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Pennsylvania... Puppy Mill Capital, USA???

justonemorepet — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:44:42 +0000

Thanks to “Nightline” for the episode about puppy mills in Pennsylvania. Watch the video, and think about it before purchasing a puppy in a petstore. Sadly by “saving” that one pup from the store, you are causing several more to suffer. This will only stop if we quit shopping and supporting these types of stores!

Source: Sandi’s K9 Management

Posted: Just One More Pet

Puppy Mill Capital, USA?

Sandi Hansen — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:07:02 +0000

Thanks to “Nightline” for the episode about puppy mills in Pennsylvania. Watch the video, and think about it before purchasing a puppy in a petstore. By “saving” that one pup from the store, you are causing several more to suffer. This will only stop if we quit shopping and supporting these types of stores.

Thumbs Down to Petland

Sandi Hansen — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:21:28 +0000

I have always been aware of the awful conditions that puppy mill dogs come from. Trying to educate the public on this subject, however, has been a huge challenge. When stores such as Petland continue to supply the ever-demanding and unknowing puppy buyer, it is too common that individuals will feel as though they are “rescuing” a pup from the store. Not seeing the conditions that the pups have come from, or that its parents continue to live in, it is literally an “out of sight, out of mind” situation. Worse yet is the fact that individuals are being told by Petland employees that the puppies have come from “reputable breeders”. I sadly think that the majority of these workers truly believe that to be the case. However, I find it incredibly difficult to believe that management doesn’t know the real situation. The sad reality is that the public is flat out being lied to and told whatever they want to hear in order to make the sale final.

Having worked with puppies from puppy mills and reputable breeders both, I can assure you that the puppy mill pups are NEVER developmentally healthy. I attribute that to the fact that they have not had proper stimulation, socialization and/or treatment during their first couple of months of life. In fact, the majority of these pups have accepted the fact that living in their own waste is perfectly acceptable. These pups are difficult to housetrain as a result, and are oftentimes turned over to rescues and shelters due to housetraining issues. It frustrates me as I see it over and over again, while the public is kept in the dark and refusing to believe that their puppy has come from these implorable conditions.

Be in the dark no more, people! The Humane Society of the United States has recently completed an investigation of Petland, one of the nations top retailers of puppies. I am attaching HSUS’s video investigation to help spread the word and educate the public about the sickening subject of puppy mills. I hope after you watch it that you will join in the trend of no longer supporting stores like Petland.

Be educated…

Set Your DVR's!

Sandi Hansen — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:37:33 +0000

I am happy to report that tomorrow, Oprah Winfrey will be dedicating her show to the horrors of puppy mills in this country. If you aren’t able to watch it when it airs, make sure to set your DVR’s to record as this will be a show you will not want to miss. Kudos to Oprah and Lisa Ling for helping to educate the public on this sensitive subject!

800 Dogs Rescued From Tucson Triple-Wide - Update

paige32 — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:39:55 +0000

Well, it appears that nearly all of the dogs that were seized from the Tucson triple-wide last week have found new homes. Thank you to all who provided homes as well as to all who offered to provide homes for these animals.

The Arizona Humane Society reported that after the news reports were released regarding the rescue of the dogs, hundreds of people showed up at the Southern Arizona Humane Society premises in the hopes of adopting one of the dogs. Apparently, emotions were running high as some shoving matches broke out while waiting in line. The sheriff’s department had to be called to clear out the mob of people and the Humane Society location closed it’s doors in order to organize and prepare for the following day. They did reopen the following day and 500 people lined up to await the possibility of adopting one of the rescued dogs.

The Humane Society also reported that they received offers of adoption from individuals all across the nation as well as from Germany and Australia.

I am happy to hear about the animals that have found loving homes after being rescued from, what I call, a puppy mill. It does appear, however, that no charges will be filed against the individuals. I don’t quite understand how this can happen when they were not just hording the dogs but also selling the dogs. To me, this sounds like a puppy mill and some action should be taken against the couple. This isn’t an elderly couple who loved dogs and got overwhelmed with 20 or so animals (which is still a lot). This is a couple who had 800…..I’ll say it again….EIGHT HUNDRED dogs and had the authorities not rescued the dogs, they would have had over 800 dogs within a day or two as dogs were GIVING BIRTH on the way to the shelter! This is inexcusable and something should be done.

What are your thoughts? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Nearly 800 Dogs Removed From Triple-Wide In Tucson, Arizona

paige32 — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 16:35:43 +0000

Monday March 10 and Wednesday March 12, Animal Welfare officials, with the assistance of the Pima County Sheriff’s deputies, removed about 800 dogs from a triple-wide mobile home. Among the breeds rescued were Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Chinese Cresteds, Lhasa Apsos and other terrier breeds.

Some of the dogs were pregnant and began giving birth during their transport to various shelters in Tucson. Some of the other dogs were missing paws from animal attacks as well as getting their feet caught in the outside fencing. The elderly couple who lived in the mobile home claimed they just got overwhelmed trying to take care of all the animals, however, they were breeding and offering dogs for sale.

