20 May 2006

Call to muzzle puppy mills

BY AMY SACKS
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Most of the 4,000 to 5,000 U.S. puppy factories are located in North and South Dakota, Missouri, Kansas and Lancaster, Pa. - the "puppy mill capital" - and house between 75 to 150 breeding animals. The puppies are sold to pet stores, or directly to consumers through the Internet or newspaper ads, by sellers often disguised as reputable breeders.

"A reputable breeder would never sell a puppy to a pet store," said DeRose, whose successful campaign to shut down the nation's largest Class B dog dealer, which buys animals and sells them for research, was recently portrayed in the gruesome but highly acclaimed HBO documentary, "Dealing Dogs."

Only half of the dogs bred at these facilities even make it to the pet store, with the others dying from squalid conditions, hypothermia, starvation or other horrors, DeRose said.

"Factory breeding like this increases the chances of a puppy having genetic, physical and emotional problems," said Stephane Shain, director of Companion Animal Outreach for the Humane Society of the United States.

The Humane Society encourages adopting from a shelter or buying from a reputable breeder and not from a pet store. For those people who have their heart set on a particular breed, Shain said one in every four dogs that land in the shelters are purebred and many are hybrids or designer dogs, like schnoodles and labradoodles, better known as mutts.

When Karen Sussman (this reporter's cousin), set out to find a new addition to her family, she was hesitant to adopt from a shelter or rescue group, where the dog's background was likely unknown, and initially contacted a local breeder.

But Sussman soon found Sunny, a 3-month-old adorable cockapoo (cocker spaniel-poodle mix), who had landed at the Animal Haven shelter, in Flushing, Queens. The shelter staff, she said, was surprisingly knowledgeable about all the shelter's dogs and carefully considered each dog's temperament when matching them with the kind of dog that she was hoping to find.

"They made a perfect match," said Sussman, whose animal menagerie includes Lily the cat, Herbie, a bearded collie, and a parakeet.

Animal shelters will soon be competing with pet stores. In July, Animal Haven is set to open a 7,000-square-foot adoption and pet boutique in SoHo, which will offer trendy services like grooming and doggie day care, in addition to dozens of adoptable animals.

DeRose says it's the only way to shut down the puppy mills. "If you want to save an animal, adopt from a rescue group."

For more information on today's Puppy Mill Awareness Walk go online to: www.awarenessday.org.