A Puppy-Store-Free L.A.
Best Friends campaign to end sales of puppy mill dogs
Written by Best Friends staffLos Angeles city councilman Tony Cardenas, no stranger to speaking out for animals, has issued a challenge to fellow Angelenos to join the “Puppy-Store-Free LA” campaign to stop the sale of puppy mill dogs in the city.
“My point to you is that when we act ignorant as a community, we are not doing the right thing,” Cardenas said July 9 at a press conference launching the campaign. “We must make the masses understand that we have a responsibility to care for our animals; and that when things get messed up, it’s usually because human hands have caused it.”
In the glare of six television cameras, and scrutinized by the print and news radio media, Cardenas passionately laid out his case against those who would tolerate puppy mills and the stores who serve as their buying customers.
He was joined by actress Maggie Q, Chris DeRose, founder of Last Chance for Animals (LCA), and Julie Castle and Francis Battista of Best Friends Animal Society at the Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard.
The councilman, who two years ago helped create a city animal cruelty task force, praised the work of LCA and Best Friends for creating the campaign, which will be extended to more U.S. cities.
“For years these groups have been the leaders in the investigation of puppy mills. When you see the horrible conditions that these animals live in, you wonder why operators of puppy mills have gone undetected for so long,” he said.
“The goal is to make Los Angeles a model community for California and the rest of the country with regard to the sale, importation and breeding of animals. This program will help raise the awareness with families – that
where they get their pets does matter.”
Legislation on the horizonJulie Castle, director of community programs and services for Best Friends, said that in Los Angeles, which has the highest intake of displaced animals in the nation, about 25 percent of dogs in shelters are pure-bred puppies of the type that traditionally come from puppy mills.
“This is the perfect place for our announcement, one that we will carry across the entire nation.”
Cardenas said a new law regarding pet store sales of puppy mill dogs is important, but not until all aspects have been considered, including ensuring that funding for enforcement is in place. He promised that the city council will take up the issue before the end of summer.
LCA’s Chris DeRose held a small puppy mill rescue Yorkie named Lovey in his arms, as he described the horrible plight of puppy mill dogs, including the conditions under which breeding parents spend their entire lives.
“Even licensed breeders are allowed to stack cages on top of each other. Dogs have barely enough room to move around, and the ones stacked at the top defecate and urinate on those below them. No living being should have to endure conditions that you wouldn’t put on your worst enemy.”
Greed and profitFrancis Battista, a Best Friends founder and longtime Los Angeles resident, described puppy mills as an “essential ethical question” for the public at large.
“This isn’t simply a matter of sentiment from animal activists. The way we treat animals is a core value, and allowing this type of abuse, this type of pain and suffering is unconscionable.”
“These are living beings, while puppy millers are motivated by greed and profit. Pet store sales from puppy mills place a tremendous burden on society and result in millions of dollars being spent on animal shelters. This is something that has to stop. And it’s going to stop here.”
Actress Maggie Q, one of Asia’s top screen stars who cares for eight rescue dogs of her own, said: “If we can’t treat animals with kindness and compassion, how are our relationships going to be with each other? These are living beings who don’t have a voice in how we treat them.”
The solution is simple, she pointed out.
“If we’re not demanding these puppies, then they (puppy mills) are not going to supply pet stores.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP:1.
VolunteerIf you are interested in volunteering for “A Puppy-Store-Free L.A.,” please contact Robin Harmon at
robinh@bestfriends.org.
2.
DonateHelp Best Friends put cruelty out of business. Your
donation helps fund “Puppy-Store-Free LA” and other grassroots efforts to stop the puppy mill industry and instead promote adoptions from shelters and rescue organizations.
For more information:•
WestLAOnline.com: Animal organizations launch national "A Puppy Store Free LA" campaign•
PR Web: City Councilman Tony Cardenas Challenges Citizens of Los Angeles to Stand Up and Be Counted in Opposition to Horrid Puppy Mill Cruelty•
Los Angeles Times: Plans to protest the sale of puppy-mill puppies•
Pet Product News: Groups Seek Puppy-Store-Free Los AngelesGet involved in the fight against puppy mills!Click here to download
“Eight Things You Can Do to Help Stop Puppy Mills”Join Best Friends’ efforts to cease puppy millsInterested in learning even more about puppy mills and what you can do to stop them? Please join
The Truth About the Pet Trade community and e-mail
networkinfo@bestfriends.org to subscribe to the Breeding Bytes e-newsletter.
Photo of Tony Cardenas by Jennifer FinePosted by Michael Rinker