USDA Shuts Down Puppy Mill

BOSTON -- More than a year after Team 5 Investigates first exposed
shocking and unhealthy conditions inside a Minnesota puppy mill, the
federal government is finally shutting it down.

NewsCenter5's Sean Kelly reported Monday that Kathy Bauck, owner of
"Pick of the Litter" and "Puppys on Wheels," has lost her license to
operate for the next two years.

Bauck was one of the country's biggest dog brokers and has shipped
hundreds of sick dogs to local pet shops, including Laughlin Kennel in
Oxford, Mass., Elite Puppies and Grooming in Webster, Mass., and
Precious Pups in Hudson, Mass.

--
full story:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/investigative/22205030/detail.html

THE MONTECITO PET SHOP STOPS SELLING PURE BREED DOGS FROM BREEDERS

Last Chance for Animals (LCA) has succeeded in convincing another pet store to carry only rescue dogs! The Montecito Pet Shop in Santa Barbara will no longer buy pure breed puppies from breeders but instead will only re-home shelter dogs!

Santa Barbara residents contacted Kim Sill who heads LCA's "Pet Shop Project," wanting to protest the pet store after watching the special Dog Whisperer episode: "Inside Puppy Mills" this past May. LCA's investigation of the Pet Shop determined that the store was buying pure bred puppies from backyard breeders. Elyse Kuhn, who has owned the Montecito Pet Shop for 22 years, agreed to work with LCA after many meetings with Sill. She decided it was time to help the dogs on death row in the overcrowded shelters in California instead of participating as part of the problem.

Newborn pups found in a hole, trying to avoid the burning sun of Mojave, CA

On October 23, 2009, The Montecito Pet Shop welcomed their first litter of rescued puppies to their store! Sill delivered the six eight-week old pups, the last of the dogs to be removed off the Bemis property in Mojave.

Click here to watch video of The Montecito Pet Shop welcoming their first litter of rescue dogs!

All the pups rescued from Mojave will be given a chance at a loving home

Kim Sill of LCA commented: "It was very rewarding to watch the change in perceptions as the customers viewed the rescue puppies. The mood is different when people know that it is a rescue, there is hope and there is change in Santa Barbara tonight."

The same pups found in a hole in Mojave, CA, now relaxing at The Montecito Pet Shop

LCA is working towards a day in making Los Angeles a no kill city, where pet stores no longer support puppy mills and breeders, but shelter animals and rescue groups. LCA is committed to oversee and endorse pet stores in Los Angeles that are willing to change their business practice and re-home shelter animals.

SB 250 - The Pet responsibility Act has been put on hold until January. This bill would provide a reasonable, fiscally responsible step towards reducing pet overpopulation in California. The bill simply requires that dogs be spayed or neutered unless their owner/guardian obtains an unaltered dog license when they license their animal. It also requires that roaming cats be spayed and neutered by their owner/guardian.

In California shelters alone, since January 1, 2009, 237,457 pets have been killed, and $118,586,524 tax dollars have been spent to house and kill animals.

LCA IS COMMITTED TO PUTTING AN END TO
PET OVERPOPULATION!
ADOPT--DON'T SHOP!

For the animals,

Campaigns Department
Last Chance for Animals
310-271-6096 x27
Campaigns@LCAnimal.org

For more info on puppy mills, go to: www.BanPuppyMills.com

Interested in volunteering with LCA? Write to us at: Info@LCAnimal.org

California eAlert: Schwarzenegger Sides with Animal Abusers

It's time to push for a veto override!

On October 11, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger opted to veto AB 243, a bill that provides broader forfeiture options for animals seized in animal abuse cases, as well as mandating post-conviction possession ban orders (no owning, maintaining, having custody of, residing with, or caring for any animal) for people convicted of animal cruelty, neglect or abandonment. Such laws are already in effect in several other states.

Having received overwhelming bi-partisan support in both chambers of the Legislature, what Schwarzenegger' s veto of AB 243 suggests is a shocking lack of understanding, or just plain ignorance, of the actual language of the bill. But whether through ignorance or intent, his decision to side with the interests of convicted animal abusers over the interests of California's abused animals (and the constituents who love them) is certainly reproachable.

The Legislature has one more chance to fix Schwarzenegger' s blunder - by overriding his veto.

It is vitally important for Californians to contact their legislators and ask them to fix Schwarzenegger' s senseless actions. Contact your representatives today and remind them that justice for abused animals is what is important, and that while animals don't vote, those who love them definitely do.

Thank you for speaking out and taking a stand for animals in California!
Sincerely,

Stephen Wells
Executive Director
Animal Legal Defense Fund Donate to ALDF
Take Action!
Tell the California Legislature to fix Schwarzenegger' s blunder.

Send a letter requesting an override of the Governor's veto of AB 243, a bill to protect abused animals!

Push for a veto override today!
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Support ALDF in our mission to win the case against cruelty. Donate today!
Be a voice for the voiceless. Sign up to be an Anti-Cruelty Team member!
Animal Legal Defense Fund
170 East Cotati Avenue, Cotati, CA 94931
Phone: (707) 795-2533 / Fax: (707) 795-7280 / E-mail: info@aldf.org
Web: www.aldf.org

New Rules Would Crack Down On Puppy Mills

DENVER -- A task force is changing the rules for dog breeders in
Colorado in an effort to crack down on so-called puppy mills without
changing the law.

Puppy mills are substandard mass breeding operations where animal
rights activists have said disease and overcrowding run rampant.

"The animals are kept like cash crops; they're not treated as pets,"
said Holly Tarry, the Colorado state director of the Humane Society of
the United States.

The HSUS has been fighting for tougher anti-puppy mill laws in
Colorado, but a bill that would have limited the size of breeding
facilities was shot down in a House committee this year, after
breeders said it would put them out of business.

