On People demonstrate against Petland, but store says it uses reputable breeders

Posted on August 11 at 11:42 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

People, the article is about dogs. You are using it as a platform to get other opinions across about other controversial subjects. You are right, I don't know about commercial farming, and if you don't want me to refer to farm animals romping in the grass, then don't use the word farming so freely; indicate commercial farming, just as the word puppy mill is used in the wrong context. Keep bantering back and forth about my comments and have a good time, I will not read them, as this is a waste of my time.

On People demonstrate against Petland, but store says it uses reputable breeders

Posted on August 11 at 11:05 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

A puppy mill cannot be compared to farm animals,FOCUS on the SUBJECT. This particular article has nothing to do with farm animals, let alone starving kids or abusive parents, save that for another article. The majority of us eat meat and wear leather, our husbands hunt. Those who don't, can do what they want with their time. This is about the adult dogs in mass breeding situations! The USDA regulations for breeding facilities(althought interstingly enough a dog is not stated as a farm animal anywhere on the USDA site)state the regulations are food, water, shelter and a cage big enough to turn around in. That is how Conrads (and notice the other two places refused a comment) and the others can sell over 5000 puppies a year. These ADULT dogs don't get out and get exercise, human contact (automatic feeders) or any type of mental stimulation. Sheep, cows, pigs,horses are OUTSIDE in the field, not just barely able to turn around in their own feces or living on wire bottomed cages damaging their feet. You say we should stop protesting and try to change the laws? WE ARE!!! SB208 Pet Facilities Bill Introduced to WI legislature by Sen Kreitlow and Rep Smith. Get your facts before you judge, we did. I am a proud member of the Wisconsin Puppy MIll Project and I do not represent any other group that have other agendas. This is about the ADULT DOGS who are living in barbaric conditions in this so-called Humane society.

On People demonstrate against Petland, but store says it uses reputable breeders

Posted on August 11 at 10:30 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Mark Twain These animals are the same animals this "spoiled, rich society" depends on for search and rescue, bomb scares, drug busts; they are used to help the disabled and mentally challenged. They are used to help in nursing homes and hospitals, their capacity for love and assistance goes far beyond anyone of the mentality such as those who believe the work of humane-minded people is extreme and activist. I hope you or your loved ones never need the assistance of a "COMPANION ANIMAL." and if you do...that animal's parents are probably in a cage in a sweltering or freezing barn stacked on top of eachother, urinating and defecating on eachother because that is what the guidelines are...food, water and shelter... so they can have babies who will grow up to learn how to take care of the likes of YOU!

J.H.

On Should state regulate dog breeders?

Posted on July 17 at 6:13 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Absolutely commercial dog breeders, those selling more than 25 puppies in a year including shelters and rescues, should be regulated and pay a nominal license fee. 25 dogs sold in 1 year would be $10 a dog ($250 a year)for a license. Any reputable breeder should want mills and commercial breeders regulated, they would only gain more business. The public also needs to be educated on what is a puppy mill. It is not the number of dogs that makes a mill, but rather the inhumane conditions. I eat meat, my husband hunts, my uncle owns a farm. None of us are selfish enough to let these dogs suffer at the expense of the fear the lobbyists for the opposition is trying to instill in the uneducated public. Get the facts at www.nowisconsinpuppymills.com. The USDA does very little, inspections twice a year, slap on the wrists, nominal regulations food, shelter, water. A dog has to be dead or dying in order for any further action, the system is not working the way it is. The dogs are considered livestock, when in the WI State Statutes, there is no mention of dogs when defining livestock. When these millers and inhumane breeders lose their site or an arm or a leg, who are they going to rely on? A dog, to help the turn a switch on or guide them across the street, yet they keep them in deplorable conditions. The USDA regulations say 6 inches in front of the nose in order to be able to turn around in a cage that they live their entire lives in, food, water and shelter. The Amish and menonites are the biggest culprits. They are hear after PA passed rigid laws pushing them to WI, the "wild west" of puppy mills. The amish don't view dogs as domesticated animals, they don't and are not required to provide ventilation or heat, as well as many others, i.e., Pretty Penny Kennels in Plymouth, WI. We count on them to be our companions yet turn our backs when they need us as their voice. What do the millers do? They stick an iron rod down their throats to scar their vocal cords so they can't bark, which is why so many go "under the radar" making thousands of under the table dollars a year. Educate yourselves before you judge who is fighting for humane treatment.

