Activists go undercover to thwart puppy mills

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34751720/ns/health-pet_health/

New Pennsylvania law aimed at ending inhumane treatment of dogs

updated 7:40 a.m. CT, Mon., Jan. 11, 2010

RONKS, Pa. - Megan Anderson's nerves are shot. But she presses ahead — the dogs need her.

She pulls into the driveway of Scarlet-Maple Farm Kennel. She tells the adolescent boy who greets her that she's looking for puppies to give to her nephews for Christmas.

It's a lie. A necessary one, Anderson thinks, but a lie nonetheless. That's why she's jittery. Will the boy swallow her story? How about the Amish man with the long gray beard, straw hat and plain dress — the kennel's owner? Will he discover her ruse and chase her away?



She hopes not. If all goes well, Anderson will leave with at least one dog, maybe more — and perhaps with evidence that could help put this kennel out of business for good.

Over the past four years, Anderson — who works for Main Line Animal Rescue, a shelter outside of Philadelphia — has managed to coax some of Pennsylvania's largest commercial breeding kennels to part with their unwanted canines, usually females past their reproductive prime or young males they couldn't sell.

Main Line's founder, Bill Smith, would like to shut down Scarlet-Maple Farm Kennel and others like it. Smith and other animal welfare activists pushed for a new state law — regarded as the toughest in the nation — designed to end the inhumane treatment of breeding dogs in the large commercial kennels popularly known as puppy mills. Kennel owners say the law is unnecessary and too expensive to comply with, and that it is eliminating many good breeders along with the few bad apples.

FULL 3 page story at link.


Bill Smith, founder of Main Line Animal Rescue, holds an Italian Greyhound waiting for adoption at the shelter in Chester Springs, Pa. Smith has pushed for a tough state law aimed at ending inhumane treatment of dogs at so-called puppy mills.


This is our Luka. He was rescued in 2003.

[blondeatlast]

1. Courage, Megan and friends. Press on--and fwiw, I support you 100% nt

[alsame]

2. K&R.

[blondeatlast]

3. Occasionally, the AZ Leggies get something right. K for kindness! nt

[greennina]

4. As horrible dogs are for the environment,...

of course all of them should be shut down. Locally here in Seattle there are more of those dangerous animals than there are kids. The problem has grown to epidemic levels.

[BlueIris]

5. Kick. Luka is super cute, BTW. nt

[petronius]

6. Does that map mean that the other 24 states don't allow puppy mills,

or that they're not required to be licensed or inspected?

[Omaha Steve]

7. No requirement for either

Sad.

[blondeatlast]

8. A little caffeine for this morning! nt

[Omaha Steve]

9. Kick