--
full story:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/21369509/detail.html

WAYNE PACELLE:A HUMANE NATION

In Midnight Hour Schwarzenegger Signs, Terminates Bills
Posted: 12 Oct 2009 12:49 PM PDT
Last night at midnight was the deadline for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign, veto, or ignore 700 bills passed this session by the California State Legislature—and seven of them were animal protection measures, including tremendously important measures to ban tail docking of dairy cows, crack down on puppy mills, halt roadside sale of animals, and to strengthen penalties for dogfighting. It was historic output on animal protection for the Legislature, and these reforms came as a direct result of the momentum from the landslide passage of Proposition 2 last November, focused lobbying and organizing by The HSUS and its allies to strengthen policies in America's largest and most diverse state, and determined efforts by animal protection leaders in the Legislature, most notably Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez and Assemblyman Pedro Nava.
Regrettably, Gov. Schwarzenegger continued his schizophrenic record on animal protection, by signing four measures and vetoing three—all of which had strong bipartisan support. An opponent of Proposition 2 last fall, he has shown that he is no advocate of animal protection, and he has worked to hold back our progress in the state during his two terms. Most disappointing, he vetoed a measure to crack down on abusive puppy mills, A.B. 241, which sought to impose a cap of 50 adult unsterilized breeding animals confined in any large-scale dog-breeding factory. Breeding dogs in puppy mills typically suffer lifelong confinement in squalid cages, and the public has only contempt for these operations. Six states this year passed laws to crack down on these factory farms for dogs, and two-thirds of Sacramento lawmakers voted to do the same. Gov. Schwarzenegger stands alone among state executives in protecting this despicable industry. A.B. 241 was one of two bills carried by Assemblyman Nava and vetoed by the governor. The other was A.B. 243, which sought to bar felons convicted of animal abuse from possessing animals. The veto of that latter bill is particularly mystifying.
2009 California Legislation
Signed by the governor:
A.B. 242 (Increases penalties for being a spectator at a dogfight.)
A.B. 708 (Increases penalties for illegal poaching.)
S.B. 135 (Bans tail docking of cows.)
S.B. 318 (Allows for forfeiture of property connected with dogfighting.)
S.B. 428 (Protects seals in La Jolla.)
Vetoed by the governor:
A.B. 241 (Limits number of intact animals a person can maintain.)
A.B. 243 (Prohibits a person convicted of animal cruelty from owning an animal.)
A.B. 1122 (Prohibits the roadside sale of live animals.)
The most encouraging news from yesterday, however, was the signing of S.B. 135, a measure by Sen. Florez to ban the painful and unnecessary practice of tail docking of dairy cows. California is the number one dairy state in the nation, with 1.8 million cows, and tens of thousands of cows in the state are subjected to this archaic procedure, which the California Farm Bureau and California Cattlemen's Association agreed was unneeded. It is the first state ban on tail docking of cows, and it is a reform that other dairy-producing states should adopt. There's no science to support continuing this procedure, and we hope that Sen. Florez's groundbreaking success is the beginning of the end of this practice.
California upgraded penalties for dogfighting in the form of two bills, A.B. 242 by Assemblyman Nava to increase penalties for being a spectator at dogfights and S.B. 318 by Sen. Ron Calderon to allow for forfeiture of assets and equipment used during dogfights. Since the Michael Vick case came to light The HSUS has been determined to channel the anger and awareness generated by the case into productive outcomes and we've helped to pass 27 new laws against animal fighting.
We were also pleased that the governor signed A.B. 708, legislation by Assemblyman Jared Huffman to increase penalties for the poaching of California wildlife—a huge and growing problem. And he had previously signed S.B. 428, by Sen. Christine Kehoe, giving the city of San Diego the authority to protect seals on a La Jolla Beach. But we were disappointed that he vetoed a bill to ban the sale of animals in parking lots and other roadside venues—A.B. 1122, by Assemblyman Ted Lieu. These settings provide an entirely unregulated outlet for unscrupulous vendors to sell countless puppies, kittens, and other animals to unwitting consumers, and are ripe for abuse.
With the governor signing five of these measures, there have been 115 measures enacted into law this year by the states—eclipsing last year's record-setting year of 93 new laws. But it would have been 118 animal protection laws passed this year had it not been for Schwarzenegger's obstinance. The three measures he jettisoned are, as a practical matter, the first three animal protection bills vetoed by any governor in the nation this year. But I guess we should not feel entirely singled out, since Schwarzenegger vetoed 229 bills out of 700 that the Legislature presented to him. His desk is a dead-end for a wide variety of reforms to improve society.
No social reform movement marches ahead without interruption, including our own. The expression two steps forward, one step back comes to mind. But this legislative session in California it was five steps forward, with three steps thwarted. We didn't take any steps back since the vetoing of the three bills leaves current law in place—it's just a set of lost opportunities, and we were so tantalizingly close to progress. As they did with the campaign to pass Proposition 2, California animal advocates engaged in the civic process and the strong bipartisan support the legislature showed for all these measures is a direct reflection of that. Our forward momentum is evident despite the roadblocks that the likes of Schwarzenegger and similar-minded people throw in the way.

Puppy Mill Rescue Dogs Arrive in DC

83 dogs, 6 cats rescued from Arkansas puppy mill
Updated: Friday, 09 Oct 2009, 11:30 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 09 Oct 2009, 9:22 PM EDT

Bob Barnard
By BOB BARNARD/myfoxdc

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Nearly 100 dogs were rescued from an alleged puppy mill in Arkansas this week, and now they're in Washington. Rescuers called it one of the worst cases they've ever seen.

They spent 18 hours on the road to get here. The animals were brought to the District in a big rig. Eighty-three dogs and six cats were taken from a property in Lamar, Arkansas, which is locaed northwest of Little Rock.

