WHO? - Barbara, one of the volunteers from Kent Animal Shelter, is organizing peaceful protests at three local pet stores known to purchase puppies from puppy mills.

WHAT (is a Peaceful Protest)? - According to Barbara, “Peaceful is because many pet shop owners will try and get protesters to start yelling, shoving, etc., so they can call the police and have the protest ended. I have had the sprinklers turned on me, I have been spit at, screamed at, threatened. We always remain cool and composed. We remain quiet and walk with our signs."

WHERE? -The pet stores are as follows:
Yipity Yap: 1802 East Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, NY 11743
Puppy Experience: 487 Main Road (Route 25 East), Aquebogue, NY 11931
Peebles Pet Shop (previously Puppy Depot): 3669 Route 112, Coram, NY 11727   

WHEN? - Saturday June 23, from 1:00 PM -3:00 PM.

WHY? - “This is to get the word out to adopt, don't shop.”
According to Kent’s facebook page: “In CA, several pet stores, because of protests, have stopped selling puppy mill puppies and are now taking in shelter dogs and cats to find homes. We want this for NY. If you’re not familiar with what a puppy mill is and the pet store connection, here is a link that explains what the mother and father dogs endure: www.PrisonersOfGreed.org”

HOW? - Please let either Barbara or Kathy know ASAP if you will be able to attend - they need to get permits in advance for the event. They will also send attendees an email letting them know where to park. You can bring as many friends as you like, and you should each bring your own sign. I asked Barbara what the signs should say, and she offered the following suggestions:

“Where are the puppies parents?”
or
“Puppy mills breed cruelty”
or
“Google Puppy Mills”

PLEASE JOIN US: Respond to Barbara via email: bdjd999@aol.com or by phone: 631 338-7303 or to Kathy via email: rattok@aol.comor by phone 631 859-8509

If any of you were wondering what ever happened with Suffolk County Legislator Jon Cooper's "Puppy and Dog Protection Rating Program" - it had been put off and reworded, but the final vote was held today and I just found out that it passed. This rating program is the first of its kind in the nation, and you can read more about it HERE. I'm thrilled to say that many of my ideas for possible rating criteria are still in there, and I'm hopeful that my contributions may one day help to stop a puppy mill sale. 

In other news, Dr. Jean Dodds was correct in having me hold off on a hormone trial for Toby's low-normal thyroid results last June. As per her instructions, I stopped giving him Deramaxx, and I had his thyroid levels retested during his annual exam this month (along with having a complete blood profile done) - and everything came back well within normal ranges. His thyroid numbers actually all increased from last time and are now at mid-range, which is pretty much as good as they are going to get. I guess that's why she's the specialist. This also proves that although Toby is incredibly smart sometimes (like when figuring out how to obtain food), he is also just plain weird at times, and Nick was probably right when he dubbed him our "Rain Dog."

Unfortunately, another worrisome issue cropped up during Toby's annual exam, which was that he had developed a heart murmur. I didn't mention it here on my blog because I didn't want to worry anyone until I knew more, and I'm glad I waited, because I'm happy to announce that after an echocardiogram and a chest x-ray, my vet informed me that Toby has no signs of cardiomyopathy or congestive heart failure, which were the main reasons he ordered the tests. Toby did develop a moderate heart murmur this past year, which falls somewhere between a grade 3 and 4 on a scale of 1 - 6, thanks to a mild case of cardiac valve disease, but neither issue is anything to worry about as per his vet. No diet or activity changes are necessary, no meds or supplements are needed, and he feels Toby is currently at a good weight. We will just need to follow up with an echo and x-ray each year to make sure everything is still status quo. Of course, I'll probably still worry about him, even though I was told not to, because this is just another reminder that my Toby is officially a senior citizen, and not the energetic eleven month old dog I adopted so long ago.

As for my other senior, you might remember that when I returned from my vacation, my mom reported that Leah had stopped making "the noise" and we thought she was better. But a few days after we picked Leah up, I heard her make "the noise" again. Since she had stopped burping and drooling, I decided to take a wait and see attitude - but about a week later she made the sound again. Back to the vet for a follow up chest x-ray, I also asked her to x-ray Leah's throat, since to me, it sort of sounded like she was trying to bring something up.

