After Oprah--Take Action

Amen, sister!! We try to do things to help when we can. We went to the last protest (on the eastside) and are going to try to make it to the next. I tell anyone willing to listen about the horrors of puppymills! We have those brochures and have passed some out but need to hand out more. Josh and I also volunteer with Wags Stray Animal Foundation, we go to the adoptions every other week and foster for them. Our little beagle foster, Dorothy is such a sweetheart! So every little thing that we can do helps!!

I was very surprised and pleased that 2 people I would not have expected to watch did. One was my sister, who, while a wonderful human being, has always been one of those people who didn't want to see things that were unpleasant or painful. She and her dogs watched all the way through. They live in Maine where there are lots of puppy millers, and they are seeking stronger legislation, so I hope she will make a difference in some way. The other was my drummer, who fought against having his male dachshunds neutered because of the usual reasons guys don't want to have their dogs neutered. But he was proud of the fact that he had, and mentioned how awful it was that the Amish culture treats dogs "like they were an ear of corn." He also has been speaking up to people about the issue. So you never know. We CAN make a difference. Don't forget about the No Kill seminar on 5/2 and 5/3. Go to www.movetoact.org to register.

After watching Oprah my sister called me with these questions. why do some rescue groups and Indy humane make it so hard for you to adopt & ask so much for their dogs? doesn't that send people back to pet stores if shelters/rescues are asking $300 for a mix breed? like the one at Indy humane. I live in an apartment so I can't adopt from that shelter. So after she said all this I said what is your point? Knowing it would send her over the edge, She said well should I go back to petland? Just to push me over the edge cause last week I gave her a riot act after she went there looking for a puppy, which she didn't get. But she made me think for sure after I hung up. She's right why are some rescues and IH doing this, it will send many back to pet stores/puppy mills. Sisters are a real pain sometimes but they make you think. All I can say is thank god for the shelters that really care about the poor pups finding a home instead of making a profit.

Well, a $300 puppy from a shelter is still a bargain compared to the $600-$1500 she would pay from Petland. She would also go home with a dog that will likely have temperament and/or health issues. Plus she is supporting the puppy mill industry. Most the dogs in rescues are between $60-$200 and have been vetted, chipped, spayed or neutered, and have lived with people in their homes, not in cages. Shelters and rescues DO have to make enough money to continue their efforts, and most do not make any profit from what they do, they lose money. Any and all stores who sell puppies are in it for one reason:profit. Big profit.

First, most of the rescue groups spend a lot of time fostering their dogs to get them ready for adoption. These animals come house trained, all medical taken care of, spay/neuter usually done, and all shots given. That's more than $300 right there. Also, I know that our Marion County Animal Care & Control does not cost $300, and does not have a requirement of owning a home or having a fence. Also, many of the rescues will make exceptions to the home / fence rules for the right person / animal. ACC Pug - While some of the animals at ACC may be a bit rough around the edges, they are very appreciative of a caring, loving home. I can't imagine that they are any harder to house train/obedience train than animals raised in tiny changes with no human interaction. Charlie is the most empathetic, loving animal I've ever had, and came with all of his shots and a microchip. All for under $100.

Hey, that's the toughest thing I've ever made myself watch besides dogfighting. The euthnization was close to unbearable. I'm glad Oprah said she was a "changed woman" after seeing that. and I AM going to the protest at Safari Pets today, so I hope that it helps! Anyone else going?

P.S. I got Sug for about $100 and trust me, she's worth more than that!

Maybe shelters need to take action as well and stop using pet store tatics when it comes to pricing. As a person that has fostered/adopted and rescued for shelters I would like to see changes so pets can get homes more than a shelter making a profit like indy humane and some breed rescues.