Home » Plants & Animals » Dog Breeding » USING THE PUPPY MILL CRISIS

USING THE PUPPY MILL CRISIS

© Marilyn Koyanagi

BEHIND THE FACADE OF ANIMAL RIGHTS

The intent of this article is not to cast doubt on or trivialize the serious problem of Puppy Mills. Nor is it meant to dissuade anyone from becoming involved in this worthy cause. On the contrary, the public’s voice is desperately needed to bring a halt to this cruelty. The purpose of this article is to educate people as to the fundamental differences between animal rights and animal welfare and to enlighten them about the realities and very real dangers of the Animal Rights Movement.

Although Dateline’s recent Puppies For Sale is not the first program to expose the origins of pet store puppies, it reportedly has generated unprecedented response. According to Dateline, within hours of the broadcast, thousands of viewers had visited their website expressing shock, support and a deep desire to become involved in ending the atrocities of Puppy Mills.

in an empty makeshift food dish.

Fuelling this reaction is the reported silence of government officials who are seemingly turning a blind eye to the suffering and blatant violations of the Animal Welfare Act. A second Dateline segment furthered public outrage and it continues to grow as animal rights groups maintain their campaign.

Breeding dogs see only the insides

Capitalizing on the public's mood, these groups are attracting many new followers, not to mention increased financial assistance, by offering people a way to collectively protest Puppy Mills. But why is there suddenly an all out effort to stir up public sentiment over a controversy that has been ongoing for years? The problem of commercial breeding operations is not new.

In fact, responsible breeders wage an unending war against Puppy Mills, educating the public and assisting Breed Clubs in the rescue and re-homing of animals. All of this is accomplished by dedicated volunteers, without soliciting public funding.

Is it a coincidence that the stepped up Puppy Mill campaign corresponded so closely with the airing of the Dateline episodes? Who worked hand in hand with Dateline in developing the programs? Surely we are not naive enough to believe that Dateline's motivation was concern for the animals rather than ratings. What was the motivation of the animal rights organizations? Was it a sincere desire to provide these animals with better living conditions? The answer to these questions and more can be found in the words of the animal rights leaders themselves.

The copyright of the article USING THE PUPPY MILL CRISIS in Dog Breeding is owned by . Permission to republish USING THE PUPPY MILL CRISIS in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.