Her throat x-ray came back negative, and the chest x-ray came back identical to the last time - her stomach was overly rounded, and they didn't have any explanation as to why. But it also hadn't gotten any worse. In fact, Nick pointed out that Leah had never had a chest x-ray in all of her eight years with us, and maybe, that's just how her stomach is shaped. Who knows - he might be right. As a next step, the vet recommended a two week trial of pepcid, and a few days into the trial, Leah - the dog who never eats anything she's not supposed to - made "the noise" and then promptly vomited up a chunk of nylabone about the size of a soda cap! When I phoned her vet and asked the obvious, "Could this have caused Leah's issues?" - the doctor responded with "Absolutely." She then went on to explain to me that Leah's stomach was probably producing bile from having the plastic sitting in it, (which would not show up on x-rays or an ultrasound), and the bile was probably backing up her throat and making her retch.

Relieved that I had finally gotten to the bottom of Leah's issues, I put it out of my mind, until about a week later, when she made the noise yet again.

When she was quiet after that for another week, I figured her throat may have just been scratchy from the nylabone, but then, just tonight, I heard her make "the noise." At this point, I am not too concerned. Leah has undergone two sets of chest x-rays, a throat x-ray, a complete blood profile, and an abdominal ultrasound - all of which came back normal (aside from her weird shaped stomach). She only makes "the noise" about once a week, and always right after I pronounce her as "well." Other than that, my old girl is eating, drinking, eliminating, and playing quite normally - so I'm not going to pursue further testing unless one of those items changes. It is a puzzle as to why she is making "the noise" from time to time, but it's going to have to go on the back burner for now, while we deal with the more pressing matter of Meadow's upcoming surgery and recovery. 

So that's pretty much how the dogs are faring - while my two seniors aren't perfect, for the most part they are healthy and happy. I can't say much either way about Little Miss Meadow until after her surgery is done and her biopsies come back. Until then, all I can do is to wait, try not to worry (like that's possible), and hope for good news.

And as for myself, I recently listed for you all of the things that I wanted to do to try to help shelter dogs during the holidays, but unfortunately, I have already had to downgrade two of them. I had nearly filled two large plastic party cups with coins over the past year, which I had planned to donate to an animal related charity, but as you can imagine, our doggie emergency funds are dwindling thanks to all three dogs' various vet visits over the past few months - so I've decided to put the money towards Meadow's surgery. I do still plan on donating whatever change I manage to stash during the month of December, but it won't be nearly as much as I had originally hoped.  

I also planned to volunteer my time by walking dogs at Kent Animal Shelter in Calverton, and I sent out an application just before I found out Meadow was sick. I'm pleased to say that when I told Nick what I had done, he immediately filled out a volunteer application too, making me proud that I inspired at least one other person to help shelter dogs this year. You may be thinking, well sure, he's your husband - but I really hadn't expected him to volunteer, mainly because he is always so pressed for time. But he appears to be looking forward to it as much as I am, and our orientation is scheduled for early next week. Originally, Nick and I were planning to go once a week and walk the dogs together, but now we will need to alternate weeks, so that one of us can stay home and tend to Meadow.

So even though I can't do as much as I wanted, I'm doing what I can, and I still plan to accomplish everything on that list between now and the New Year, as well as finally finishing up that first draft of my novel, which is approximately 80% complete. I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to work on it while I'm home making sure Meadow doesn't rip out her stitches...and who knows, if one day my book makes it to the market, maybe I can make up for this year's featherweight donations...and replenish my doggie emergency fund before it's needed again! In the meantime, I hope all of you have a Healthy and Happy Thanksgiving, and I'll update when Meadow gets out of surgery on December first to let you know how she fares.

Four times a year, bloggers speak up for animals in a united effort called Blog the Change, sponsored by BtC4Animals, a blogsite which "highlights one cause per week and provides information on how readers can help. Calls to action don’t require money or more than 15 minutes to complete and typically involve actions like signing a petition or participating in a letter-writing campaign for the protection of voiceless domesticated pets, farm animals and wildlife alike."

Which is exactly what I'm going to tell you about in my Blog the Change post for today - a canine cause that won't cost you a cent, and won't take you more than 15 minutes to complete.

Actually, it took me less than five minutes to do what I'm about to ask you to do.

Just click on THIS LINK, which will take you to a page on the ASPCA website, read the short page so you know what you're supporting, fill out the short, easy, quick, simple, brief, painless form on the bottom of the page, and then click SUBMIT.

It's that simple.

So, what's the cause?

