Pets in the paper – future of horse home unclear
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Horse rescue rides into cloudy future. (Ada)
- Changes brooding for state breeders. (statewide)
- Bill updates: Feral hogs. (state capitol)
- “Bug lady” has love-hate relationship with museum insects. (Norman)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Bulldogs are beautiful every day!
Happy Bulldogs are Beautiful Day!
Bulldogs are the eighth most popular breed of dog nationwide, according to the American Kennel Club. In Oklahoma City, they’re the 10th most popular breed.
Want your own bulldog? Consider a rescue! There are seven bulldog rescue groups in the country: Bulldog Club of America Rescue Network, Chicago English Bulldog Rescue, Lone Star Bulldog Club, MidAtlantic Bulldog Rescue, San Diego Bulldog Rescue, Southern California Bulldog Rescue and HeavenSent Bulldog Rescue. The closest rescue to Oklahoma is the Arlington chapter of the Lone Star Bulldog Club. Contact Bethany Scott at (817) 368-1209.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – puppy mill bill could change
Check out these stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Pet bill may face changes. (state capitol)
- Despite ransom, no dog. (Oklahoma City)
- Agencies strive to increase shelters’ live release rates. (Oklahoma City)
- Pet Tales: Guinea pig has own wardrobe. (Choctaw) In case you couldn’t tell, that’s Daniel the guinea pig there on the right.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – Bo under the microscope
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Puppy’s origins raising questions. (Washington, D.C.) (No offense to this story, which questions whether the Obamas dog is a rescue, but there’s really nothing to figure out. The AKC released a statement yesterday naming the dog’s breeders, who live in Dallas. I mean come on, Associated Press reporter. You totally should have read our Pet Show blog entry yesterday!)
- Dogs seized after attack. (Enid)
- Honor will boost stray-pet efforts. (Oklahoma City)
- Art, horse racing come together. (Oklahoma City, page 1d)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pet people go bonkers for Bo
I thought the hubbub about presidential pups would be over now that the Obama girls finally have their dog. I was wrong. Today every animal advocacy group from here to the North Pole has issued statements about Bo. Here are a few:
PetFinder.com: “The White House puppy has finally arrived! As Malia and Sasha Obama get acquainted with Bo, their new four-legged friend, everyone at Petfinder.com wishes the Obama family the best. As the No. 1 pet-related Web site in the country and the largest online database of adoptable pets, Petfinder.com has extensive tips and resources for families like the Obamas that are bringing a new pet into their home. Those who want their own White House pup should check out Petfinder.com’s breed directory to learn more about Portuguese water dogs’ traits and characteristics. They can also browse through the 14 adorable Portuguese water dogs and mixes available for adoption on Petfinder.com.”
American Kennel Club: “The American Kennel Club congratulates the Obama family on the anticipated arrival of their 6-month-old Portuguese Water Dog, Amigo’s New Hope, affectionately known as ‘Bo.’ Bo was bred by Art and Martha Stern, long-time breeders who reside near Dallas, TX, and is a littermate of Senator Ted Kennedy’s pup Cappy. The first dog ever owned by the Obama family, as well the nation’s official ‘First Dog,’ this new presidential pup will not only leave a mark on the Obamas’ lives but shine a spotlight on dogs and the importance of responsible dog ownership around the world.”
The Humane Society of the United States: “The Humane Society of the United States congratulates the Obamas on bringing a new dog, Bo, into their family, and thanks them for taking in a second-chance dog. Bo is a Portuguese water dog who was apparently returned by the family that originally purchased him.”
Stu Freeman, president of the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America: “While the PWD is a wonderful family pet, we want to use the increased interest in the breed as an opportunity to educate people about it. We encourage those who may consider adding a Portuguese Water Dog to their lives to do the proper research to ensure that this breed fits their lifestyle.”
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Obamas finally get a dog
After what seems like a lifetime, the Obama girls finally – FINALLY! – have their dog! Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Connecticut, gave the family a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog. The girls have named him Bo.