"Like any puppy mill, this is the worst that humanity can do to animals-- these animals were in horrible conditions," said Dr. Gary Weitzman of the Washington Animal Rescue League . "Maybe the worst we've seen and we do a lot of puppy mill rescues."

In fact, it's the worst of 15 puppy mill cases the Humane Society of the U.S. says it has investigated this year.

"We've rescued over 4,000 dogs from these hell holes," said Scotlund Haisley of the Humane Society of the U.S.

The Humane Society and Arkansas authorities raided the alleged puppy mill three days ago.

"These dogs have been laying in their own feces and urine their entire lives and as you can seem, it's turning into an acid and burning their coat," said Haisley.

The animals were in chicken crates that were stacked on top of each other. Rescuers say they had no veterinary car, no grooming, and of they didn't get food or water.
Full article and video:http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/100909_puppy_mill_rescue_dogs_arrive_in_dc

BOYCOTT OHIO DOG AUCTION - OCTOBER 7, 2009

SEND A MESSAGE TO PENNSYLVANIA' S BREEDERS:
WE WILL NOT HELP YOU PROSPER!


Last Chance for Animals (LCA) was informed by Pennsylvania animal advocates about an upcoming dog auction that's scheduled to take place this Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at the notorious Buckeye Dog Auction in Holmes County, Ohio, the
only dog auction east of the Mississippi that is known to fetch high prices on
breeder dogs.

In reaction to newly passed PA
laws that are slated to be enacted in the near future, many commercial dog
breeders believe that lowering their dog complement might prevent the need to
implement more humane conditions at the kennels, but the law is not based upon
how many dogs are owned; it is based upon how many dogs are sold. Any kennel
selling more than 60 dogs in a 12 month period, or the sale of even one dog to a
pet shop or pet shop broker, would cause the kennel to be classified as a
commercial breeding operation and mandate improved kennel conditions.

Approximately 400 breeder dogs
are slated to hit the auction block this Wednesday, October 7th, and animal advocates are being
asked NOT to purchase any of them.

Carol Araneo-Mayer, who co-founded Puppy Mill Awareness Day (PMAD) with LCA, and is also Vice-President of Adopt A Pet, feels strongly that: "To do so will only encourage
future auctions."

Helen Ebersole, co-founder and
board president20of United Against Puppy Mills,
agreed and noted that specific breed rescues have found that not bidding
on dogs actually
drives prices downward and helps discourage future auctions.

Instead, advocates who are
intent on travelling to Ohio are encouraged to wait in the parking lot and offer
to take, free of charge, any dogs that did not sell since many breeders do not
want to take unsold dogs back to their kennels.

Mary O'Connor-Shaver of Columbus Top Dogs and the Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions reiterated her request to Pennsylvania officials for an all out boycott of the
October 7 auction:

"Dog auctions are a tragic
embarrassment to Ohio
and it's humane-minded citizens. We have been asked if
people should "buy" or "rescue" these dogs. We are asking for an all-out
boycott of this event. Buying at the auction will simply mean that it will be
profitable. If it is profitable, it will continue and more dogs will be bred for sale
at future Ohio Dog Auctions. That said, we do understand compassion for the
dogs being sold on October 7 and know that there will be some who will buy. We
understand both sides of the situation, and hope that in the long run, not
buying will produce the best outcome to end these auctions
altogether."

Officials at the Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement have known for months of the possibility that
commercial breeders might seek to divest themselves of large amounts of breeding
stock yet took no action over the summer months for planning purposes to handle
such an event.

A closed door meeting was held
on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 for the purpose of discussing how to help the dogs
slated to go to auction although the advocacy community was not invited and is
still being kept in the dark as to any potential plans for the October 7th auction
or how
they might actually help these dogs.

The plight of the Pennsylvania
breeder dogs is not a private matter - it affects every individual who cares
about dogs and, more importantly, every Pennsylvania resident who regularly
donates money or time to help educate the public or care for animals who are no
longer wanted and in need of shelter and, ultimately, a new home.

Advocates are
asked to do the following:

1) DO NOT BUY DOGS at the October
7 auction or pay breeders in advance of the auction for their unwanted breeding
stock. Wait in the parking lot and offer to take, free of charge, any dogs that did not sell.

2) Contact Jessie L. Smith, Special Deputy Secretary of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, and ask why she
excluded the advocacy community and the majority of the rescue community from
the planning meeting when it's obvious that the Bureau needs all the help it can
get.

Jessie L. Smith, Special Deputy
Secretary
Dog Law Enforcement, PA Dept. of
Agriculture
2301 N. Cameron St, Harrisburg,
PA 17110
Phone: 717-214-3447, Fax:
717-346-3301
Email: jlsmith@state.pa.us

YOU can help
make a difference by not buying at the auction. Breeders should not be rewarded
with money for their decision to downsize and continue operating without having
to upgrade their kennels to include more humane living conditions for the
dogs.

For more info, please visit:
North Penn Puppy Mill Watch!
Article on Buckeye Dog Auction
Article #2 on Buckeye Dog Auction

BOYCOTT THE OCTOBER 7 OHIO DOG AUCTION!
=0
A
DO NOT ALLOW BREEDERS TO PROSPER IN AN ATTEMPT TO
CIRCUMVENT PENNSYLVANIA' S NEW
LAWS!

LCA urges everyone to
ADOPT, DON'T SHOP!
BOYCOTT STORES THAT SELL
PUPPIES!

For the animals,

Last Chance for Animals
Campaigns Department
310-271-6096 x 27
Campaigns@LCAnimal.org

For more information on puppy mills, please visit: www.BanPuppyMills.com

Interested in volunteering with LCA? Write to us at: Info@LCAnimal.org

PA kennels shed breeding stock before new law takes effect!