Rather than waste more of your precious time by paraphrasing the (brief) explanation that you'll read on the ASPCA website, I'll just quickly tell you that it's to help enforce the already illegal importation of puppies from foreign countries that are being bred in puppy mills that make the U.S. puppy mills look like doggie resorts - pups that often arrive diseased, dying, or dead.

Enough said.

Oh, and if you want to help even more, please take another second to email this post to a friend, or by copying and pasting the following link to it on your Facebook wall:

http://www.donnaandthedogsblog.com/blogengine/post/A-Canine-Cause-that-WONT-Cost-you-a-Cent!.aspx

Thanks in advance for taking just a few minutes away from Farmville or Solitaire to speak up for doggies in need!

With all of my focus on the Fuzzy Nation contest over the last two weeks, you might have thought I’d forgotten about Legislator Jon Cooper and his proposal for a “Puppy and Dog Protection Rating Program” for Suffolk County Pet Stores. Far from it! Actually, I’m happy to announce that Resolution No. IR 1769-2011 was laid on the table on August 16, 2011, and upon reviewing it, I was delighted to discover that many of my ideas for rating criteria were included in the proposal.

You can read Legislator Jon Cooper’s Resolution No IR 1769-2011 HERE.

Sadly, several Suffolk County pet stores are already joining forces to oppose this voluntary rating system. Hmmmm….why would anyone want to oppose a voluntary rating system, unless they have something to hide? I’m pretty sure my cousin and I visited one Suffolk County pet store that is probably on the opposing team. According to Legislator Cooper, it is critical that Suffolk County residents speak up now to help pass Resolution No. IR 1769-2011.

Please take part in this important cause, it is up to us to speak for the voiceless dogs and cats who cannot speak for themselves.

So how can YOU help?

You can attend the next General Meeting of the Legislature, which will be held on Thursday, September 15th, at the William H. Rogers Legislature Building in Hauppauge. The public portion of this meeting will begin at 9:30 am, and if you’re a good public speaker, here is your chance to voice your opinion! I have driving directions to the meeting if you need them - CONTACT ME, and I’ll email them your way.

And, you can also write letters to the other Suffolk County Legislators and encourage them to vote “Yes” for Resolution No. IR 1769-2011. If you’d like to do this, I have a list of all 17 of their names and email addresses – CONTACT ME and I’ll send it your way. Before you gasp, “I can’t write seventeen letters!” just remember, you only need to write one, and then simply change the name and address of the Legislator that you are writing before hitting “send.”

The short time it takes you to write a letter in favor of this Rating System is nothing compared to the years of suffering endured by millions of breeding dogs across our Country – suffering that something as simple as taking a moment out of your day to write a letter can help prevent.

Doing something about this cause costs you nothing, but your inaction costs the dogs everything.

Tell the Suffolk County Legislature that you want to put an end to the sale of sickly, poorly bred pups in our County and stop supporting puppy mills that house those pups' parents in horrendous conditions. For those who need ideas, here is a copy of the letter I sent:

(Date)


The Honorable (Legislator’s Full Name)
Suffolk County Legislature
(Mailing Address)
(Mailing Address)


Dear Representative (Legislator’s Last Name):


I am writing to you today to encourage you to vote “Yes” for Resolution 1769-2011. As a Suffolk County resident, voter, writer, and owner of three rescued dogs, I hear all too often the sad stories of people who purchased puppies from less than quality sources. Often, people buy a puppy because they see a cute face in a store, without knowing if the parents were healthy or treated well, or if the puppies are being socialized and having their health needs addressed, without even knowing if the breed fits their lifestyle. Instead of a lifetime companion, what they end up with is a dog that has a poor temperament, is sickly, or has inherited genetic defects that could have been screened out.

Some even die within a few days of purchase from diseases like Parvo and Distemper.

I imagine if prospective purchasers were better educated about these issues beforehand, they would be more careful in choosing their new best friends, and less dogs would end up being turned over to the township shelters because of behavioral problems or illness – therefore saving the tax payers money. Resolution 1769-2011 will help educate consumers about these issues, and help them to make better decisions when it comes to choosing a dog which ideally they will keep for life.

Resolution 1769-2011 will also allow pet stores that claim they buy their animals from “reputable breeders only” to back up those claims with facts, which will drive more business to their doors. It will also encourage pet stores that use less than reputable sources of puppies to choose more carefully in the future. Furthermore, the rating system will encourage all stores to give the puppies housed under their roofs proper vet care and socialization, which will go a long way to making better companions for Suffolk County residents.