It makes you wonder how they were selling these animals. First, the dogs roamed freely throughout the home and property. Their was no controlled breeding being done. It is unclear how they were able to properly feed 800 dogs and who knows what type of diseases, illnesses and genetic defects the dogs would end up having. According to a spokesperson for the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, “The home was definitely in very bad condition, urine and feces all over the home, in the kitchen and bedroom, with a very strong odor”.

Yet, these dogs were being offered for sale. As a matter of fact, this operation was reported by a woman who purchased a Chihuahua at the home.

According to news reports, no charges have yet been filed, but authorities are continuing to investigate.

I am appalled at this case, however, it is just one more reason why those who are looking for a puppy for sale need to perform their due diligence when choosing a breeder. The individuals who purchased puppies from this couple have no idea of the lineage of the puppy they received, the type of inbreeding that occurred and what type of health issues will present themselves later in the pup’s life.

How Does NextDayPets Handle Scams?

paige32 — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:21:34 +0000

I recently posed the same question to NextdayPets.com that I posed to Puppyfind.com regarding how they handle scams and puppy mills on their site.

Since I posted Puppyfind’s reply in an earlier post, I wanted to do the same for NextDayPets.com as I think it is important that we have a clear understanding of what these websites do to protect their users.

I have a feeling that many consumers assume the websites work with the sellers on their website and screen them to make sure they are legitimate breeders. Unfortunately, this is an impossible task.

Here is NextDayPets.com’s reply:

Paige,
It is impossible to go to all individuals homes and/or place aof business to check on them. We monitor our site on a daily basis for scams. We implemented ID Verify on our site. All advertisers must complete and pass this prior to listing any ads on our site. This process verifies the advertisers identity. We base our site off of a complaint basis. 3 complaints and we remove the advertiser. Depending on the severity of the complaint, we may remove them earlier.

Thank you for using NextDayPets.com

Best Regards,
NextDayPets.com Customer Care

As you can see, it is vitally important that you perform your own due diligence when choosing a breeder. Classified pet websites can only do so much.

Do not gamble with your heart, your wallet, and most importantly, your puppy’s life.

Have You Been Scammed On Your Puppy Purchase? Tell Me Your Story

paige32 — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 06:04:31 +0000

This is a call to anyone who has been scammed during your purchase of a puppy. Either you didn’t receive a puppy, just lost your money or you were taken for a ride by a so-called breeder and ended up purchasing a sick puppy.

I don’t care if you found the breeder online, in your local paper or through a basic internet search. I want to hear your stories.

Here is the information that I want you to provide:

1. Give your first name and the State that you reside in.
2. Give the kennel name that you purchased from.
3. Give a brief synopsis of the problem you had. (was the dog sick, lack of promised paperwork, etc.)
4. Did you contact the breeder and what was their response?
5. Did you have a contract prior to purchase?
6. At what point during the period of initial contact to transaction completion did you a) see the contract, b) sign the contract, c) received the copy of the contract?
7. Did the breeder offer to abide by their contract but you wanted a different resolution?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Avoid The Scams and Puppymills. Find Out How To Safely Purchase A Dog Online.

paige32 — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:26:32 +0000

“How To Safely Buy A Puppy On The Internet“.

This is the only comprehensive guide on how to find a reputable breeder, avoid puppy scams and puppy mills and purchase a happy, healthy puppy that will fit your family dynamic to a tee.

Internet fraud is on the rise. Scammers have invaded every nook and cranny on the internet. But the internet is still the best source of up-to-date information. You can sit down and find anything you can imagine on the internet.

Puppy classified websites are increasing in popularity. More and more people begin their search for the perfect puppy without leaving their home. Finding your puppy can be a fun and rewarding experience. But you have to be wary of the pitfalls and avoid the traps set for you by those who do not have your (or the puppy’s) best interest at heart.

Do not become one of the statistics. Do not be the next person to post on the internet how they were scammed. Purchase the popular ebook “How To Safely Buy A Puppy On The Internet” and get a buying guide that will not only teach you how to recognize the scammers, but provide you with a list of questions to ask as well as tips and ideas to make your buying experience a positive one.

Purchase your copy of “How To Safely Buy A Puppy On The Internet” today for $5.99.

Here is just some of the information provided within this book:

** How to recognize and avoid getting scammed
** What to look for in a legitimate breeder
** How to research your breeder to ensure they are legitimate
** Steps to take to protect yourself through the purchase process
** A printable questionnaire to use when contacting breeders
** Tips on staying organized and staying informed
** And much more

Upon successfully submitting your payment, you will be immediately directed to the download page in order to download your e-book and begin your journey to safely finding the perfect puppy for you.

Dog Auctions

Sandi Hansen — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:58:27 +0000

Puppies for Christmas

Sandi Hansen — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:12:19 +0000

Don’t do it.

Hulk Hogan Speaks Out Against Animal Fighting

Sandi Hansen — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 19:30:52 +0000

Warning: Contains graphic scenes.

Free To a Good Home Ads

Sandi Hansen — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 16:01:38 +0000

Pick up any newspaper or look on any internet classified ads section and you will find people trying to find a new home for their pet. What you may think is the right thing to do for the animal, offering the pet free to a good home is not a very safe thing to do.

