Dear friend,
As you're a valued supporter of HSHV and of animals, we'd love to share timely topics on animal welfare with you. Following is one in a regular series of blog posts by HSHV's CEO/President.
Adopter beware: The word “rescue” may not mean what you think
it means.
Recently the Washington
Post investigated the alarming practice of so-called “rescue”
groups buying
puppies at auction from commercial breeders, known as puppy mills.
Here’s what we know about the puppy mill industry: Nearly
all pups that come from a commercial breeder are the result of emotional and
physical torture. Breeder dogs are kept in cruel conditions: tiny, dirty,
wire-bottom cages, where they are treated as machines of production, churning
out litter after litter. They receive no human companionship or comfort. They
are barely able to move, let alone run or play. A sickening joke played on
“man’s best friend.”
Here’s what we know about businesses that profit off of animals:
If there is money to be made, the practice will continue. Because it may
cut into profits, compassion and quality care will only be applied if required
by law, customers and/or public pressure. Like buying a fur coat, buying dogs
from puppy mills just feeds the greedy beast of animal cruelty.
Here’s what we know about the animal welfare industry:
There is NO regulation of rescue groups. Anyone can call themselves a
rescue. Of course, there are many amazingly selfless people in animal
rescue doing wonderful work, but there are also hoarders and charlatans
galore. Sixty percent of people charged with hoarding call themselves
“rescues.” And now we have people who flagrantly manipulate the animal-loving
public with words like “rescue” and “saved” so that they can buy and sell
expensive breeds of dogs for personal gain.
“Adopt, don’t shop” has become a strong national value. That is an
incredible thing. The public’s growing willingness to adopt homeless animals
has helped dramatically reduce shelter euthanasia. But it should also be
driving down the puppy mill business. Instead, the unscrupulous are helping
puppy mills flourish by bringing in tons of cash from swindled donors.
It is true that in certain parts of the country the homeless dog population
has decreased through adoption and sterilization, leaving few puppies for those
who prefer to adopt young animals. But there is no shortage that supports
the need for puppy mills. There will always be unwanted and abandoned
animals left at shelters, and there are many places across the country still
drowning in puppies and kittens needing homes.
We at HSHV are very fortunate to have a record-high adoption rate and local
pet sterilization rate that allows us to make room for animals from places
without such fortune. Our Love Train
program gives animals from over-crowded
shelters a “ticket” (possibly their only way out alive) to HSHV and into a
loving home.
Rest assured, HSHV never pays people to breed, and we don’t buy animals.
Driving up the demand to create more, in torturous conditions no less,
when there is already a surplus is counter to everything we stand for.
We are so grateful for animal lovers who want to
help animals in need. But it’s important to do your homework
before supporting any animal group. And no
matter where you acquire your companion animal, be absolutely sure to see
the care of the animals firsthand so that
you don’t accidentally feed the beast of animal cruelty.
Tanya
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