Please show that you care for the welfare of breeding dogs that cannot speak for themselves, and for the futures of puppies being sold in this County, by voting “Yes” to Resolution 1769-2011. By voting “Yes” you will be protecting the interests of Suffolk County consumers, who can either spend their hard earned dollars on a healthy, happy companion they keep for life, or on a sickly, ill mannered dog that they will eventually deposit on the steps of their local shelters, a dog that will either become a problem for someone like me to deal with – or a life that will be ended too soon.


Sincerely,
Donna Owczarek
Suffolk County Registered Voter
(Home Phone Number)
(Mailing address)
(Mailing address)


If you’d like to share your own letters here on the blog, CONTACT ME, and I’d be happy to post them– the more samples we share, the more we can encourage others to write.

Thank you – from me, and from all of the dogs who languish in puppy mills, waiting for someone to speak up for them.

This is the list of specific criteria that I brainstormed and sent off to Legislator Jon Cooper this evening to be considered for his Pet Store Companion Animal Rating System. I'm still begging my readers to make lists of their own, and send them out soon while this new resolution is still being drafted. I know a rating system will not induce change the way a law banning the sale of puppies in kittens in pet stores might have, but hey, I believe it's a step in the right direction, and one we should all take the time to participate in.

Specific Criteria for Rating Pet Stores

Stores should receive poor ratings if:
- If the store is dirty or smells bad
- If the animals are housed in filthy kennels or cages, or if they have dirty dishes
- If the animals’ fur looks dirty, matted, or smells bad
- If the animals look sick or have visible, untreated wounds
- If the animals don’t look like the breed they are labeled to be
- If the store receives poor inspections from governing agencies
- If the kennels or cages only have wire flooring to stand on, with no access to solid surfaces
- If the animals do not have access to water at all times
- If the animals do not have adequate bedding
- If the store frequently changes its name
- If the store uses misleading advertising (ie: claiming they are a breeder over the phone, or in newspaper ads)
- If the animals are in crowded kennels or cages
- If the store charges additional fees or higher than average prices for ‘rare’ colors, or ‘designer’ mixed breeds
- If any of the employees or owners have ever been brought up on cruelty charges

Stores should receive good ratings if:
- If they provide documentation of where each individual animal was obtained
- If they provide health certificates, including vaccination records, for any dog or cat they sell
- If the store continually purchases animals from the same breeders (and those breeders are rated highly)
- If the salespeople are knowledgeable when questioned about breed traits and hereditary issues for the animals they are selling, or at least attempt to find out the information for the customer, before the sale
- If the store checks the animal abuse registry before selling an animal to a customer
- If all of the animals are AKC registered, and not registered through a mishmash of other, lesser known registries that do not conduct routine breeder inspections
- If they provide a health guarantee. NOTE: The rating should increase or decrease depending on the length of the health guarantee and how many illnesses and conditions are covered / The rating should decrease substantially if conditions are only covered by the store's vet, rather than a vet of the consumer's choosing

Stores should receive above average ratings if:
- If the animals have toys in their kennels or cages
- If the animal's parents were screened for hereditary diseases, and if the store can provide copies of screening certificates to the consumer
- If the kennels or cages are extremely roomy
- If the animals have actual beds, instead of just paper or wood shavings
- If the animals have access to a flat surface to stand on (and it is clean)
- If the dogs have access to the outdoors, and are taken there for daily exercise (this might be hard to accomplish with cats, for safety reasons)
- If the salespeople attempt to educate the consumer of breed specific needs before selling them an animal (ie: exercise needs, grooming needs, are they generally good with children, how well might they get along with other pets, do they have a high prey drive, are they dog friendly, etc.)
- If the salespeople attempt to educate the consumer about the breed’s specific health issues and what to watch out for (hip or knee problems, heart issues, epilepsy, allergies, etc.,)
- If the store also has homeless animals in need of adoption available on the premises
- If the store actively promotes adoption as an alternative to purchase
- If the store checks the customers references before a sale, including veterinarians and landlords

Items I would also like to see noted:
- What does the store do with puppies and kittens that do not sell?
- How many sick animals are returned each year?
- How many dead ones?
- How many consumer complaints are filed each year?

