Pet Blog By Bocci @ Bocci's Beefs: Puppy Mills

Showing posts with label Puppy Mills. Show all posts

Thursday, June 05, 2014

Dog Transport Volunteers Save Lives

Illustration courtesy of The New York Times

In its own well-written, sophisticated (and yes, funny!) way, this recent NY Times Op-Ed piece perfectly explains why the transportation of dogs from overcrowded, high kill shelters is crucial to saving hundreds of thousands of canine lives. Using her beloved rescued dog, Landon, as an example, the author, J. Courtney Sullivan, traces the history of the infrastructure that was put in place after Hurricane Katrina, and how this infrastructure facilitates the transport of dogs from rural shelters in the south to rescues and shelters in the Northeast. This not only helps relieve overcrowded southern shelters, but boosts the northeastern shelters too. How? It stocks those shelters with adoptable dogs, including a good percentage of puppies, making them competitive with pet stores whose "inventory" comes from puppy mills.

There are quite literally, countless ways that overcrowded shelters can help abandoned dogs find homes, and transporting orphaned animals to areas of the country with greater demand is just one important way to reduce overall euthanasia rates. What strategies does your local shelter use to help dogs get adopted, and what do you recommend? We'd love to hear them!

Setting A Good Example: Talking With Your Kids About Pet Store Puppies

How do we talk with human kids about the connection between pet stores and puppy mills?

This is certainly not an easy topic to discuss, even among adults, but we're guessing it's much more difficult to attempt to explain to your children or your friends' children where those adorable puppies in the window really come from. It might even be more difficult than the universally dreaded conversation about where human babies come from! Enter these thoughtful tips from the ASPCA, that provide excellent "talking points" for this possibly touchy conversation.

Parental Unit swears that if she had been fortunate enough to have human kids, she'd just come right out and tell them the truth and not dance around the subject, even if it were temporarily startling or a bit scary.. But that's the way she was raised, she claims—she pretty much got the unvarnished truth about issues she questioned, even early on. But she realizes that not every parent feels the same, and she believes these "explanations" and "conversation starters" provided by the ASPCA do a great job of combining honesty with, well, tact, to help young children understand why it's not appropriate to buy a pet store puppy.

As you know, the ASPCA created and supports the "No Pet Store Puppies" Campaign that does a great job of calling out the puppy mill trade, and explaining what you can do to finally break this chain of cruelty. Check it out and don't forget: "Adopt Don't Shop"!

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet" Tips: Free Writing And Free Advertising ?

Fabulous photo of me by John Clark of Clark Creative

Today we're taking a different approach to living with your pet tips and pivoting to some ideas (call them tips if you will) about blogging, and what our skills as writers, and the blog Internet platforms we've created, are worth. I'll let Parental Unit take over this one...

I've spent much time in the last few years communicating with web "content" writers and what amounts to advertisers who want me to publish their content on my blog for free, and wondered if you had too. Well, today's hilarious and spot-on editorial in The New York Times inspired me to write about my frustration with these trolling Internet bimbos. Have I set the right tone?

Post Typography courtesy of The New York Times

This Times op-ed, brilliantly written by Tim Kreider, focuses on the endless requests he receives to write for publications...for free (in exchange for "exposure" or social media shout-outs, or sometimes nothing at all). As Kreider, whose sister is an MD, said: "Nobody asks my sister the pulmonologist to do a quick lobectomy, just to get her name out there." So what is it about writers and other artists that people think they're willing to trade their hard earned skill set for nothing, or practically nothing? Kreider thinks this is a by-product of our information economy, "...in which 'paying for things' is a quaint, discredited old 20th-century custom..." And the term 'content' as it is now defined, "...is predicated on the assumption that it's the delivery system that matters, relegating what used to be called 'art'-writing, music, film, photography, illustration-to the status of filler, stuff to stick between banner ads."