On Advocates hope for breeding rules

Posted on July 8 at 3:30 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

The license fee for 25 dogs is $10.00 per dog (250.00), which is a low fee per dog. Why the fear of being inspected if they aren't doing anything wrong? USDA regulated means nothing, there is no enforcment and the fines are very low. Unless they find nearly dead or dead animals, there is nothing they can do. The guidelines are food, water, shelter. Dogs are not even listed in the Wisconsin Statutes as farm animals, yet they are treated as farm animals by being inspected by USDA. These are scare tactics by lobbyists who say nothing should be done to regulate these places. Puppy mill does not mean 25 or more dogs. Puppy mill is more of a slang for poor conditions and inhumane treatment of breeding dogs. The bill has a committee of experts with regard to the bigger dogs having bigger litters, etc. WI is one of the few states with NOTHING in place to regulate any breeders, no wonder they complain. They have it made here. Pennsylvania is having great success, Indiana just passed a bill last week. What are you all doing to educate the public and let the market decide? Put your dogs in these cages for life and let them breed and rot and then say there doesn't need to be something done. This isn't the wild, wild west.

On Personal experience drives woman to work against puppy mills

Posted on July 8 at 2:44 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

I agree thunderhill. I don't believe legislation will end puppy mills/commercial breeders. This bill will at least be a start to regulate them and in the process we are educating the public and making them more aware of what is going on and maybe someday, like the seals, the demand will become less and less. Dogs will die, millers won't want to comply and will kill their breeding stock. There will always be animals in laboratories. BUT, they can be treated more humanely. They can get proper vet care, socialization and exercise,adequate ventilation and heat; thats not asking too much and lets remember, it is also regulating shelters and rescues so another Thyme and Sage doesn't happen again. We can only try, and we need to start somewhere and thank you to those who are making this effort rather than do nothing.

On Personal experience drives woman to work against puppy mills

Posted on July 7 at 10:03 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Lost-City, you are right puppy mills are supply and demand, but education is the answer, NOT stop having pets. Give me a break. Educate people on where and how to buy/rescue dogs. Pets are proven, essential benefits to our lives.

On Personal experience drives woman to work against puppy mills

Posted on July 7 at 8:19 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

The Humane Society of the United States just concluded an investigation www.hsus.org; go there to find out where your Petland gets it puppies, click on WI and then Janesville. In 2009, Janesville Petland purchased puppies from Conrad's Cuddly Canines in MO, a commercial breeder selling over 5000 puppies a year and grossing over $1,000,000 a year. The mills and backyard breeders are everywhere in WI, just because they may not be predominant in Rock County, we are all still citizens of WI and need to speak up and put an end to this. Pretty Penny Kennels in Plymouth, WI, he operates just above the law because he gives over 500 dogs food, shelter and water. He says they don't belong in a warm environment as they used to live in the wild...wild yorkies and schnauzers?!!; over 30 known predominantly amish and menonite mills in Clark County (Thorp/Eau Claire area)alone; www.nowisconsinpuppymills.com for more info. Rumored to be in the area of Orfordville and Brodhead. My dogs came from a mill in La Farge, County. Problem is they aren't regulated so they can sell privately or on internet and no one knows. Thousands of dollars under the table. Many of them stick iron rods down their throats so they can't bark.

On Truck dramatizes animal abuse issue

Posted on July 6 at 9:56 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

The Humane Society of the United States just concluded an investigation www.hsus.org; go there to find out where your Petland gets it puppies, click on WI and then Janesville. In 2009, Janesville Petland purchased puppies from Conrad's Cuddly Canines in MO, a commercial breeder selling over 5000 puppies a year and grossing over $1,000,000 a year. Doesn't sound like a local, loving breeder to me.

Thank you Jim for your efforts! The children do need to see this and know how ignorant adults can be. I am sure there is a loving, nonthreatening way to let the little tike know that the dogs on this truck are there to teach us to be kind to animals. They see far worse on even commercials.

On Personal experience drives woman to work against puppy mills

Posted on July 6 at 9:38 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Thank you so much for sharing the story of these puppy mill survivors. They are no longer known as "breeding stock", and are now loving members of a great family. Thereis a difference between good, responsible breeders and puppy mill/commercial breeders. We depend on dogs in life saving situations; search and rescue, guide dogs, fire depts., armed services, police and more, yet the reality is that many of their parents have been confined their entire lives in cages they can barely move around in, stacked on top of eachother in filthy conditions because Wisconsin has no regulations regarding this issue. Go to www.nowisconsinpuppymills.com to find out about mills, auctions, how to help and get the facts on the bill and the fact that it includes rescues and shelters as well as commercial breeders. Again, thank you Janesville Gazette.