Specific Criteria for Rating Breeders

Breeders should receive poor ratings if:
- If the facility is dirty or smells bad
- If the animals are housed in filthy kennels or cages, or if they have dirty dishes
- If the animals’ fur looks dirty, matted, or smells bad
- If the animals look sick or have visible, untreated wounds
- If the animals don’t look like the breed they are reported to be
- If the breeder receives poor inspections from governing agencies
- If the kennels or cages only have wire flooring to stand on, with no access to solid surfaces
- If the animals don’t have adequate bedding
- If the animals do not have access to water at all times
- If the breeder frequently changes its name
- If the breeder sells animals over the internet
- If the breeder has multiple websites
- If the animals are in crowded kennels or cages
- If the breeder charges additional fees or higher than average prices for ‘rare’ colors, or ‘designer’ mixed breeds
- If the animals are registered through a mishmash of registries
- If any of the employees or owners have ever been brought up on cruelty charges
- If they breed animals with food or environmental allergies, mange, or other obvious genetic defects
- If the animals are not given routine vet care
- If the animals have parasites
- If the breeder participates in animal auctions
- If the cages and kennels are smaller than required by the state they operate in
- If they have ever had their breeding license revoked
- If they have ever had their AKC membership revoked

Breeders should receive good ratings if:
- If they provide health certificates, including vaccination records for all dogs and cats they sell
- If all of their animals are AKC registered, and not registered through other, lesser known registries that do not conduct inspections
- If the cages and kennels meet the minimum requirements required by the state they operate in
- If customers are welcomed to the facility to purchase an animal on the premises
- If the facility is well ventilated, heated, and air conditioned
- If the animals are fed a premium diet
- If the animals are routinely picked up, removed from the cages, and cuddled
- If the animals are routinely screened for intestinal parasites and Heartworms

Breeders should receive above average ratings if:
- If the animals have toys in their kennels or cages
- If the animals have actual beds, instead of paper or wood shavings
- If the animals have access to a flat surface to stand on (and it is clean)
- If the dogs have access to the outdoors, and are taken there for exercise daily (this might be hard to accomplish with cats, for safety reasons)
- If the animals are raised inside the breeders home
- If the breeding animals are screened for hereditary diseases, and copies of the screening certificates are sent along to the pet store
- If the breeder actively socializes the kittens and puppies to new places, people, and experiences
- If the cages and kennels are larger than required by the state they operate in
- If the breeder participate in dog sports, shows, or other outside activities with their adult dogs
- If the breeder DNA tests their animals to prove parentage and provides results upon request
 
Items I would also like to see noted:
- What does the breeder do with animals that can no longer be used for breeding?
- What does the breeder do with animals that are suffering from incurable diseases?
- How many sick animals are returned each year?
- How many dead ones?
- How many consumer complaints are filed each year?

Earlier today, I shared with you the letter I wrote to Legislator Jon Cooper regarding my thoughts on his Pet Store Companion Animal Rating System which is currently being drafted, and I suggested you write something along the same lines.

Well, it appears I was wrong about what to include in those letters. (Hey, it happens...)

Anyway, Mr. Cooper responded to my letter, (already), and assured me that his "Pet Store Companion Animal Rating System absolutely will rely heavily on the quality of care provided to dogs at the breeding facilities that supply the pet stores," however, he wanted to clarify that what he is looking for from me and my readers, (which means YOU), is ideas for "Specific Criteria" which we would all like to see rated.

So, time to go brainstorm and draft another letter...

Once again, I hope all of you will join me in sharing your ideas and thoughts on this important project.

Hope everyone is busily typing up their letters to Mr. Jon Cooper. If anyone is looking for ideas on what to write, here is a copy of the one that I sent out earlier today:

Jon Cooper
Majority Leader
Suffolk County Legislature


Dear Mr. Cooper:


Thank you for responding to my blog post about your revoked resolution IR 1545-2011 by informing my readers of your planned “Pet Store Companion Animal Rating” system and inviting them to provide input into this process in the form of recommendations.

I personally believe this is a good step in the right direction for puppy and kitten sales reform, however, I feel a rating system based on the quality of the pet store may end up being misleading to the consumer. My concern is that if a customer sees that a pet store has high ratings, just because it is clean, or the pups ‘appear’ healthy, they may feel that it is “okay” to purchase from that facility, without ever researching the health, welfare, and personality of the puppies’ or kittens’ parents. I’ve already had a friend of mine once tell me they were buying a puppy from a ‘reputable’ pet store, which only bought its pups from ‘reputable’ breeders.

