Friday, August 19, 2011

An interesting twist of fate...

After talking about puppies and puppy mills (and kitten mills, which do exist)....

For those of you with HBO (apparently not in Canada, write and call HBO and ask why, 1-877-HBO-5551 or the contact page here)....

You might want to watch Madonna of the Mills, about a woman who rescues puppy mill dogs that are "used up" and can't breed anymore (therefore, can't produce money and are killed).

Hat tip to Pet Connection.


Thursday, August 18, 2011

PJ's Pets to stop selling puppies...and...

PJ's Pets is a national chain of Canadian pet stores (known as Pets Unlimited in the Maritimes). I must admit that I haven't been in one in years because they sell puppies. And kittens.

Make that "sold", partially. PJ's Pets has announced that their stores will no longer sell puppies.

This is a good thing. A very, very good thing and I applaud them.
As is PJ's announcement that they will partner with shelters and rescues to promote adoption. Again, a very, very good thing.

The stores will, however, continue to sell kittens.

The thing that’s keeping me up about this…well, several things.

What will happen to the puppies currently "in stock" at the stores?

What will happen to all the puppy mill dogs that are no longer ATMs for the despicable owners? Will there be shelters and rescues full of those unsocialized and potentially unadoptable dogs? Or will these poor dogs just be shot and dumped in a ditch, or just dumped? Who will deal with the aftermath of the years of puppy milling?

N.B. PJ's news release says (which I missed because of bad eyesight), "Pets Unlimited had stopped selling puppies in all of its stores earlier this year, while PJ's Pets will wind down sales by September 1st. Between now and October 1st, PJ's will be working with their private kennels to help find adoptive homes for their breeding dogs and any remaining puppies." Ummm, how many breeding dogs? How many remaining puppies? Is this being done with rescue and shelter partners?

When will PJ’s stop selling kittens, stop keeping them in fishbowl cages, work with rescues and shelters to get the kittens properly socialized in foster homes before adoption?

I know. I'm a spoilsport, or a doom 'n gloomer, or something like that. Maybe PJ's will have to take one step at a time, rather than going the whole nine yards.

PJ's - C'mon. You can do it. I have faith.

Let's go for the whole nine yards.

Then, let's go kick butt and close down the disguised millers and the backyard breeders on Craigslist and Kijiji.


Sunday, August 14, 2011

YO, Mayor Ford! What are you doing on September 30th?

Here is a session that the Mayor and all city councillors as well as TAS management should attend.

Event Information: On Friday, September 30th, ORA-Organization for the Rescue of Animals will be hosting a special event featuring an exciting lecture by Calgary’s Director of Animal Services and Bylaws, Bill Bruce, at the Intercontinental Hotel’s Portman Room at 220 Bloor Street West.

Perhaps the most prominent example of successful animal services reform in Canada can be found in the accomplishments of Bill Bruce and his team at the Calgary Animal Control. When Mr. Bruce took over a struggling animal shelter for a city with over one million residents, he developed and implemented a reform program which lead to phenomenal success in a short period of time. In addition to no limit by-laws and no breed-specific legislation, Calgary currently boasts high licensing compliance rates for both dogs and cats, returns the majority of lost pets to owners, and has substantially lower euthanasia rates than any other pound in Canada.

On September 30th, Mr. Bruce will happily provide a wealth of proven examples and information to local animal caring politicians, pound managers, advocates, veterinarians and anyone willing to participate in actively helping to stop this complacent killing of animals in Greater Toronto Area shelters.

Everyone is cordially invited to attend!

DATE: Friday, September 30, 2011
LOCATION: Intercontinental Toronto Yorkville Hotel, Portman Room, 220 Bloor Street West, Toronto Ontario M5S 1T8 Canada
TIME: 7:00 PM
Tickets are $11.30 (tax included). Advance sale only. Call 416-726-5762 to purchase. ORA-Organization for the Rescue of Animals

http://ora-animalsrescue.org/