I have written for a limited number of organizations, blogs and other web publications for free, primarily to help promote their good work on behalf of animals. Likewise, I often and freely promote content on my blog for non-profits that work on behalf of companion animals, and also happily promote the content of for-profit companies that discusses their donations or other good works on behalf of companion animals, rather than the products they sell. I also accept a limited number of "compensated posts" for companies whose products I like and believe are high quality. I also fairly regularly receive pay for both my Internet and print writing and have for the last decade or so.

But what I'm "beefing" about today is the flip side of the coin that Kreider discusses: Companies or their PR firms, or individuals employed as freelancers for those companies, who prowl the Internet for already established platforms on which to spout their ideas or peddle their wares. And just like Krieder said, they all start with a sentence or two of flattery, sometimes even using your name and/or the name of your blog, before launching into their pitch about how much you need their content (which they euphemistically refer to as a "guest post"), that typically contain several live links to for-profit companies. And if you dare to request payment for the use of your Internet platform, on which you've toiled away for years to build, promote and maintain its integrity, these trollers feel the need to explain to you what you're missing out on: "free content"! I can (usually) come up with my own content, thank you very much, and while not always riveting, at least it's on topics that I think are important and what my readers will enjoy.

But these web prowlers seeking free advertising for their "clients" and already-built platforms for their "content" are around for a reason: They get folks, with platforms that have a much greater reach than mine, to allow them to publish their often, sub-standard material-for free. I say: Just say "No" to their faux flattery and preying tactics-set what you believe is a reasonable price for advertising, whether contextual or otherwise, and stick to it. If we take away their market, much like refusing to buy pet store puppies or dogs from sleazy breeders, they will slowly disappear into the vast Internet wasteland.

And The Winner Of The Special ASPCA Gift Pack Is...!

As usual, we're relying on the trusty, but spooky, Random Sequence Generator from Random.org to choose our winner. Please note: We are not counting comments 10 through 13 because comment #10 is a repeat entry of comment # 7, and comments #11, #12 and #13 were posted after the 8:00 deadline.
So we plugged in the numbers 1-9 in the Random Sequence Generator and here's what came up...

Random Sequence Generator

Here is your sequence:

Timestamp: 2013-08-01 14:37:46 UTC

The first number is #4 and that comment was posted by Daraya Johnson-congrats to our winner! Let's all put our paws together in a round of applause for Daraya! If Daraya would please contact Parental Unit at: jdemarti@columbus.rr.com with your full name and mailing address as soon as you can, we'd appreciate it. We will pass your information on to our contact from the ASPCA for shipping your gift pack.

As always, thanks to all who entered! And remember, we've got another giveaway going on right now: check out our review of a really cool electric toothbrush for dogs by Zututh and enter to win one!

P.S. We realize we should be a bit more prompt in announcing our winners, so going forward, we'll do our best to post the winner the same evening the giveaway ends. We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience our tardiness has caused.

Take The "NO Pet Store Puppies" Pledge: And Win An ASPCA Gift Pack!

Introducing Molly and her faithful dog, Joey: Helping us understand why puppy mills are bad...and why we should not patronize stores that sell dogs from puppy mills.

Note: See directions at the end of this post to enter to win a special "No Pet Store Puppies" Gift Pack from the ASPCA!

Today, Sunday July 21, 2013, is "No Pet Store Puppies Day", and in fact, it's the third year of ASPCA's national campaign to fight puppy mills. This year's new video campaign, featuring adorable Molly and her equally adorable dog, Joey, highlights ASPCA's effort to let as many people as possible understand the direct link between puppy mills and the pet stores who sell their factory-produced puppies. Why not take the ASPCA "NO Pet Store Puppies" Pledge today, and then do what you can to spread the word among your friends and family-it really is all about knowledge.

We all realize that stores that sell products are in business to make money-and there's nothing wrong with that. And you also know that as pet parents, we love to shop for our furry companions. But stores that sell pet products and also sell those adorable puppies and kittens are working as one with puppy mills, because that's where those puppies come from.