But really, how would they know the store was truthful?

This same blindness is what leads consumers to inadvertently and ignorantly support puppy mills. I suggest that any website or literature promoting your “Pet Store Companion Animal Rating” system will also serve to educate consumers. Most people do not know where they should report violations to, how they should do so, and in what instances they should. Many people also do not realize that they should ask about health screening certificates that clear the parents of hereditary issues, and that they also have a right to know where those puppies and kittens come from. If the store can’t or won’t provide health and heritage information to them, then they would be better served by a store that can.

I also recommend that your rating system should rely heavily on how the breeding animals are being treated, rather than the condition of the animals on display in the store. Of course, these facilities should also receive negative ratings if they are selling sick animals, or mistreating their animals, but it is what goes on behind closed doors that concerns me most. The customers can see for themselves if the animals look sickly or not cared for well, (and they will hopefully then report the facility after being further educated by your literature), but they cannot see for themselves what is going on at the breeding facility.

In my opinion, pet stores should automatically receive a substantially poor rating if there is anything questionable or unsavory about the breeding facilities. (Poor inspection reports, complaints to overseeing authorities, cruelty charges, etc.) And if the pet store proprietors cry that this rule isn’t fair, well shame on them for not looking more carefully into where they are getting their puppies and kittens from. But in closing this thought, I do question who will be inspecting and rating the breeding facilities and how this new system will be regulated.

I wish you the best of luck with this endeavor, and would like to thank you for standing up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Sincerely,
Donna Owczarek
(Address removed for privacy, but be sure to include it in your letter, so he knows you are a resident)

If anyone wants to share their own letter as a guest post, email it to me, and I'd be happy to put it up for you.

Suffolk County Legislator Jon Coooper responded to my previous post, and well, I think I'll let him speak for himself:

Dear Donna,

As you reported in your blog post, my office had been working diligently to draft Resolution No. IR 1545, A Local Law Banning the Retail Sale in Suffolk County of Puppies from Substandard Commercial Breeding Facilities (“Puppy Mills”).  Unfortunately, our legislative counsel recently reached the definitive conclusion that there is no way for us to overcome one key legal obstacle to its adoption.  According to the Suffolk County Department of Law, this proposed law is “expressly preempted by Article 35-D of the [New York] State General Business Law,” which prohibits local municipalities from enacting any legislation regulating pet dealers.
 
Because of this existing NY State preemption, I reluctantly came to the conclusion that I had no choice but to withdraw this bill.  As a result, the public hearing on this resolution scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, August 2 has been canceled.

However, I am pleased to advise I will now be moving forward with an alternative proposal that legislative counsel says would not be preempted by NY State law.  This new resolution will create the nation’s first rating system for pet stores that sell puppies and/or kittens.  It will be modeled after rating systems already widely in place nationwide for restaurants.  This voluntary rating system will be designed to educate consumers and pet lovers about the level of care provided by pet stores that choose to sell companion animals, as well as the conditions of care at the breeding facilities that supply puppies and kittens to those businesses.

The goal of this landmark program will be to encourage consumers to patronize pet stores that provide the highest levels of care for animals on their premises, as well as stores that source puppies and kittens from breeders that provide the highest standards of care for dogs and cats at their facilities.

Over the coming weeks, we will be drawing up a detailed list of criteria that will be used to rate both pet stores and breeding facilities, which will form the basis of Suffolk County’s new “Pet Store Companion Animal Rating System.”  I invite you and your readers to provide input into this process and look forward to receiving your recommendations as regards the specific criteria that should be included.  Please email any suggestions to my attention at jon.cooper@suffolkcountyny.gov.

It is my hope that such a rating system will provide a legally permissible way for Suffolk County to reduce the demand for companion animals sourced from “puppy mills” and “kitten factories.”  I welcome your comments and suggestions.

Best regards,

Jon Cooper
Majority Leader
Suffolk County Legislature
(631) 854-4500

So, in response to Mr. Cooper's response, I'm pleading with all of my Suffolk County Readers - If you care about where your puppies and kittens come from, NOW is the time to write Mr. Cooper and put in your two cents about how best to rate Suffolk County pet stores. AND don't forget about mentioning the conditions of the breeding facilities these stores purchase their 'stock' from when you write your letters. Off to draft him an email of my own...

This morning I learned that Suffolk County Legislator Jon Cooper withdrew the bill that I wrote about on Thursday in THIS POST - so anyone who was planning on attending the public hearing needn't waste their time.