PLEASE CROSSPOST!

Nearly 400 breeding dogs from Pennsylvania' s largest commercial kennels are scheduled be shipped west to be auctioned in Ohio next week, in a move that animal welfare activists say is likely the result of tougher standards under the new state dog law.

The dogs, most of them Yorkshire Terriers, Poodles and Shih Tsus, from 12 licensed kennels are expected to be sold at the Buckeye Dog Auction on Oct. 7 in Farmerstown, according to Mary O'Connor-Shaver of Columbus Top Dogs. http://www.columbustopdogs.com/

*The video below, (bottom of article) produced by the Humane Society of the United States, takes a close-up look at dog auctions.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/pets/PA_kennels_shed_breeding_stock_before_new_law_takes_effect.html

Read full article below

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

Subj: PA 9-09 PA kennels shed breeding stock before new law takes effect


http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/pets/PA_kennels_shed_breeding_stock_before_new_law_takes_effect.html

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

PA kennels shed breeding stock before new law takes effect

Is a mass downsizing underway in Pennsylvania kennels?

Nearly 400 breeding dogs from Pennsylvania' s largest commercial kennels are scheduled be shipped west to be auctioned in Ohio next week, in a move that animal welfare activists say is likely the result of tougher standards under the new state dog law.

Key provisions of new law (Act 119) take effect on the first anniversary of the signing of the legislation on Oct. 9, among them: larger cage sizes, restrictions on cage stacking, access to outdoor exercise and regular veterinary exams for breeding dogs.

The dogs, most of them Yorkshire Terriers, Poodles and Shih Tsus, from 12 licensed kennels are expected to be sold at the Buckeye Dog Auction on Oct. 7 in Farmerstown, according to Mary O'Connor-Shaver of Columbus Top Dogs. http://www.columbus topdogs.com/

Among the Lancaster County kennels which have listed dogs with the auction are: Glenwood Kennel in Ephrata, Gold Kennels and School Lane Kennel in Gap, R.E.Z Kennels and Conestoga Kennel in New Holland, James S. Zimmerman Kennel in Ephrata, Myer Kennels Inc. in Lititz, John S. Fisher Kennel and S & R Kennel in Gordonville, Nolt Kennel in East Earl.

Also listed selling dogs is Scarlet-Maple Kennel in Ronks. Its owner, Daniel Esh, had his kennel license revoked by the state after repeated unsatisfactory inspections.

A number of the other kennel operators selling dogs at auction have been been convicted of violations of the state dog law which would make them ineligible for a waiver to extend construction time for the improved kennels. An attorney who represented commercial kennel operators in their unsuccessful federal lawsuit to stop the law from being implemented, predicted it could take hundreds of thousands of dollars to meet the new standards. But activists point out that breeders are part of a multi-million industry and should be able to handle the costs of compliance.

Banned in Pennsylvania, dog auctions have taken off in Ohio's dog breeding capital, Holmes County, which is also home to one of the largest Amish populations in the country. Shaver and others - http://banohiodogau ctions.com/ Home.html who have witnessed the mistreatment of dogs at auctions where some sickly animals sell for as little as $1 - are waging a ballot referendum initiative and advocating for legislative action :
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/06/11/ AUCTIONBAN. ART_ART_06- 11-09_B1_ T8E55KC.html? sid=101 to make dog auctions illegal in Ohio.

The video below, produced by the Humane Society of the United States, takes a close-up look at dog auctions.

Speak Up for Dogs in Puppy Mills

Your help is urgently needed! Thanks to your support, the Illinois
Legislature has created the Joint Task Force on Breeders and Pet Stores to review
Illinois laws governing the puppy producing and pet store industries, and
make recommended changes to current law in order to protect consumers and
animal welfare. But the task force meetings, unfortunately, have been packed
with puppy mill operators and puppy sellers seeking minimal regulation.

It is critical that your state legislators hear from constituents who
support humane standards at puppy mills.

TAKE ACTION!

On Tuesday, September 29, the task force will take public testimony. It is
important that animal advocates attend this meeting to show the task force
that the public cares about dogs confined in puppy mills and that Illinois
should have strong laws to protect both dogs and consumers. If you want to
protect dogs in puppy mills, this will be your opportunity to speak out and
ask for change. If you have had a less than satisfactory experience with a
large-scale commercial breeder or pet store, your testimony is
particularly vital.

Here are the meeting details:

Joint Task Force on Breeders and Pet Stores
Tuesday, Sept. 29, 9:00 am
Illinois Department of Agriculture -- Artisan Building
801 Sangamon Ave.
State Fairgrounds -- Springfield, IL 62794-9281
(800) 273-4763 (217) 782-2172

If you cannot attend this meeting, please make a brief, polite phone call
to your elected officials and ask them to put a humane standards law in
place for puppy mills. Click here to look up your state elected officials and
the phone numbers.

When you call, remember to leave your name and address so it is clear that
you are a constituent. You can say:

"Hello, my name is [your name] and I am calling from [your town] to ask
[legislator’s name] to support legislation to crack down on puppy mills. As a
constituent, I am very concerned about the inhumane treatment of dogs in
puppy mills. Thank you."

After making your call, send a follow-up email to your legislator in
support of legislation to crack down on puppy mills.

Rendell shows a little puppy love, signs new animal cruelty

With an audience on hand that included over a dozen dogs and their
owners, Gov. Ed Rendell this morning signed into law a measure that
supporters say is the next step towards shedding the state's label as
the Puppy Mill Capital of the East.

House Bill 39, backed by the Humane Society of the United States, the
American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other animal
rights groups, sets further guidelines for the care of dogs, spelling
out certain procedures that must be done by a veterinarian.

Before the new law, procedures such as cropping or trimming an ear and
Caesarean births could be done by anyone, with no requirements for
training.

