HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW?

Another line from another old song... I don't know the original artist but I'll credit Patti page here.

How much is that doggie in the window? (arf! arf!)

The one with the waggley tail

How much is that doggie in the window? (arf! arf!)

I do hope that doggie's for sale

Cute song, cute meaning. Unfortunately, the real question today should be "what price did that cute dog's mother pay to bring him to the window?"

Yes, I am referring to Puppy Mills, and I neither claim to be a news reporter or an expert on dog breeding, but in this blog, I can express opinions and educate.

The next time you see a puppy at a pet store, try this visual. The mother and father are somewhere in a cage only let out to procreate. They may never have felt grass beneath their feet, know what a toy or what a pat on the head feels like. Then picture those same dogs being dumped under bridges on road sides, in tunnels, and if they are lucky at shelters, when their breeding days are done.

All puppies at all pet stores are not born in this environment and you should research your local pet store before making assumptions, but the sad truth is that for many of them, this is an accurate summary.

And yes, that cute puppy in the cage is guilty of nothing and deserves a chance. If more and more people would stop buying from pet stores who utilize puppy mills, then eventually, the demand would go down and so would the need to purchase more puppy mill breeder dogs. Also, if enough people are educated and take up this cause, perhaps legislation and laws can be enacted at the State level that would regulate the care and treatment of these dogs. In the meantime, if everyone would either rescue or purchase directly from a reputable breeder, then there would not be a need for puppy mills.

Tomorrow, May 8th is Puppy Mill Awareness Day in North Carolina.

Here is the link to the website:

http://www.awarenessday.org/awareness-nc/index.html

Activities are from 11-5 at Moore Square Park in Raleigh, NC. Special guests include Victoria Stillwell and Rescue Ink.

If just one reader of this blog is enlightened by what they read here or attends the event, then it will be more than worth the time and emotional energy it took to write it! One at a time!

Thank you

BTRNC and the Boastful Boston