Figures...as I was really looking forward to attending it, but according to Kerry Murakami of Newsday, NY State regulates pet store puppy sales, and Mr. Cooper's bill would have violated "a state provision barring municipalities from regulating pet stores."

So it appears that pet stores will continue to sell pups in Suffolk County. If you're in the market for one, please take the time to read my post, Puppy Buyers Beware, for pertinent information about how to choose your new best friend.

Although I have always rescued my dogs, my mom has purchased the majority of hers from breeders, and from an early age, she drilled two ideals into my mind. Never buy a puppy from a pet store. And always meet the mother.

Yesterday, when I accompanied my cousin to take a look at two male Saint Bernard pups from a breeder who invited her to his local “grooming shop” to meet them, I was surprised to find myself inside of a puppy store. As my cousin and her children got acquainted with several puppies, including the two Saints, (one of which was overly lethargic), and a hyperactive Beagle, I sat rather stiff legged, looking around me in stunned silence.

So this is a puppy store. I'd never been in one before.

A bit later, while the kids were racing from enclosure to enclosure, picking up pups and guessing breeds, (of which there were many), I decided to have a look around. First I grabbed a business card out of the holder by the front door, and was surprised to discover it was made of cheap copier type paper instead of cardstock. The front of the card simply showed the business info, (name, address, number), the salesman’s first name, and nothing more. I flipped it over, and found the back blank.

Next, I moseyed over to the salesman, who was trying to explain to my cousin why the English Mastiff with the rare coat color cost extra, and I asked, “So, where do you get the puppies from?”

He looked me right in the eyes and declared, “From breeders.”

Hmmmm….I was looking for something more specific. “From local breeders?”

“No, there aren’t any breeders on Long Island,” he informed me, “unless you’re looking for a show breeder.”

Really? “Oh. Well, when my cousin called earlier, whoever she spoke to said he had the parents at home.”

“No, not here,” the salesman says. “The parents are in South Dakota.” I looked at him questioningly, and he added, “But they are his cousin’s dogs, so maybe that’s what he meant. We got the entire litter; it was his deal.” (I assumed he was referring to the owner of the facility, but for all I knew, he could have been the very same person on the other end of my cousin's phone conversation earlier in the day.)

“Well, what about health clearances? Do you have any?”

“What kind of health clearances do you mean?”

“For example, if my cousin wants one of those Saint Bernards, can you find out if the parents had their hips checked?”

“I don’t know, I guess we’d have to ask the breeders if they had them checked.” He shrugged. “Most people don’t worry about that sort of thing with a Saint. If I was buying a Shepherd, I’d want clearances, but it’s not that big of an issue with Saints.”

When I frowned, he excused himself and quickly darted off to help another customer.

Next I wandered down the aisles to look at the pups. (Bad idea, I know). To be fair, I did notice that aside from the lackluster Saint Bernard pup and an Aussie with watery eyes, the other pups appeared healthy, and their cages were all clean. None of the pups were cowering in fear, and they all appeared to be well socialized. Some were housed with and playing with dogs of different breeds, and of course, all of the customers walking through the store were stopping and petting the pups – many of whom stood against the bars of their enclosures soliciting attention.

One of them was a yellow Lab. So I stopped. (I know, really bad idea.).

He was standing up on top of his snoozing littermate, pleading for my affection. How could I not stop? I reached in, and he literally melted into my hands to be petted, and then lay belly up so I could stroke his tummy. It’s easy to see how one can end up leaving these types of places with a new companion. Too easy.

I’m happy to announce that my cousin and I both left without any dogs. Personally, knowing what I know about puppy mills, it was somewhat easy to drag myself away. For one thing, the male Lab pup had a head narrower than my female Vizsla's. He was also very tiny. So tiny that when my cousin passed by and saw me petting him, she assumed he was a female. Which brings me to an important point – what do his parents look like? And for me, that’s just the tip of the iceburg. Since I’m not interested in conformation, looks are actually the last thing on my mind; what I really wanted to know was: How healthy are his parents?, What are their temperaments like?, and most importantly, How are they being treated?