With one of his own dogs, Maggie, a Golden Retriever, looking on,
Rendell signed the bill which also makes stealing an animal for the
purpose of dog fighting a third-degree felony.

--
full story:
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2009/08/rendell_shows_a_little_puppy_l.html

ACTION ALERT! Pre-Trial Conference this Friday - Donald Dutiel (Wagon Wheel Ranch - New Lexington, OH)

Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~

You may recall that there is a Pre-Trial Conference scheduled for this coming Friday, August 21 at 2:00 PM in the class-action lawsuit filed against Donald Dutiel and his cohorts in the "Wagon Wheel Ranch" operation. (Black, et al., v. Dutiel, et al., case no.: 09CV-00170, Court of Common Pleas, Perry County, Ohio, Linton Lewis, Judge).

Click here to read the article, "Lawsuit seeks to stop breeder - Wagon Wheel breeds sick puppies, it alleges."Although this is not an absolutely crucial event, it is important, and it would be helpful to have a solid presence from the Ohio animal advocacy community. If you cannot attend in person, we invite you to contact the news media or other parties interested in humane causes, and ask if they can send a representative.

The Pre-Trial Conference will be held in New Lexington, Ohio, in Perry County, about an hour east southeast of Columbus:

Date:
Fri., 8/21

Time:
2:00 PM

Address:
105 North Main St.
New Lexington, OH 43764

Phone:
(740) 342-3156

Fax:
(740) 342-2188

Map to Courthouse:
http://www.perrycou ntycourt. com/map.shtml

Perry County Court Website:
http://www.perrycou ntycourt. com/

Support from concerned citizens would be very much appreciated, and could very well help the many, possibly hundreds, of Dutiel's victims for whom we might eventually get a small measure of justice if we can keep this case going and growing (not to mention the scores that we might keep from becoming victims).
We'll continue to keep you informed of developments in the case, even if you cannot attend this week.

Thanks so much for serving as a strong voice for the dogs!

Mary O'Connor-Shaver
Cell: 614-271-8248
Columbus Top Dogs
http://www.columbustopdogs.com/
http://www.banohiodogauctions. com/
http://tejasanimalrefuge.ca/
http://www.lostpetusa.net/

LEGISLATIVE ALERTS: Please visit our Home page for pending legislation impacting the welfare of OH animals - http://www.columbus topdogs.com/

JUDGE DISMISSES LAWSUIT AGAINST PETLAND

(CHILLICOTHE, OH – August 8, 2009) – Petland Inc is pleased to learn that the federal district court in Arizona has dismissed the class action lawsuit against it that was filed by six individuals and supported by the Humane Society of the United States. The court’s ruling was delivered on August 7, 2009.

The Court ruled that the Complaint in the lawsuit failed to set forth any legally viable claims. In addition, the Court noted in its ruling that the Complaint failed to present any facts establishing any causal relationship between the injuries claimed by the plaintiffs and anything that Petland had done.

The Humane Society of the United States touted the lawsuit in furtherance of its fundraising and media campaign seeking to end the sale of animals through pet stores. Petland denied that it had done anything unlawful, and it believes strongly that consumers have the right to purchase and keep pets.

Petland is a company of animal lovers, and in the wake of this legal victory seeks to communicate its support for industry practices intended to ensure healthy and well-socialized pets. Petland is committed to providing its customers with a positive pet buying experience. Petland is also a committed supporter of quality animal breeding. Like the buying public and many animal support organizations, Petland is opposed to substandard breeders and favors the elimination of such breeders from the industry.

Please note my new email is lacey.clever@petland.com

Have a Great Day!
Lacey Clever
Program Specialist
Petland Inc.
740-775-2464 ext. 180
740-772-9002 fax

UPDATE! No More Thorp Dog Auctions in WI!

Dear Companion Dog Lovers:

Please see the latest update below regarding Thorp dog auctions. Let's hope "commercial" breeders in OH take note!

A HUGE "two paws up" to our friends and supporters from WI Puppy Mill Project and Clark County Humane Society who were instrumental in leading this campaign!

Mary O'Connor-Shaver
Cell: 614-271-8248
Columbus Top Dogs
http://www.columbustopdogs.com/
http://www.banohiodogauctions.%20com/
http://tejasanimalrefuge.ca/
http://www.lostpetusa.net/

LEGISLATIVE ALERTS: Please visit our Home page for pending legislation impacting the welfare of OH animals - http://www.columbustopdogs.com/

P.S. You or someone you know has requested you be added to the Columbus Top Dogs email list. If you do not want to receive emails from columbustopdogs. com, please reply and put "remove from list" in subject. Thank you!



BREAKING NEWS: NO MORE THORP DOG AUCTIONS???