But here's the great part: When the voice of the people is heard, change is made. When you, the people, take away their business-when there is no market for what they're selling-those stores will no longer do business with puppy mills, and in turn, there will eventually be no more puppies produced by dog factories. It's one thing to simply not buy a puppy or kitten from a pet store, but that impact is amplified many times over when you refuse to purchase anything from a brick and mortar or online store that also sells pets. Boycotts get peoples' attention. So please remember: "Don't shop till they stop!"

Now let's get to the ASPCA's Gift Pack Giveaway! Take a gander at what you can win, courtesy of the ASPCA:

- I Love My Shelter Dog Jumbo Tote

- ASPCA Orange Wrist Band

- ASPCA Keychain Flashlight

- ASPCA.ORG Logo Magnet

- Rachel Ray Naturally Delish Dog Treats

- Walkers Shortbread Scottish Dog Cookies

- Popchips

Please note: If the rules are not clear to you, feel free to ask at: jdemarti@columbus.rr.com. Likewise, if you've chosen to enter, please check back at the appointed day to see if you're a winner. And if you're one of the lucky ones, please provide your mailing address to Parental Unit at the above e-mail address. Thanks!

One lucky winner (continental U.S. only) will receive one ASPCA gift pack with the items pictured and listed above.

Here are the requirements to enter: No anonymous comments, please!

1. "Like" our Facebook page: See top of right sidebar or click here: www.facebook.com/pages/Boccis-Beefs/190090017696328?ref=stream

2. You must give this giveaway a shout-out on your Twitter or Facebook page by using the buttons below this post-easy!

3. Comment on this post and indicate in your ONE comment that you'd like to enter this giveaway.

This contest will run from today, Sunday July 21, 2013 through Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 8:00 EST.

Good Luck!

ASPCA's "No Pet Store Puppies" Campaign And Gift Pack Giveaway!

We first wanted to entice you with ASPCA's generous donation to one Bocci's Beefs reader: You could be the one to win this gift pack from the ASPCA that includes a jingle bells collar, a doggy or kitty stocking, a Smidge cat toy, ASPCA Holiday Cards, Walkers Shortbread Cookies and lots of other keen stuff for your beloved four-legged companion (the tote and cookies are for you!). See details at the end of this post. But hurry, this giveaway ends soon!

But before we get to the giveaway... we hope you'll take just one minute to watch this video from the ASPCA that 's part of their "No Pet Store Puppies" Campaign. The video is entitled Puppies Are Not Toys. It's one of the most powerful pieces of information that we've ever seen, and we're proud to spread it far and wide.

As you may know, the holiday season is when many people are buying gifts in pet stores. In fact, a newly released poll states that "Americans plan to spend more than 2.5 billion on pets over the holidays this year. But unfortunately, 59% of pet gift shoppers would consider shopping at a store that also sells puppies. And as we know, puppies that are sold at stores more than likely come from puppy mills, so part of that $2.5 million in revenue goes to support the puppy mill industry. It's not enough to just not buy a puppy from a store (you're not rescuing the puppy, you're supporting the market for puppy mills), we simply can't support that heinous industry in any way. So please, shop for gifts for your pet and for other's pets in stores that don't sell puppies-there are many fabulous pet product stores that either sell no animals at all, or feature animals from local shelters and rescues for adoption. As always, thanks for your support!

Now on to the ASPCA Gift Pack giveaway!
This giveaway will run from today, Saturday December 15, through Thursday December 20 at 8:00 pm EST, so this is a fairly short window of opportunity to enter! The one winner will be chosen by computerized random drawing and announced on the evening of December 20.

Here are the requirements to enter: No anonymous comments, please!

1. Sign up for our e-mail blasts and newsletters-see very top of left sidebar for the sign-up form.

2. Give this giveaway a shout-out on your Twitter or Facebook page by using the buttons below this post-easy!

3. Comment on this post and indicate in your ONE comment that you'd like to enter this giveaway.

Note: if you choose to enter, please promptly check back to see if you won and if you're the lucky one, please send us your home address ASAP

Good Luck!