Judging by my earlier conversation with the salesperson, I wasn’t likely to get easy answers. However, when Nick got home from work last night and got a look at the flimsy, information devoid business card, he decided to find those answers for me. He went online and Googled the business name + complaints, and found more than you could imagine. A few were about incomplete paperwork because the shop failed to provide the names of the breeders they acquired their pups from. But the majority of the complaints were about sick animals not being given proper vet care. In these multiple complaints, some of the pups were found in isolation, some were discovered housed with the healthy pups, and some were sold directly to customers. Several complaints also covered the living conditions of the dogs (wire flooring, not enough room to exercise), and a few complaints stated that the store was regularly placing the puppies outside, in direct sunlight, on hot days, to try and solicit sales on the side of the road like a farm stand. All of these cited complaints were registered with the NY State Department of Agriculture.

Several of them were also referred to the SPCA, and one was referred to the police.

As to where the puppies came from, I found a statement on the store's website that claimed they get all of their puppies from the best USDA Licensed breeders, and that they only purchase pups from breeders that have stringent standards when it comes to health care and cleanliness:  And thanks to Nick's digging, here is a look at one of them:

If that was one of the best ones, I'd hate to see one of the worst.

You can read more about the puppy 'dealer' depicted on the video by visiting this page of the Animal Folks Minnesota website – and you should also know that the pet store that my cousin and I visited is listed on that site as someone who obtained pups from them, along with many other pet stores from Long Island. Makes you pause at the thought of purchasing a puppy from a pet store, doesn't it?

Well as it turns out, it’s interesting that I found myself in this puppy store yesterday evening, as next week Suffolk County is holding a very important Public Hearing regarding Resolution 1545-2011, which is a local bill banning the retail sale of puppies in any Pet Stores in the County.

This is a big thing, with similar laws only implemented in a few scattered parts of the U.S.

When I initially heard about the pending bill, my immediate reaction was “Yay! Way to go Suffolk County!” But after reading more about the issue, I’m actually not sure if it is a good thing, or a bad thing. On the surface, it sounds like a good thing, because everyone knows that all pet stores only sell puppies acquired from puppy mills – right? And puppy mills are bad – right?

The one depicted in the video above certainly made me shudder, and to be honest, I couldn't even watch the entire thing.

But then I dug a little further, and I learned that many of the better pet stores are only buying pups from mills that are USDA inspected and regulated – and while these are still not ideal conditions for any dog in my opinion – it turns out that internet breeders and backyard breeders are not regulated or held to even these minimal standards. Back to the puppy mill video – if you visited the Animal Folks Minnesota website, you'd also know that the dealer's license to sell wholesale to pet stores was revoked for two years, yet she is still allowed to make retail sales over the internet, as well as through newspaper ads. And if the puppy stores have no puppies to sell, where do you think the puppy seekers will turn – especially if the local reputable breeders have few litters, long waiting lists, and steep prices? Added to this is the fact that pups from backyard breeders or unknown internet sources may have had the least socialization of all.

Are you aware that lack of socialization is the key reason most dogs are turned over to shelters?

What of those shelters anyway? Can’t people just go adopt a pet? Maybe. But what if people go to the shelter and choose a dog on impulse, or out of sympathy, rather than choosing one that matches their lifestyle? Many shelters also (intentionally?) list certain breed mixes as things that they aren’t, instead of what they so obviously are, and while I’m not against any one breed in particular – let’s be honest. Dogs were bred for certain reasons, and not every breed fits every person’s lifestyle. Finally, in regards to rescue, many people aren’t capable of handling a do-over-dog, or even willing to take one on. Not everyone wants to rescue. Some people just want to pick out a nice, friendly puppy, of a breed they adore, (and which hopefully fits their lifestyle), and bring it home.

Where will they go if the puppy stores are gone?

Compelling points on both sides of the issue, which is why I’m planning to attend the hearing to learn more. For those who’re interested in attending, it is being held on Tuesday, August 2nd, from 6:30 – 9:30 PM, at the William H. Rogers Legislature Building at 725 Vets Highway, Hauppauge, NY. They will also be holding a press conference at 11:00 AM on the same day.

For those who prefer to research the topic online, here are some links to get you started:

The Resolution

The AKC's Position

Article in the Riverhead News Review

Dog Federation of New York Dog Position

Change.org Petition FOR the bill

Keep Suffolk Pet-Friendy Petition AGAINST the bill

I hope this post inspires you to learn more about this timely issue, and I’d love to hear all of your opinions on the subject; Do you think it's a step in the right direction for animal sales reform? Or perhaps a road paved with good intentions?

7/30/11 - IMPORTANT UPDATE - THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN REVOKED!