As September approaches with no announcement of a date for the fall dog auction at Horst Stables, many of you have been asking us when the next Thorp dog auction will be.
We are excited to announce that the answer to that may be -- NEVER!
For the past three months, we have been investigating a rumor that the auction may be over. Several reliable sources have told us the same thing: there will be NO MORE DOG AUCTIONS at Horst Stables!
Auction organizers have been quoted as saying that running the auction is too much of a hassle because of the protests and negative media publicity! Chuck and Cheri Wegner and all of you who wore your orange t-shirts, stood up and chanted, carried signs in the hot sun and the sub-zero temperatures -- as well as all of our Media friends who reported on the auctions, the dogs, the millers selling them, and their impact on you -- NEVER doubt that you made a difference, and we sincerely thank you all!
Standing the Line: Thorp Dog Auction, 11 Mar 09
Not mentioned by auction organizers were the many repeat violations of USDA regulations, documented in inspection reports from the first dog auction on 14 October 2006 to the most recent one on 11 March 2009. We feel that the aggravation of being forced to comply with existing regulations, along with the promise of much stricter ones included in the Smith-Krietlow Commercial Dog Breeding Licensure Bill (AB-250/SB-208), were also major factors in the decision to end the selling of dogs.
USDA/AWA Inspection Reports of Horst Stables, 06-07 (pdf)
USDA/AWA Inspection Reports of Horst Stables, 08-09 (pdf)
This information could be yet another Thorp Dog Auction LIE...but to the best of our knowledge now...IT IS OVER. To put it bluntly, "it's all about the money," and thanks to our supporters, dog auctions apparently are simply not profitable enough!
Prior to the Dog Auctions, the Horst Stable auction business mainly sold horses, cows, and farm supplies. Apparently, they have discovered that selling dogs is just not the same as selling livestock. Hopefully, the Commercial Dog Breeding Licensure Bill will help convince puppy millers that BREEDING dogs just isn't the same as breeding livestock.
Until then, millers will still be trying to make a buck off the mill dogs -- so pet owners, rescue organizations, and shelters will continue to be burdened by the dark, dirty underground network and "dumping" of these animals.
But we have taken an important first step!

ACTION ALERT! Puppy Breeding Update (Sharon Roberts, Whispering Oaks Kennel)

Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~

Many of you may recall last year's investigation of Sharon Roberts, a longtime owner of a Parkersburg, WVA-area dog kennel (Whispering Oaks Kennel) who surrendered approximately 1,000 dogs to humane officials after authorities executed a search warrant on her property.

During the search of Ms. Roberts property, authorities stated that the breeding dogs were never let out of their cages and rarely, if ever, touched by a human being. As shared by Deputy Robert Sims of the Wood County Sheriff's Office, "Some of them, you put them on the ground and they don't know what it is because they've lived their entire life on wire mesh." Deputy Sims went on to state that the buildings where the dogs were kept lacked air conditioning and that temperatures hovered in the mid-to upper 90s during the weekend of the search. "You simply can't describe the overwhelming smell of the ammonia, the feces," he said of the dog runs. "And these were kept decently clean. But still, the smell was just horrible."

As a condition of her surrender, Ms Roberts agreed never to operate a dog-breeding business again!

Sadly, it was confirmed that past Friday that officers from the Washington County Sheriff's Office raided Sharon's home again and not only found more than 70 puppies of different breeds (included one dead puppy which a veterinarian' s preliminary report confirmed had parvo, ringworm and suffered from malnutrition) , but $200,000 in cash that had been stashed away! For more details on the recent investigation, click here.

Now for even more disheartening news...


Last month, Washington County Auditor, Dan McFarland, confirmed that on June 26, 2009, after receipt of an application, his office issued a kennel license to Ms. Roberts at 700 Tick Ridge Road, Vincent, Ohio, 45784. When information concerning last year's investigation was presented to Mr. McFarland, his response was, "perhaps at this point the best place to express your concern would be to the appropriate enforcement authority. While not sure what party that would be, in our County we have a Dog Warden, Sheriff and Prosecuting Attorney."

If you would like to share your concerns regarding this puppy mill breeder who was permitted to re-establish her operations in Ohio, I encourage you to contact:

James Schneider
Prosecuting Attorney for Washington County
E-mail: Prosecutor@washingtongov.org
Telephone: (740) 373-7624
Fax: (740) 373-8748
Pager: (740) 376-7993
Website: click here

Thanks everyone for continuing to serve as a strong voice for the animals!

Mary O'Connor-Shaver
Cell: 614-271-8248
Columbus Top Dogs
http://www.columbustopdogs.com/
http://www.banohiodogauctions. com/
http://tejasanimalrefuge.ca/
http://www.lostpetusa.net/

LEGISLATIVE ALERTS: Please visit our Home page for pending legislation impacting the welfare of OH animals - http://www.columbustopdogs.com/

ACTION ALERT! Puppy Breeding Update (Sharon Roberts, Whispering Oaks Kennel)

Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~

Many of you may recall last year's investigation of Sharon Roberts, a longtime owner of a Parkersburg, WVA-area dog kennel (Whispering Oaks Kennel) who surrendered approximately 1,000 dogs to humane officials after authorities executed a search warrant on her property.

During the search of Ms. Roberts property, authorities stated that the breeding dogs were never let out of their cages and rarely, if ever, touched by a human being. As shared by Deputy Robert Sims of the Wood County Sheriff's Office, "Some of them, you put them on the ground and they don't know what it is because they've lived their entire life on wire mesh." Deputy Sims went on to state that the buildings where the dogs were kept lacked air conditioning and that temperatures hovered in the mid-to upper 90s during the weekend of the search. "You simply can't describe the overwhelming smell of the ammonia, the feces," he said of the dog runs. "And these were kept decently clean. But still, the smell was just horrible."

As a condition of her surrender, Ms Roberts agreed never to operate a dog-breeding business again!

Sadly, it was confirmed that past Friday that officers from the Washington County Sheriff's Office raided Sharon's home again and not only found more than 70 puppies of different breeds (included one dead puppy which a veterinarian' s preliminary report confirmed had parvo, ringworm and suffered from malnutrition) , but $200,000 in cash that had been stashed away! For more details on the recent investigation, click here.

Now for even more disheartening news...

Last month, Washington County Auditor, Dan McFarland, confirmed that on June 26, 2009, after receipt of an application, his office issued a kennel license to Ms. Roberts at 700 Tick Ridge Road, Vincent, Ohio, 45784. When information concerning last year's investigation was presented to Mr. McFarland, his response was, "perhaps at this point the best place to express your concern would be to the appropriate enforcement authority. While not sure what party that would be, in our County we have a Dog Warden, Sheriff and Prosecuting Attorney."