It’s hard to believe, but there are many people out there whose only job is to scour the ads for free pets. Acting as a concerned new pet owner, these people will collect your animal and either use it as bait in a dog-fighting ring, or sell it to a lab for research testing! If your pet is unspayed or neutered, the dog could be gathered up by a puppy mill and used for breeding, living a life of isolation and misery. There are also people out there who only want to get their hands on your pet for abuse and/or torture. It does happen, and it happens every single day!

If you value the life of the animal you are trying to rehome, please ask an adoption fee to help weed out these types of people! Isn’t your pet worth that?

www.k9management.com

AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB AND BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU WARN CONSUMERS TO BE WARY OF PUPPY SCAMS

Sandi Hansen — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:19:55 +0000

Longing for a Canine Companion? Don’t Get Conned! –

For Immediate Release
New York, NY – The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) and the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) are warning consumers about scams targeting unsuspecting puppy buyers.Both the AKC and the CBBB have recently received a number of reports from consumers throughout the nation who have lost money after responding to online or newspaper classified advertising. Commonly, the scammer —posing as a breeder—will place an ad offering free or inexpensive puppies. Communicating solely through emails, the scammer may claim that he/she is affiliated with a religious organization and is being relocated to a foreign country and needs to re-home the puppies.“The consumer can be taken in by the sincerity of the scammer, who’ll say that they don’t care about money and just want to find a good home for their beloved puppies,” said Steve Cox, Vice President of communications for the CBBB. “But then the fees for shipping the pet mount up and the consumer can lose hundreds of dollars before realizing they’ve been conned and will never get their puppy.”

“This is certainly not the only scam to be aware of, but it is a common one,” says AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “Because of the emotional investment, consumers are more vulnerable to being taken advantage of when it comes to a cute cuddly puppy than with any other purchase. A dog is a major investment — a living, breathing being who will rely on you for 10 years or more. Take time to educate yourself on the hallmarks of a legitimate and responsible breeder.”

The AKC and BBB offer the following advice:

Do your research. Ask if the breeder is a member of an AKC-affiliated club and contact that club to verify membership or check recent listings of available AKC Litters from breeders at:www.akc.org/classified/index.cfm. You can also check with the BBB (www.bbb.org) and the AKC (919-233-9767) to see if there are any complaints about the breeder. Request references and speak to other people who have purchased dogs from this breeder—especially if the breeder does not live near you.
Beware of breeders who seem overly concerned with getting paid. Any reputable breeder will be far more concerned with the appropriateness of the potential pet home than what and when they are getting paid. Make sure you have clear expectations – ideally in writing – of how and when the pup will be paid for. Be especially wary of any breeder who insists that you wire money and who calls to ask for more money to be wired to cover last minute shipping fees.
Don’t be fooled by a slick web site. Unscrupulous breeders and even outright scams can be represented by professional-looking web sites that lure you in with fraudulent pictures of adorable puppies. At the very least speak with the breeder on the telephone and ideally meet the breeder, the puppy and the dam in person. If you locate a breeder online, never send money without checking their references and credentials first. The AKC recommends that you first contact the national organization for the breed (Parent Club). It is essential to visit the breeder at their home to see the entire litter and the care and conditions given to the puppies prior to purchasing.
Take your time. Beware of breeders who claim to have multiple breeds ready to ship immediately. It’s highly unlikely that your perfect puppy will be available for shipping on the very day you call. Gestation and socialization of a litter takes months — no puppy should be separated from the dam before 8 weeks of age.
Report a scam. Anyone who has experienced a dog-related scam should report it to their local authorities as well as their local BBB (www.bbb.org) to file a complaint. Consumers can also direct questions and concerns to AKC Customer Service at 919-233-9767, or e-mail info@akc.org.

“If you are sure you are dealing with an actual breeder who has a dog to sell, there are still things to be aware of,” adds Peterson. “If you expect the dog you are buying to be AKC-registrable, you must obtain documentation when you pick up the dog. Be wary of excuses such as ‘AKC hasn’t sent the papers yet.’ If a breeder is doing his paperwork in a timely manner, there is no reason the AKC Dog Registration Application form should not be available, so wait until you receive it before you pay for and take home your puppy. Once you have completed the financial aspect of the transaction, there is little recourse for an unsatisfied buyer.”

To learn about the hallmarks of a responsible breeder, visit: www.akc.org/press_center/facts_stats.cfm?page=responsible_breeder ###The American Kennel Club, founded in 1884, is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its nearly 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 20,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog trials. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Companion Animal Recovery and the AKC Museum of the Dog. For more information, visit www.akc.org.About the BBB System BBB is an unbiased, non-profit entity that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses and charities that earn BBB membership contractually agree and adhere to the organization’s high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB provides objective advice, free business Reliability Reports and charity Wise Giving Reports, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers who need help with unfair or unethical business treatment. The first BBB was founded in 1912. Today, 128 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than three million local and national businesses and charities. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information about the BBB System.# # #

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