Ban Puppy Mills!

It's painful, but please watch:

http://animal.discovery.com/tv/animal-cops/philadelphia/puppy-mills-exposed/

I love my rescue puppy, and I *hate* the amount of dog breeding in this country when homeless animals are dying each day. I've known some *good* breeders, and happily have never known the bad ones. What I did not realize, before watching this episode, was that federal regulation is virtually nonexistent--and a number of states, even a number of "reputable breeder associations," don't add any state regulation for the humane treatment of animals by breeders.

Please investigate conditions in YOUR state--especially if you're in Missouri or Tennessee. Write to your federal AND state legislators, as well as your state governor, and urge them to sponsor a bill (or vote, in Missouri's case) to better regulate and reduce breeding, and BAN PUPPY MILLS.

http://www.missourifordogs.com/ is leading a ballot initiative for the prevention of puppy mills!

I encourage everyone to protest any local stores that sell dogs. Look up breeders in your community and ask if you can visit. *Publicize* about this issue, and make sure everyone YOU know will not buy a puppy from the Internet and will "opt to adopt".

Why am I thinking about this, other than just what I saw on TV?



I'm applying to adopt another dog--a three-month-old pit bull puppy from the Buster Foundation, a local pit bull rescue. This pic doesn't show off his bright side and happy puppy energy... he's not REALLY a German Romantic poet, I swear! I guess he was just cold and contemplative that day!

I met him this weekend and he was fabulous... when I brought Cinnamon in to interact with some pups and young dogs, Buster just went RIGHT for her, inviting her to play and jumping up at her. He was about ... a little less than half her size, and he kept saying "play with me! play!" until she relented. They had a wonderful time wrestling with each other for just about as long as I was there.

I've lost weight, since adopting Cinnamon. I get out more, I feel healthier, I get more exercise... and I have something wonderful to come home to. (Well, OK, except for the destruction.)