If you would like to share your concerns regarding this puppy mill breeder who was permitted to re-establish her operations in Ohio, I encourage you to contact:

James Schneider
Prosecuting Attorney for Washington County
E-mail: Prosecutor@washingtongov.org
Telephone: (740) 373-7624
Fax: (740) 373-8748
Pager: (740) 376-7993
Website: click here

Thanks everyone for continuing to serve as a strong voice for the animals!

Mary O'Connor-Shaver
Cell: 614-271-8248
Columbus Top Dogs
http://www.columbustopdog.com

http://www.banohiodogauctions.com/

http://tejasanimalrefuge.ca/

http://www.lostpetusa.net/


LEGISLATIVE ALERTS: Please visit our Home page for pending legislation impacting the welfare of OH animals - http://www.columbustopdogs.com/

IMPORTANT UPDATES on Efforts to Address Ohio Dog Auctions and Puppy Mills!

Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~

It's been a couple of weeks since I last "spoke" to you regarding efforts to address Ohio dog auctions and puppy mills, so just wanted to share with you a few of the many recent developments that have taken place:

1. Initiated Statute (Ballot Initiative). On July 30, Don McTigue (our legal eagle) presented more than DOUBLE the required 1,000 signatures from registered voters to the Ohio Attorney General's office in support of our Amended Petition! Based on preliminary discussions, it appears this filing (which is Part 1 of a three part process) stands an excellent chance of being certified by the OAG and approved by the Ohio Ballot Board within the next seven business days! Should this be the case, we will be well-positioned to move forward with Part 2.

A HUGE thanks to voters from across 27 Ohio counties who helped us reach this significant milestone in our campaign! Plans are currently underway in the design and execution of this next critical signature drive for Part 2, and I will continue to keep you abreast of all "next steps" relating to this initiative.

Because so many people across Ohio feel passionately in supporting a ban on dog auctions, we continue to have the good fortune in connecting with many humane advocacy groups and individuals across the country who are committed to helping us succeed with our ballot initiative. To view all the voices who support a ban on Ohio dog auctions, click here.

2. 2009 Homeless Animals' Day (Billboard Campaign). To commemorate Homeless Animals' Day 2009, the Coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions has partnered with International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR), Athens County Humane Society and Nauman Outdoor Advertising Company on the design and placement of a billboard along Route 33 in Athens County, as visitors are entering Nelsonville, Ohio.

The goal of this public education opportunity is to inform Ohio voters of an American tragedy that overwhelms our state's animal shelters each year, while promoting campaigns, programs and ideas which effectively address the pet overpopulation epidemic. To view our billboard message, click here.

A HUGE thanks to supporter Janice Kobi of Fairfield County CARES in helping to facilitate this project!


3. Pike County Rescue. This past Saturday, I had the privilege to participate in an emergency rescue transport of two incredibly sweet, terrier-mix girls (Mighty and Minnie) from Pike County Dog Pound to St. Francis Animal Sanctuary in Vermillion, Ohio. Both companions had open wounds (Minnie's wounds included maggots), urine burns, and poor Mighty was missing one of her front legs as a result of (what appeared to be) a botched amputation.

To read more about these two puppy mill survivors, click here.

Because St. Francis's founder, Deborah Parker, has been such a huge supporter of our campaign to address puppy mills and dog auctions in Ohio, we are making a special appeal for your assistance in helping these two girls and all the wonderful "special needs" companions who reside at St. Francis. Please note that St. Francis is dedicated to all the animals abused, starving and neglected, and they rely 100% on the generosity of private donations. Any gift you are able to give, no matter what the amount, is always very much welcomed and appreciated.

To make a donation through PayPal, click here.

A HUGE thanks to Transport Coordinator, Carolyn Brickner, and all the dedicated volunteers who helped with this very special rescue!

4. CHA Dog Jog. For more information on how you can support our efforts to address dog auctions and puppy mills in Ohio, we invite you to visit our booth during the 19th annual CHA Dog Jog on Saturday, August 22. The event is a 5K, which you can Run or Walk, and all proceeds will benefit the Citizens for Humane Action (CHA) Animal Shelter located in Westerville, Ohio.

For more information on this fun-filled event, click here.

Thanks everyone for continuing to serve as a strong voice for the animals!

Mary O'Connor-Shaver
Cell: 614-271-8248
Columbus Top Dogs
http://www.columbustopdogs.com/
http://www.banohiodogauction.com/
http://tejasanimalrefuge.ca/
http://www.lostpetusa.net/

LEGISLATIVE ALERTS: Please visit our Home page for pending legislation impacting the welfare of OH animals - http://www.columbustopdogs.com/

P.S. You or someone you know has requested you be added to the Columbus Top Dogs email list. If you do not want to receive emails from columbustopdogs. com, please reply and put "remove from list" in subject. Thank you!

Beware of Dog: Five Things You Need to Know

How in the world do we navigate the current state of dogs in our
country? When did the innocent question, "How Much is that Doggie in
the Window?" turn into "Do you get your dogs from puppy mills?" Once
upon a time, it was perfectly acceptable to buy your precious pup at a
pet store. Not anymore. And, how did we allow the number of homeless
pets to jump into the millions and then decide that it was okay to
euthanize them just because there was "no room at the inn." How did we
take something so simple -- the joy of finding and caring for a dog --
and turn it into such a mess?!

--
full story:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carrie-pollare/beware-of-dog-five-things_b_245516.html

NC to follow Virginia in regulating puppy mills

Sometime this week the NC Senate is set to vote on SB 460, a bill to
regulate large scale dog breeding operations. Many such operations,
commonly referred to as "Puppy Mills", have been the focus of scrutiny
of animal rights groups for years. The NC bill closely resembles the
one passed by the VA Senate in 2008.