President Obama promised his two daughters during the campaign that no matter what happened with the election, they’d get a puppy. For months every dog group in the country – and even some from other countries - told the Obamas what to get. The family announced a few weeks ago they’d go with a Portugese water dog, a breed known to work well with owners who have dog allergies. So after this announcement, Sen. Kennedy gave the girls a pup. He himself owns several water dogs.
I think this choice to give the Obamas a dog was a good one. Yes, Pet Show is endorsing a pet as a gift for the FIRST TIME EVER. The family was getting pressure from all sides, and one of the most important details was whether the family would adopt or buy. A gift eliminates that debate, which probably makes everyone happy in the long run.
Politics aside, look at this dog. He’s hilarious. And whoever put that lei around his neck: genius.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – sleeping in dolphin beds
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Missouri is trying to shed dog mills.
- Bear hunting measure awaits Henry’s decision. (state capitol)
- Zoo to host blood drive. (Oklahoma City, page 1d)
- Dolphin pads help curb bedsores. (Florida)
And breaking animal news -
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Adopt an Easter bunny or just watch once on TV
We’ve talked about it ever year on Pet Show, and for some reason this national problem hasn’t been solved! I’m talking about people who buy their kids bunnies and chicks for Easter, only to return them some time before Memorial Day because the kids can’t take care of them or lose interest.
How bad is the problem? As many as 95 percent of Easter bunny pets are dumped within the first year, according to the Found Animal Foundation.
Well, this year is no different: Easter pets aren’t a good idea. However, if you’re one of the few – one of the VERY FEW! – who have thought this plan all the way through and have decided that an Easter bunny is right for you, here’s something else to consider:
Adoption.
Looks at those little faces. These are all furry, fuzzy, lovable, adoptable faces of rabbits that need homes. I mean, come on. How cute is THAT? Ridiculously cute, I say.
But where can you find such fantastic and homeless bunnies? Here’s a great option: PetSave.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – no cloned horses, thank you
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Bear hunts move closer to reality. (state capitol)
- Racehorse closing gets ‘nay’ from panel. (state capitol)
- Senate to study breeder licensing. (state capitol)
- Feds to delist gray wolves. (Wyoming)
- Supreme court decision seen as ecology defeat. (Washington, D.C.)
- OG&E pledges $3.75M for threatened birds. (northwest Oklahoma)
- Pet Tales: Getting a large dog to the photo studio was a big chore. (Edmond)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Nightline to focus on Amish puppy breeders
Here’s a press release from ABC News about a Nightline special tonight:
Exclusive Access: Cutting-Edge Facilities or Puppy Factories?
‘Dogs Viewed as Livestock’ in Amish Community, Says Animal Rescue Advocate
By SHARYN ALFONSI and TED GERSTEIN
March 27, 2009—
The Amish are widely viewed as plain, peaceful people. Reclusive and private, most people only catch glimpses of them as they make their way through the hills of Pennsylvania’s Dutch County in buggies.
But some of their perfectly manicured farms are home to a secret world. Lancaster County has been called the puppy mill capital of the U.S., and the trade is largely dominated by the Amish.
Watch the story tonight on “Nightline” at 11:35 p.m. ET
It is a world most people never see, but undercover video shot by Main Line Animal Rescue provides a startling look. Hundreds of puppies can be seen stacked in crate on top of crate. Most of those puppies will eventually be sold to pet stores, but their mothers will likely never know a home other than this.
The female breeders live their life producing litter after litter… until they can’t any longer. Bill Smith, the founder of Main Line Animal Rescue, says that the dogs are then disposed of — sometimes euthanized, sometimes shot. And it’s perfectly legal.
“Unfortunately if a kennels breeds less than 60 dogs they can shoot them,” he said. “If it’s over 60 dogs they can’t be shot.”
That’s why Smith spends so much time driving the country roads of Amish country, rescuing dogs from breeders. On the day “Nightline” visited, he convinced an Amish farmer to give him a female golden retriever who could no longer breed, in exchange for some free dog food. The dog — who spent her life in a cage — struggled to walk.
