October 4th World Animal Day

World Animal Day  http://www.worldanimalday.org.uk/  was yesterday, October 4th.  With Quebec's latest puppy mill raid still in the news, the largest seizure in Canadian history with 527 dogs rescued, at least 100 females pregnant, adding over 100 puppies to the count, it is unacceptable that the laws here in Quebec are so lax. Should the mill operator in Clarendon, Quebec, be found guilty of animal cruelty - and how could she not?! - the maximum fine for her would be $1200. That's roughly $2 per dog (never mind the puppies born after the seizure) that lived in inhumane conditions, never seeing the outdoors, eating quality foods, playing with toys or feeling the loving arms of a human. Oh, and the cost to rescue and care for all these dogs for the many weeks it will take to get the case heard in court? So far, it's been roughly $6000/per day! About one third of those dogs rescued need daily medical care. Sounds fair to you?


These breeding dogs were never health tested, socialized or cared for, yet they produced pup after pup that got sold in pet stores, in newspaper ads, online and at flea markets. These are puppies that end up in shelters or euthanized because they aren't house trained, are terrified of humans, are sick or dying, or bite or show aggression. Buyers of these dogs didn't do the research or their homework and end up regretting the purchase of such a huge commitment. Mill operators such as this one don't care about that. They care only that they made a sale and it gives them good reason to continue doing what they do. There are no spay or neuter contracts signed at time of purchase, so the pups that do make it to a year or two and kept within the family home are often bred "because having puppies is so cute" or "we want the children to experience nature"! And so the cycle continues. UGH - don't get me started on that!!!


In Ontario, for example, the punishment for such cruelty as found in this latest case in Quebec, can be fines up to $60,000, up to two years in jail and a lifetime ban of owning animals. Now that is starting to make sense! You think men and women would consider embarking a career in the puppy or kitten mill business if they knew what they could face when caught? Also, Ontario has over 300 officers and inspectors whereas Quebec has only recently increased their numbers to 40. Ontario SPCA http://www.ontariospca.ca/5-critical.shtml complains that they have 400 mills operating in their province and that they need more manpower to check up on these places. Quebec, for shame! With over 2000 mills in our own province that breed up to 400,000 animals a year and so few inspectors available, one has to wonder if we'll ever get this problem solved!


Here is a most interesting and thorough article - and sad to say, it's dated 13 years ago and yet the industry is thriving more than ever. http://www.pets.ca/dogs/articles/puppy-mills/