Puppy Mills are not simple backyard breeding operations or are they
made up of show dogs with champion pedigrees. They are mass production
facilities in which puppies are the products manufactured. The dogs
are often housed in filthy conditions with little to no veterinary
care or human contact. The dogs and puppies are not beloved pets and
are treated as a cash crop. They are often housed in wire crates
stacked on top of eachother which allows urine and feces to fall upon
those in the lower levels. It is often alleged in cruelty cases that
the dogs are kept in the crates except when brought out for breeding
purposes. Puppies are then sold to the public through pet stores and
classified ads. Many of these operations have been the focus of animal
cruelty investigations in recent years, including the largest ever on
record where over 1000 dogs were seized from a Carroll County, VA man
in 2007. The dogs were housed and rehabilitated by several animal
welfare agencies including the Norfolk SPCA.

--
full story:
http://www.examiner.com/x-17430-Norfolk-Pet-Laws-Examiner~y2009m7d28-NC-to-follow-VA-in-regulating-puppy-mills

SUCCESS! AB 241 PASSES COMMITTEE

Dear Supporters:
Success!
AB 241, Assemblymember Pedro Nava's anti puppy mill legislation, won its vote in the Senate Public Safety Committee this morning!
Senators Mark Leno, Gil Cedillo, Loni Hancock and Darrell Steinberg all voted YES. The Senators listened to the hundreds of animal lovers who called and faxed in support of this good bill.
And congratulations Assemblymember Nava! Thank you for representing the vast majority of Californians who see pets as friends, not products. AB 241 will next be heard in August in the Senate Appropriations Committee. We will alert you when the time comes.
____________ _________ _________ __

Now, a more personal note. This has been a crazy week in Sacramento. AB 241 has passed Committee, while Senator Florez decided to wait until August to move SB 250 forward. Thanks so much to everyone who has called, faxed and traveled to help our pets live better lives.
Once AB 241 becomes law, no one in California will be able to keep more than 50 unaltered dogs. While that may seem like a lot, in reality many puppy mills keep 500 or more unaltered dogs at one time. All too often the puppy mill breeder dogs spend their life in tiny cages, and sometimes never touch=2
0the ground for their entire life.
The awful treatment of dogs in puppy mills is a direct result of the profit mentality of underground animal breeders, whether they have 5 breeder dogs or 500. They believe it is their right to breed and sell animals without any government oversight. And ironically, backyard breeders (and the groups representing them) complained all through 2007 and 2008 that legislation targeting underground breeding was misplaced and should focus only on puppy mills... but now it's those same people loudly complaining about AB 241! They now oppose ANY legislation designed to help pets, a knee-jerk reaction based on a collective paranoia that sees a conspiracy to take away breeding rights and pets behind every piece of pet legislation.
If this all sounds like hyperbole just for effect, I wish it was. The number
of people living off the income of their underground, backyard breeding in California is truly staggering. Before we started doing research into this a few years ago, the scope of this problem, and the millions of tax dollars stolen from our state by these people, just wasn't understood. But now, thankfully, our Legislators are starting to notice.
In fact, the California Board of Equalization is now also starting to take an interest in underground breeding. The BOE is beginning to contact breeders to determine their status and see if they are paying their taxes. That's GOOD NEWS! And the breeder response? Are they stepping up, being honest citizens by finally following current breeding laws and paying taxes? Nope. They are instead frantically pulling all references to individual breeders down from breeder websites and AKC lists, in an attempt to go further underground. Shameless.
The honest truth is that backyard breeders, and the hypocritical organized groups making money from their donations while pretending to care about pets,see animals as a tax-free paycheck. It's income that is easily hidden from the Government, even though current law states that anyone selling animals needs to pay sales tax and claim the income. This week Sacramento was overrun with hundreds of backyard breeders, gathering to oppose SB 250 and AB 241. It was quite a sight. Unlike you, they have plenty of time to travel to the Capital, because their day job is sitting in their house tending to puppies while waiting for the females to come into heat again. Those puppies sell for hundreds (or thousands) of dollars each, tax-free. This is a career, their tax-free livelihood, period, and they will never support truly pet-friendly legislation, because they fear that it will cost them money. It's just that simple, and it was in full display this week in
Sacramento.
Thank you for keeping up the fight to help pets. They need our voice! Thank you for being honest taxpayers. Thank you for treating your pets with respect, and rescuing pets instead of purchasing them. And thank you for helping stop cruel puppy mills in California!
____________ _________ _________ __

We are making a difference together in our great state.

Warm regards,
Judie Mancuso
President, Social Compassion In Legislation (SCIL)
A 501(c)(4) non-profit organization focused on reducing pet overpopulation through legislation.
www.YESonAB241.com
www.YESonSB250.com

(US/wi) Truck Dramatizes Animal Abuse Issue

Jim Long has never considered himself an animal-rights activist.

But when he read about the conditions of dogs at so-called "puppy
mills," he wanted to take action.

"It's not that I take a particular interest in animals," he said. "I
just don't want to see them abused."

Long of Sharon learned about puppy mills—large, commercial breeding
facilities where puppies and mothers get inadequate care and little
exercise or socialization—on the Internet. He started protesting pet
stores that sell puppies because he believes that most puppies in pet
stores come from puppy mills.
...
"That's when I came up with the idea of the truck, that it would
really capture people's attention and educate them," he said.

Long certainly has succeeded on his first goal. He painted his pickup
truck with anti-puppy mill slogans in April. The messages list the
problems puppy-mill dogs face: "No exercise. No play. No vet care.
Dirty food. Cage-wire injuries. Cruelty."

But the most eye-catching part of Long's truck is the cages stacked in
back filled with fuzzy stuffed dogs. He wanted to show people how dogs
in puppy mills are raised.

--
full story:
http://gazettextra.com/news/2009/jul/06/truck-dramatizes-animal-abuse-issue/