“When they come out of the rabbit hutches they walk like crabs because they don’t know what it’s like to walk on a proper surface,” Smith said. “They drag their bodies.”
There are about 300 licensed breeders in Lancaster County, and rescue workers estimate another 600 unlicensed facilities operate in barns and sheds. Those breeders go to great measures to avoid discovery. Smith says some even “de-bark” their dogs.
“The farmers, the Amish and the Mennonites, they pull the heads back and then they hammer sharp instruments down their throats to scar their vocal cords so they can’t bark,” he said. “So that way they can have 500-600 dogs in a barn and no one knows. As we said, it’s an industry of secrecy.”
Secretive and profitable. Breeders can make upwards of half million dollars a year. The Amish breeders sell the dogs at auctions and the puppies at pet stores.
Purchasing Puppies: ‘People Are Deceived’
“People are deceived,” Smith said. “They’re nice enough and they put down their money and they walk away with a dog and they don’t realize that there are 500 dogs in a barn and are suffering horribly. So it’s something that people have to be aware of. They have to know that going in. When they buy these dogs, they’re keeping that going.”
In one night, Smith and his team rescued a dozen dogs, which were unloaded at its facility. The next day, rehabilitation began.
“Dogs in this community are viewed as livestock,” Smith said. “Nothing more. Chickens or pigs or goats. It’s just a source of income for them.”
Ezekiel — not his real name — is a Mennonite farmer in Pennsylvania. He agreed to speak to “Nightline” under the condition that we not reveal his name or exact location. He fears what he calls “militant animal activists.
“I am the type of person & I don’t believe in animal rights,” he said. “But I highly believe in animal welfare.”
The difference, he says, is that “animal welfare is you treat the dog how you want to be treated. And animal rights activists, they just have a different mindset, a mentality, that, I’ve never really figured it out. ”
Ezekiel showed us the “public” face of his business. The heated shed where buyers are invited to pick out the puppies they want.
“The puppy we sell here is a healthier puppy than if I had Lassie running around, feed her puppies over here,” he said. “The way that we raise them is much healthier than the other way.”
Then we asked him to show us the back room, where the public is not allowed. He gave us an exclusive look inside his facility where he breeds hundreds of dogs in cage after cage.
He considers the facility to be top of the line. There is no chicken wire, the dogs stand on plastic grating and they have access to solid floors, and he showed us his “state-of-the-art” waste disposal system.
“This system is commercially available, they use it in swine and veal and things like that,” he said.
Inside Access: ‘They Love Being Here’
The technology, he says, allows Ezekiel and his wife to take care of all 200 dogs by themselves.
“The way we have the building set up, the modern way, if we have to go back, if new legislation goes into effect, we will not be able to care for this many dogs because it’s just going to be so much more labor intensive,” he said.
Pending legislation would require dogs to have solid flooring and access to the outside to exercise. Ezekiel says that is unnecessary.
“What she’s doing is she’s running,” he explained, showing us a dog on an exercise wheel in an an enclosed space. “She’s getting her exercise, you know instead of letting them run around … we put them in there, they use more muscles that they wouldn’t use running around.”
“In the state of Pennsylvania, the confinement laws that we have, that if the dog goes off our property, we can be arrested for it,” he said.
He added that it would be “more inhumane” to have the dogs “out in the mud, in the cold, the rain, [the] wind.”
Ezekiel says his dogs are healthy and happy, and says he doesn’t operate a “puppy factory.”
“If this would be a puppy factory, that Daschund you see right there, she wouldn’t be doing what she was doing. She’s wanting me to hold her, if she would be a puppy mill she would cowering in the back of that box, you can see, a lot of our dogs, they love being in here.”
Back at Mainline Rescue, the dogs rescued last night are being assessed by a veterinary technician. Smith says he’s rescued about 2,000 dogs from the Amish and almost all of them have been placed in permanent homes.
“I would encourage people adopt,” he said. “Eight million dogs are euthanized; 8 million pets are euthanized every year in this country and yet they breed 8 million dogs.”
Much of that breeding happens in Lancaster County, home to one of the most secretive people — and industries — in the nation.
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