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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.