Frankie The Law Dog

Saturday, September 19 has been set aside as Puppy Mill Awareness Day, and events are planned in England, Ireland and across the United States to draw attention to the plight of animals who are victims of puppy mill abuses.

Puppy Mills are a Growing Problem Everywhere

Puppy mills (called puppy farms in some countries) are a growing problem.  The profits associated with breeding large numbers of popular dog breeds are too tempting for some unscrupulous and greedy people to resist.  The ASPCA defines a puppy mill as a “large-scale commercial dog breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs.”

The Focus is on Profit at Puppy Mills

Because the focus at puppy mills is on profit, little care is given to producing healthy puppies.  Rather, the emphasis is on producing quantities of puppies, regardless of the problems involved.  As a result, puppy mill dogs are over-bred and inbred, leading to genetic abnormalities and a range of health problems.

Moreover, breeding dogs are often subjected to lives of constant captivity in small, unsanitary, crowded cages without access to adequate food, water, exercise or veterinary care.

Puppy Mills do not Produce Healthy Puppies Like Daisy

Puppy mill dogs usually end up in pet stores.  According to the ASPCA, these dogs are sold through brokers when they are as young as eight weeks of age.  Furthermore, the “lineage records of puppy mill dogs are often falsified.”  Thus, the unwary consumer is not getting what he or she pays for.

Puppy Mill Laws:  Anti-Puppy Mill Legislation

Many states across the USA are attempting, with mixed success, to put legislation in place to prevent some of the worst abuses of puppy mills.  And with the assistance of groups like the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Humane Society of the United States and their local affiliates, law enforcement agencies are stepping up raids on puppy mills.

Puppy Mill Awareness Day

Although some progress is being made in the fight against puppy mills, the problem persists.  For instance, concerns remain about whether new anti-puppy mill laws can or will be enforced.

And if consumers remain ignorant about the living horror that is a puppy mill, they will continue to inadvertently support puppy mills by purchasing dogs from pet stores.  That is why events such as those associated with Puppy Mill Awareness Day are so important.  The best way to put puppy mills out of business is to educate the public.

Senator Edward Kennedy passed away August 25, and many eulogies are being offered for his public service by people on all sides of the current political debates.  But some people are remembering Senator Kennedy for his legendary love for dogs.

Author Christy Keith at Pet Connection has a lovely tribute to the late senator in which she describes his devotion to his dog Splash – a devotion all true dog lovers will recognize in themselves.

In the National Journal Online, Senator Judd Gregg recalls spending hours negotiating with Senator Kennedy on policy matters in Kennedy’s office.  And Senator Kennedy’s dog Splash would always be there, locked away with the lawmakers as they debated the issues.

A Seattle Times piece recalls Senator Kennedy’s final days, including his “sacred” morning ritual that included “scratching the bellies of his beloved Portuguese water dogs, Sunny and Splash.”

The Los Angeles Times notes that Senator Kennedy is remembered by many as a dog lover and an animal advocate, stating that the senator was influential in passing animal welfare legislation, including laws aimed at preventing dogfighting and cockfighting and legislation that protected farm animals.

Senator Kennedy penned the children’s book “My Senator and Me:  A Dog’s Eye View of Washington, D.C.” which the Times calls “an introduction to the political process aimed at elementary-aged kids” told from the viewpoint of Splash.

And of course, Senator Kennedy recently gave us our new First Dog of the United States when he presented Bo, a Portuguese water dog, to President Obama and his family as a gift.

The Los Angeles Times piece sums it up very well:

Say what you will about Sen. Ted Kennedy — he certainly had his share of faults — but the man sure did love animals.  We’re thinking today not just of the human family he left behind, but also of Sunny and Splash, who we’re sure are among those who will grieve the most for their master.

The hilarious dog blog, Life With Dogs, has a commentary on Michael Vick’s 60 Minutes interview with James Brown over the weekend.  We at Frankie the Law Dog couldn’t agree more with their assessment.

Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated is reporting that James Brown has one regret about an unasked question during the interview.  Vick indicated that he “allowed” things to happen to the dogs.  Brown regrets that he did not follow up on that with additional questions, seeing as how Vick actually killed dogs with his own hands.

Suggesting that he “allowed” things to “happen” to the dogs is a cop-out and not an acknowledgment of responsibility.  It certainly is not an indication of remorse.  Apparently, Vick is still reluctant to fully acknowledge that he personally – with his own hands – tortured, maimed and killed dogs.

Mason Lerner of thefastertimes.com says he believes (or wants to believe – Lerner admits he’s skeptical) that Vick’s statement “I could have put a stop to it” amounts to putting “all the blame squarely where it belongs.”  In other words, Lerner believes that statement is a full acknowledgment of responsibility.

Judge for yourself.  The entire interview is embedded into the article.

Almost immediately after signing Michael Vick to a two-year, multi-million dollar deal, the Philadelphia Eagles are on the defensive, responding to public criticism over their choice to sign a confessed animal torturer to play for their team.

The Philadelphia Enquirer reports that the Eagles issued a note to their high-dollar suiteholders (their “premium-service clients”) claiming they “understand” that their decision to sign Vick “may result in some personal soul-searching for you, along with some public debate in the coming days and weeks.”  The letter went on to ask the suiteholders not to allow this debate to “distract” from their relationship with the Eagles.

Eagles president Joe Banner included a statement that Vick deserved a “second chance” and asked that these clients join the Eagles in their “support and optimism” for Vick as he “commits to showing Philadelphia and the country he is a changed human being.”

Who is Joe Banner Talking About, Anyway?

Is Banner talking about the same guy who blatantly lied to Roger Goodell’s face when the charges first materialized?  Only to have to finally admit their truth when the evidence against him was too compelling to continue to deny?  Is this the person we’re supposed to believe is now a “changed human being”?

Can someone who has a long history of torturing innocent creatures – for fun – be truly capable of becoming a “changed human being” simply because he was caught and punished for his atrocities?  I doubt it.  Had he not been caught, Michael Vick would likely still be engaged in his dog fighting operation.

Let’s be perfectly clear about what he did.  The dogs in Michael Vick’s dog fighting ring were forced to fight to the death.  The dogs that did not die in the ring were often electrocuted, drowned, hanged, shot or beaten to death.

This went on for years.  And if Vick had not been caught, his Bad Newz Kennels would probably still be operating.

Protesting the Eagles’ Decision to Sign Michael Vick

While the Eagles try to paint sunshine and roses for their suiteholders, the website sackvick.net continues to inform concerned fans and dog lovers how they may contact Eagles sponsors and voice their outrage over Vick’s signing.

One football fan that I know reports that he made several telephone calls to sponsors yesterday, including a call to Anheuser Busch.  While speaking with the representative, he got the impression the company was fielding many such phone calls.  Nevertheless, the Anheuser Busch representative commented that there was little the company could do, since the decision was made by the Eagles organization.

Well, for starters, they could pull their sponsorship from the team.

But they’re not going to do that unless it becomes economically unfeasible for them to continue the sponsorship.  That is why concerned individuals need to continue to call the individual sponsors and respectfully let them know you won’t be buying their products if they continue to sponsor the Philadelphia Eagles and Michael Vick.