HS NEWS Volume 26, Number 04
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Puppy Mill Misery How Much Is That Doggie in the Window? Page4 An HSUS investigator discovers over crowding, filth, and neglect are ways of Some years ago, a female vocalist named Patti Page popularized a song entitled "How Much life for thousands of puppies and their Is That Doggie in the Window?" Light and humorous, it conveyed a happy-go-lucky attitude parents, imprisoned in breeding factories. toward wanting to buy the "one with the waggly tail." Cute, cuddly, and charming, the puppy sparked a natural impulse. The "doggie" was irresistible. Making a Difference Departments Today, there are literally thousands of pet stores across the nation merchandising cuddly Page 10 Tracks ................. 2 puppies to happy-go-lucky buyers. But behind many of the those puppies in the window is a story little-known and rarely told-a story of the often deplorable conditions in which these Around the Regions ..... 27 puppies are bred and born. Federal Report ......... 30 Law Notes ............. 32 In this issue of The Humane Society News, that story is told forthrightly and honestly. It is not a pretty story, nor does it have a happy ending. Indeed, it is nothing short of tragic. It is a story-fact and not fiction-growing out of an extensive on-site investigation by an The Whales' Year at Last HSUS investigator. The investigator traveled thousands of miles and visited almost 300 puppy-breeding establishments over a several-month period; his findings confirm the HSUS Page 14 The Humane Society News position regarding the deplorable conditions existing in most of these "puppy mills" and the Readership Survey ...... 24 apparent inadequacy of the inspections and licensing standards of the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture. While most of us are familiar with the consequences of the mass-marketing of pets to an un educated and often uncaring public, few of us realize the suffering that abounds in many of these breeding stations. That such conditions exist is incredible; that such conditions are per mitted and often condoned by a federal government agency is outrageous. The Chincoteague Swim Cover Photo by Ron Kimball, Page 17 "Doggone, 1982" In a Close-Up Report on this same subject which you received a few weeks ago, we listed the ©Bo-Tree Productions, Inc. things you can do to help put an end to this tragic exploitation of both puppies and their Inside back cover photo by parents-and there is much you can do. As an organization, we shall take every possible action Ron Kimball, Marine World USA, to put an end to the neglect and abuse which all too often characterize these breeding establish "Bless the Beasts, 1982" ments. Armed with documentation resulting from this investigation, we have already launched ©Bo-Tree Productions, Inc. a massive public awareness campaign to educate unsuspecting buyers about the conditions Close Encounters of the under which these puppies are bred and the risks in Best Kind volved in purchasing an animal whose health and be The Humane Society News is published quarter Page 20 ly. hy The Humane Society of the United States, havioral patterns may be less than desirable. With headquarters at 2100 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037, (202) 452-1100. We shall also intensify our long-standing efforts to inform potential purchasers of these animals of the Membership in The Humane Society tragic surplus of dogs awaiting adoption at hundreds of the United States is $10 a year. of animal shelters throughout the nation. And we shall utilize every avenue open to us to seek a more rigorous DIRECTORS OFFICERS licensing standard as well as a more adequate inspec tion program by the United States Department of Rosemary Benning . .... Pebble Beach, CA. Chairman of the Board . ..... Coleman Burke Amanda Blake .. ... Phoenix, AZ. Vice Chairman .. ........... K. William Wiseman Agriculture. Samuel A. Bowman. ... New York, NY. President ................. John A. Hoyt Coleman Burke . .... Short Hills, NJ. Vice President/Field Services . .. Patrick B. Parkes This tragic issue is one from which we will not re Tess Cammack . ................................ Largo, FL. Vice President/Treasurer ...... Paul G. Irwin Jack Conlon . ............. Cocoa Beach, FL. Vice President/General Counsel ........... Murdaugh Stuart Madden treat. For unless we succeed, the lives of countless mil DonaldS. Dawson . .............. Bethesda, MD. Vice President/Program & Communications . Patricia Fork an lions of animals, both born and unborn, will be filled Dr.JohnDoyle .. .............. Louisville, KY. Secretary . .Dr. Amy Freeman Lee Irene Evans. .. Washington, DC. with misery and suffering. Anna Fesmire . ... Greensboro, NC. EDITORIAL STAFF John A. Hoyt Harold H. Gardiner . Salt Lake City, UT. Deborah Salem . ........ Editor Robert W. Gilmore. New York, NY. Lisa B. Zurlo. ........................ Publications Assistant Dr. Amy Freeman Lee. San Antonio, TX. Julie Rovner . ... Staff Writer Virginia Lynch . San Francisco, CA. ThienHuong T. Tram . Production Assistant Dr. RobertR. Marshak. ........ Philadelphia, P A. John W. Mettler, III . ..... New York, NY. The Humane Society of the United States is a non-profit charitable organization, IngaPrime. .... Vail, CO. supported entirely by contributions from individuals. All contributions are tax O.J. Ramsey . ... Sacramento, CA. deductible. The HSUS meets the standards of The National Information Bureau Everett Smith, Jr. Greenwich, CT. (9/81) . presid~~~ Robert F. Welborn . .................................. Denver, CO. Copyright © 1981 by The Humane Society of the United States. ~--------------Pe~ e~ K. William Wiseman. Greens Farms, CT. All rights reserved. TR&CKS Kids' Cans Win Kudos The Painful Truth Headlights On What motivates kids to do good In the last issue of theNews, we For one Tuesday in August, Bar deeds? It may be a well-kept se suggested you write cosmetic com bara Meyers, owner of the Silver cret in some places, but not in panies that have not yet made a Eagle Cab Company in New York, Steeleville, Illinois, where, for two financial commitment to research decided that cabdrivers could years, Sue Eldridge's fourth grade ing alternatives to the Draize test. beam a message to New York tour science classes have raised money One member sent us her copy of a ists and residents by turning on to help in The HSUS's fight to form letter reply she received their cab headlights in support of end harp-seal slaughter. from The Mennen Company of animal rights. She organized, in Last year's class raised $400. Morristown, New Jersey: "As a cooperation with The HSUS, "Cab This year's students went door toiletry manufacturer and mem bies for Animals," a one-day to-door collecting aluminum cans "Sorry, but we already signed a petition about lames Watt." observance that saw over 5,000 and despite the theft, at one point, ber of the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Drawing by Lorenz ©1981 The New Yorker Magazine, Inc. Reprinted by permission. Fragrance Association, we too, cabbies from the five boroughs of their can inventory, managed to share your concern. In this re participate. raise $600. The HSUS's magazine gard, I wish to advise that the "Every day, we see animals Kind reported on 1980's success USDA Summit Raises "Our meeting with Secretary C.T.F.A. has formed a committee that have been abandoned on the and suggested that other children Hopes Block revealed his skepticism Objection Sustained composed of scientists in the cos streets of New York by thought write letters of appreciation to the In August, representatives of about whether animal welfare is metic industry to explore the pos less people who think it's better Steeleville students. Responses The HSUS and other organizations sues are really a part of modern It's the time of year when new sibilities of developing alternative to turn an animal out than to pro from 18 states and Puerto Rico met with Secretary of Agriculture farming practices, but his willing calendars make their appearance safety testing methods that do vide responsible care for it. As followed. "Every letter was a John R. Block to discuss issues ness to support investigative re in book and gift shops and we not use animals and a revision of residents of the boroughs, many morale-builder and also let the affecting animal welfare. search into the problems as have seen yet another one we can current annual testing techniques of us have our own pets or grew students know that others shared President John A. Hoyt, Dr. sociated with intensive animal do without, ''The I Hate Cats to maximize discomfort to the ani up with them. We share a concern the same concern for the fate of Michael Fox, and Government Re husbandry and to continue the Calendar" by Skip Morrow, pub mals without compromising the re that animals be treated with kind the seals," Eldridge reports. lations Counsel Peter Lovenheim dialogue with The HSUS left us lished by Holt, Rinehart, and liability of the tests themselves." ness," explained Meyers after stag Now, if only we could enroll Cana advised Block of The HSUS's con guardedly optimistic about the Winston, for $4.95. Each month's That's what some folks were ing her successful event. dian Minister of Fisheries Romeo cern for farm animals raised in in USDA's attitude," commented President Hoyt after the meeting. dates are accompanied by a line il afraid of all along. John Hoyt, president of The Leblanc in next year's class .... tensive confinement systems; its lustration depicting an unusual HSUS, added: "Cab drivers in support of two important pieces At the same time, the USDA way to kill a cat (chasing one with New York are four-wheeled diplo of legislation (the Federal Farm announced that it has earmarked a snowblower, throwing one from mats. Their constant involvement Animal Husbandry Committee bill $380,000 for research on problems the top of a building, affixing sponsored by Rep.