet shops, which may be supplied by puppy farms.

http://www.four-paws.org.uk/campaigns/companion-animals/puppy-farming/
 
These 5 Organizations Are Fighting to Make Abusive Puppy Mills a Thing of the Past in the U.S.

Puppy mills. We’ve heard about the deplorable conditions and have seen the heart-wrenching photos of terrified dogs being rescued from these awful places. We’ve also been told about the connection between puppy mills and pet stores or online sales, and how we need to be careful consumers – or better yet, choose adoption – when looking to add a furry friend to our family. More people are becoming aware of puppy mills, but even with this spreading knowledge the industry continues to thrive, and it will continue to do so until consumers stop buying dogs online and from pet stores.

There are still approximately 10,000 puppy mills operating in the Unites States, where dogs are being subjected to a life filled with nothing but fear, pain, and misery. As with any advocacy effort, education is key in putting an end to this horrific, greed-driven industry. And it’s through education that we can inspire others to advocate on behalf of animals. The passion and dedication of the people behind each of these organizations serve as an inspiration to everyone who hopes to make a difference by taking a stand against puppy mills.

1. The Puppy Mill Project

The Puppy Mill Project works to generate awareness through education, outreach and legislative efforts. Their billboards, along with advertisements on buses and theaters, help educate consumers throughout Chicago and beyond. The organization also holds peaceful demonstrations outside of pet stores who source their puppies from puppy mills. The Puppy Mill Project’s passionate activism and legislative efforts have resulted in the enactment of two ordinances in the state of Illinois banning the retail sale of dogs and cats. Read more about their amazing efforts and how you can get involved by visiting their website.

2. Bailing out Benji

Bailing out Benji’s advocacy efforts focus on the issue of puppy mills in Iowa and Texas. Their outreach programs include speaking at events and staging peaceful pet store demonstrations to educate people about the connection between pet stores and puppy mills. Their founder was one of the advocates featured in the documentary Dog By Dog, which exposes the money trail behind the United States’ puppy mill and agriculture industry. Check out Bailing out Benji’s website for information about the puppy mill crisis and what you can do to help.

3 National Mill Dog Rescue



For almost 10 years, National Mill Dog Rescue has been working to rescue and rehabilitate dogs from puppy mills throughout the United States. They have rescued more than 11,000 dogs and continue to educate the public about the plight of animals trapped in puppy mills. Lily, the beloved companion of their founder, and Harley, a tiny Chihuahua who was rescued from a puppy mill by the organization, served as a heroic voice for puppy mill dogs everywhere. Their legacies live on through National Mill Rescue’s continued efforts to help animals in need.

4. Hearts United for Animals

Hearts United for Animals operates a no-kill animal rescue and sanctuary dedicated to helping animals who have suffered from abuse and neglect. The have rescued over 10, 000 dogs from puppy mills and work to advocate against this horrific industry through education and by promoting adoption. Their print ads and billboards help educate people about the conditions that exist in puppy mills, as well as how pet stores are connected to this greed-driven industry. And they inspire future generations through outreach programs at local schools that help teach children about the humane treatment of animals.

5. Companion Animal Protection Society

Extensive research and undercover investigations across multiple states have helped the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) expose the horrific conditions that exist in puppy mills – and uncover untruths told to customers when inquiring about the origin of a pet store’s puppies. The organization aims to promote the humane treatment of animals through education and legislative efforts, and ensure licensed breeders and brokers stay in compliance with state and federal laws. Their efforts have helped countless animal welfare organizations prosecute animal cruelty and fight against puppy mills in their communities.

Be a Voice for Dogs Suffering in Puppy Mills

We all hope for a day where puppy mills no longer exist. Here are a few simple things you can do to help us get closer to that day.

Support legislation that improves the lives of animals in your community.
Participate in peaceful demonstrations that help educate consumers about the pet store/puppy mill connection.
Educate your friends and family by sharing information about how animals in puppy mills are treated, and why they should always consider adoption.

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/organizations-ending-puppy-mills/
 
Outraged Irish celebrities take a stand against ‘horrific’ puppy farmer

Louis Walsh, Mary Black and RTÉ’s Sharon Ní Bheoláin are among a group of celebrities who have taken a stand against one of the country’s biggest puppy breeders, the Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal.
They have lodged a formal objection to Ray Cullivan’s bid for retention permission for his puppy farm in Poles, Co. Cavan.

It comes as a separate online backlash against country music singer and puppy farmer Eamon Jackson – who is also from Cavan – forced a UK tour to be cancelled after an MoS story about him was shared repeatedly on social media.

Some 35 celebrities, including Ms Ní Bheoláin, Walsh, broadcaster Maia Dunphy, and singers Rebecca Storm, Tommy Fleming, Linda Martin and Brian Kennedy lodged an objection with Cavan County Council.
Their protest followed a BBC Panorama exposé into the ‘horrific conditions’ on Mr Cullivan’s farm. It has since emerged he was running an industrial scale puppy farm despite being prohibited from using the buildings for commercial trade.
In their objection, the stars said: ‘We are a group of Irish musicians, artists and TV personalities deeply concerned about animal cruelty and specifically, given the present circumstances, canine welfare and puppy farms in Cavan.

‘BBC Panorama documented the appalling and inhumane conditions in which hundreds of dogs were being kept on Mr Cullivan’s puppy farm. The use of portable crates, specifically prohibited by the Dog Breeding Establishment Act guidelines, were used to confine bitches who had, or were about to, whelp.
‘The belated statement put out by Cavan County Council that these boxes were no longer in use did little to assuage widespread public fears and concern about this dog breeding establishment,’ the objection stated. They also called on Cavan County Council to take enforcement action against Mr Cullivan.

When contacted by the MoS, Mr Cullivan said that he had not seen the submissions and was making no comment.

He had been given permission in 2006 to build stables and an arena for domestic purposes. He then proceeded to use the buildings for the lucrative puppy farming business, seemingly in contravention of his permission.
This only came to light after secret filming by Panorama showed the ‘horrific’ conditions in which dogs were kept.
The broadcast shocked viewers and provoked intense criticism of Cavan County Council, whose officials inspected the puppy farm six times but found ‘no animal welfare concerns’.

BBC reporter Sam Poling said that what she saw on the farm ‘will haunt me for a long time to come’. She added that nothing prepared her for seeing ‘barns filled with dogs, every breed, age and size, many cowering in corners, others shaking in cages, with little or no bedding’.

In another development, Cavan country singer and puppy farmer Eamonn Jackson’s planned UK tour has been cancelled by the six venues he had booked to play because of public opposition.
Last week, the MoS revealed that Mr Jackson – also known as Eamon Mulvaney – had hundreds of dogs more than his licence permitted at his puppy farm at Redhills Co Cavan.
He did not respond to calls.
http://evoke.ie/news/irish-news/out...es-take-a-stand-against-horrific-puppy-farmer
 
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