To be frank, dear reader, I find myself in need of your help. Well, to be perfectly frank, not me specifically. My life is practically perfect in every way, and I can scant remember a time before this was the case. It has recently come to my attention that not every South Carolinian pooch is as fortunate as I. Our beautiful state is among the worst in the nation for legislation protecting canines against large-scale breeding, i.e., puppy mills. Because of this, our beloved state has become a magnet for these mass production entities.
“What can be done?” you might ask. Plenty! Formerly known as the Humane Society, the Humane World for Animals has a plan to change antiquated statutes for the betterment of animal health and well-being. Please visit their site at humaneworld.org to get involved in a rather simple process to help protect the most vulnerable amongst us. The procedure is two-fold. Step one: take a moment to call your U.S. representatives and senators (phone numbers can be found on the Humane World for Animals website) asking, as a constituent, for your representative to support the Puppy Protection Act, H.R. 2253/S. 4437, which will crack down on puppy mills. Step two: fill out and submit the form, which will automatically send a follow-up message. Small things bring great change. Look no further than yours truly for a shining example of the greatness that can come from small things.
Upon first hearing the term “puppy mill,” I will acknowledge that I was a bit perplexed. I had no idea of the magnitude of this particular problem, given that the word “puppy” is generally a sweet and happy term that turns alarmingly bleak when “mill” is added. Tens of thousands of puppies and breeding dogs are suffering needlessly in USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) regulated puppy mills.
Puppy mills are inhumane, commercial breeding facilities where puppies are mass produced for sale to pet stores, middlemen brokers and over the internet. These milled animals are forced to live in squalid conditions with minimal to no veterinary care or human interaction. Many of the puppies who are subsequently sold to the public are sick, while the breeding dogs often suffer from severe physical, behavioral and emotional distress. Their plight is avoidable, entirely preventable and has been neglected for far too long. I for one cannot allow myself nor my humans to sit idly by, allowing such horrors to continue.
Animal rights advocates agree – the Puppy Protection Act will drastically improve the quality of life of dogs in USDA-licensed breeding facilities by requiring stronger standards of care. I feel compelled to advocate and educate in the hopes of bettering the lives of those dogs who are still stuck in a merciless system. I also feel compelled, perhaps, to refrain from airing future grievances over mundane and trite issues such as the occasional late dinner, which seem a bit small now in comparison. Perhaps. Peace, Frank.
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