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Boardman march urges ban on puppy mills, pet store sales
By Sean Barron
BOARDMAN
Visiting typical pet stores can easily tug on patrons’ heartstrings when they see row after row of affectionate puppies in clean, antiseptic cages.
But what they probably don’t know is what took place behind the scenes to get the animals to the stores, those who participated in a two-hour rally contend.
“People see the store and the puppy in the window and think, ‘How cute. I want to take him home,’” said Holly Justice of Youngstown, who organized Saturday’s two-hour Puppy Mill Awareness March at Market Street and U.S. Route 224 in front of Southern Park Mall.
An estimated 40 people took part in the effort to bring heightened awareness to what they see as the inhumane treatment most animals raised in many puppy mills are subjected to during breeding and before being sold to pet stores. The peaceful rally also was to promote the importance of rescuing and adopting such animals, Justice noted.
A few denounced nearby Harbor Pet Center, 7338 Market St., for what they see as the business contributing to the problem.
Too often, dogs in puppy mills live in cramped and stacked cages with urine and feces, minimal opportunities for exercise, little contact with people and substandard or nonexistent veterinary care. Pet stores, some unwittingly, contribute to those cruel conditions by buying dogs from such breeders, Justice explained.
People should refrain from buying animals from pet stores that do business with puppy mills because many of the dogs at the mills are killed when their fertility wanes; some stores mislead customers about the sources of their animals and because of the surplus of dogs available for adoption at rescue organizations and shelters, according to the Humane Society of the United States.
To further make their point, many participants carried signs with slogans such as “Don’t shop, adopt,” “Don’t buy while shelter pets die” and “Stop the horror. Don’t support puppy mills.”
The sign that Angie Bradian of Boardman held contained two disturbing images of puppies stacked in filthy cages.
“It’s all about the money,” said Bradian, a homemaker who adopted a beagle-terrier mix in June in western Ohio after having seen the animal online.
Next to Bradian was Elizabeth Woolford, who came to the rally with Rocket, her 8-year-old collie mix.
“I’m a big supporter of rescuing and getting dogs from the pound or at shelters,” said Woolford, of Poland, who works at a local boarding kennel.
She added that she hoped to call greater attention to what often takes place in puppy mills and commercial breeding.
Reputable breeders will screen those who wish to buy animals from them, and that includes seeking references, conducting home visits and ensuring the pets are taken care of. Unscrupulous ones, on the other hand, usually merely accept the asking price without asking questions, contended Linda Goldstein of Solon.
By her estimate, she has rescued between 200 and 300 dogs from inhumane environments, Goldstein said.
Similarly, breeders should be required to follow more-stringent standards and inspections, said Tom Smith of Girard, who came with his daughter, Kristina Smith, 13, and his 15-year-old son, Drew Smith.
The elder Smith added that those who breed dogs should have to be licensed and checked more regularly. In addition, he said, fewer breeders are needed in the state.
Gary Winslow, Harbor Pet Center’s owner, said he buys his animals mainly from breeders within a 50-mile radius. Doing so allows him to more-thoroughly make sure the animals are properly taken care of and raised correctly, he explained.
Also, many of the breeders he deals with are inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which means in part that the animals’ conditions are checked. In addition, efforts are made to ensure proper ventilation is maintained, kennel sizes are appropriate and that they have concrete floors, Winslow continued, adding that his workers share one common trait.
“All 25 of my employees are animals lovers and take excellent care of our animals,” he said.