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet" Tips": Housebreaking A Puppymill Dog

Fabulous photo of me by John Clark of Clark Creative

We think these strategies from Cesar's Way, specifically designed for housebreaking a dog rescued from a puppy mill, are thoughtful, and with a lot of patience, seem (fairly) easy to accomplish. Sheri Lucas, who wrote these tips, is a dog trainer and rehabilitation expert and operates a humane society called "Second Chance at Love". She also has trained with Cesar Millan for many years.

And it seems that strategies like "closely supervising your dog" and taking him or her outside as soon as you see sniffing and circling behavior, rewarding your pooch after eliminating outside, and maintaining calm, assertive energy throughout the process would work for any puppy or adult dog new to your home, regardless of their past. The article also includes several links with related training tips that we think round out the basics for bringing a new dog into your home.

We hope you find this information helpful...and always remember to have patience with your pets. You know, not all dogs can read and write like I can, so they may need a little extra help to learn even basic commands, especially those with a puppy mill background. Whoever said "patience is a virtue" sure was right!

A Special Little Dog

Parental Unit was walking home from work last week and happened to see a couple in her neighborhood carrying an adorable little Westie down the stairs of their home. At first she thought the pooch was elderly and needed a bit of help maneuvering the stairs, but then she noticed that the guy was carrying a mini set of wheels... so of course, she stopped to chat with them, phone camera at the ready.

It turns out that this cute little gal had been rescued from years of breeding at a puppy mill, later adopted by these kind-hearted folks and been doing quite well for three or four years. Suddenly, just a little over a month ago, Ms. Westie (Parental Unit cannot remember the dog's name or the exact number of years the couple has had her!), suffered a ruptured disk which left her back legs paralyzed. They had just received her new set of wheels that day, and this was the very first time she was trying them out! We're happy to report that she took to them immediately and in no time, was happily leading her pet parents down the street.

Parental Unit was so excited that she got to witness this moment that she forgot to use her video recorder to nab a few seconds of the pooch on her first "walk", rather than just snapping a picture or two. But it was quite hot and she didn't want to bother the couple and their dog any more than she already had. By the way, the doctors that performed the surgery to repair (remove?) the ruptured disk said that the problem was likely the result of her years of breeding in tight quarters-aka a puppy mill.

We'll bring you updates on this little gal if Parental Unit can track down this family or at least run into them again (she can't even remember the name of the street where they met-such the problems of her advancing age!)

P.S. Please stay tuned later today for our usual Sunday segment, "Living With Your Pet" Tips.

ASPCA Rescues 71 Dogs From Missouri Puppy Mill

Here's an amazing video fom the ASPCA website on the rescue of these poor dogs from an overrun puppy mill in Missouri. According to the ASPCA report, this was an unusual case becasue the mill owner contacted a local rescue group, Half-Way Home Pet Rescue, because he could no longer afford to feed the dogs. The rescue group then asked the ASPCA and the local humane society for help.

Did you know that Missouri is known as the "Puppy Mill Capital of America"? According to Tim Rickey, ASPCA Senior Director of Field Investigations and Response, "Missouri is home to more than 3000 commercial dog breeding facilities and supplies more than 40% of all dogs sold in pet stores nationwide." "We see some of the worst conditions in Missouri puppy mills, Rickey said. The dogs, often very ill, are forced to live in overcrowded, filthy conditions."

The good news is that the ASPCA is funding a measure that will appear on the November ballot in Missouri, that if approved by the voters, will prohibit many of the worst practices of these "industrial" breeders.

A Few Facts About Puppy Mills

Parental Unit asked me to pass on this article posted by DogTime media about puppy mills. The article includes some helpful ways to tell whether we're buying a new pup from one of those ghastly "factories", or from a reputable breeder.
Even though we thought we really knew the "low-down" on puppy mills, Parental Unit and I both learned a lot from this article.
It's provided for your reading pleasure right here: dogtime.com/internet-puppy-mills.html