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Puppy Mills
Puppy Mills are a business where large numbers of puppies are being raised exclusively for profit. This is very
different from quality breeders who also may be raising puppies for sale but are more likely doing so for the love of a particular
breed. They also provide the necessities of socialization, good food, good medical care and love. In a puppy mill the more
puppies that can be raised and sold quickly, the higher the profit that is being pocketed. Adult dogs live in terrible
conditions with little care, exercise, or social interaction. Puppies are sold at very young ages to unsuspecting
consumers. Most of what is happening is very secretive and is taking place behind closed doors. However, CCHS
Director of Administrative Services, Cheri Wegner, recently assisted WTMJ-4 with their investigative report. Senior
investigative reporter John Mercure visited several puppy mills right here in Clark County. The sights and stories of
what we saw are extremely disturbing, and only emphasize the need for changes to take place. We learned a lot about
puppy mills that day, and we want to share that with the public. Please click on the links below to view the TMJ-4 stories: Please also visit the link to the Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project, Inc. It's very important
to learn everything you can about puppy mills. We find that the more people learn and understand what is happening,
the more disgusted they are and the more they want to help.
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Dog Auctions
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| Click on this photo to see pictures of the June 2nd dog auction |
As puppy mills continue to increase in central Wisconsin, a new development has been the advent of 'dog auctions'.
A dog auction is an event very similar to a cattle or horse auction. A dog is put on display for bids and
is sold to the highest bidder. These are dogs that are expected to be family pets. Dogs that are expected to play
with your children and sleep in their bed at night. Things are a lot different when it's a family pet being auctioned.
Horst Stables in Thorp, Wisconsin, is the proud proprietor of Wisconsin's first dog auctions. 200 dogs were sold
at the first auction last fall. In March of 2007, 250 dogs were sold. The next auction is scheduled for June 2,
2007. Another 200 dogs will be available for sale. Unfortunately, there are many factors involved with these auctions
that the public is not aware of.
Most of these dogs are puppy mill cast-offs. They are either too old to be productive breeding stock,
or they are not successful at producing puppies. A puppy miller may have too many dogs of a specific breed so will sell
off some and purchase others to diversify their stock. Bottom line: these are puppy mill dogs. Puppy
mill dogs come with a host of medical problems and concerns that an average consumer cannot begin to imagine.
At the last dog auction, two dogs were sold that were 'Brucellosis positive'. This is a very nasty disease that
can be spread between dogs and humans. The puppy miller selling the infected dogs claimed no responsibility for the
condition of the dogs. (Please see links to TMJ-4 report above.)
At the very least, puppy mill dogs are dogs with very special needs. They have not had human contact and socialization
as a normal dog would have experienced. They don't know how to play. Most times they will not bark, simply because
they have barked until they were hoarse in the past and no one cared. They have never experienced living in a home,
so they are scared by all of the things we take for granted, such as a TV playing, a phone ringing, a doorbell chiming.
They do not know how to walk on a leash. They just don't know how to be a dog. Someone that is purchasing a
dog at a dog auction may be getting themselves into a lot more than they bargained for.
Please also visit the link to the Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project. There you will find additional information, pictures,
and details about the dog auctions.
Wisconsin Professional Pet Breeders Association
The Wisconsin Professional Pet Breeders Association (WPPBA) held it's first trade show and seminar recently. Claiming
to represent the breeders of Wisconsin, the group appears to be an organization of puppy mills. Please click here to read a report of what took place at this seminar. Alarming information was presented at the seminar which could impact our efforts to enact a Pet Facilities Law. If
you're a breeder, you may wish to be aware of how this group is representing the work that you do. All citizens should
be concerned about how they are trying to influence Wisconsin legislation. Please be sure to read this report.
How CCHS is Involved
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| Wisconsin State Capital in Madison, WI |
While it is easy to express our disgust at what is happening at puppy mills and dog auctions, we know that nothing will
change unless concerned members of the community step forward. We at CCHS have chosen to do just that. We are
working very closely with the Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project, Inc., in efforts to introduce legislation that would allow for
inspection of these facilities. Efforts have been made to pass a Pet Facilities Law (PFL) previously, but failed due
to the political process. We believe that NOW is the right time for things to change!
Chuck and Cheri Wegner from CCHS travelled to the State Capital in Madison on Tuesday, May 22nd, to meet with congressional
staff about the PFL. Also in attendance were Eilene Ribbens, Executive Director, Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project; Deb Lewis,
Executive Director, Fox Valley Humane Society; Marnie Brown, Executive Director, Washington County Humane Society; Chris Cowles,
Director, Washington County Humane Society; Penny Romasko, President, Alliance of Wisconsin Animals Rehoming Efforts, and
Dr. Yvonne Bellay, State Humane Officer, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).
We were disappointed that the Senators and Representatives who had agreed to the meeting chose to send their staff aides rather
than attending themselves. However, we do understand that the political process has to start somewhere. We appreciated
the opportunity to express our position on the need for legislation and to discuss what can be done to improve conditions
in Wisconsin.
What You Can Do To Help
While meeting with legislative staff is a good place to start, it has also become very evident to us that it will take
a LOT of support for a Pet Facilities Law to be passed. While it seems to be only common sense that
no one would ever want to hurt an animal, there is opposition to any animal legislation being passed. We welcome other
ideas and suggestions, but we do believe that there needs to be a compromise reached that will end the suffering taking place
in puppy mills and dog auctions every day.
The media coverage that has been taking place over the past two months is absolutely outstanding! It has brought
the plight of puppy mill dogs to the forefront as never before. Thousands of people have expressed their outrage and
demanded that laws change to protect our animals. That is why we need to continue to press forward now. We need
everyone's help!
What can you do? Speak up!! Contact your Representatives and Senators today! The more pressure that
they receive from their consituents, the more they will realize that they have to do something. If you don't know who
to contact, you can go to the website: http://waml.legis.state.wi.us/ and by entering your address, it will tell you who your legislators are. You can also call 608-266-9960 or toll
free 800-362-9472 to find our who your state legislators are. You can call the Governor's Office at 608-266-1212.
It is critical that they hear from you! Please call or email and let them know you support a Pet Facilities Law and
that puppies have to stop suffering in Wisconsin!
Roundtable meetings are also being scheduled around the State for citizens to meet with legislators. These meetings
are an opportunity to show support for a PFL. At the first meeting held at Slinger, WI, over 300 people attended!
The next roundtable is scheduled for Monday, September 10th, in West Allis. It will take place at the Nathan
Hale High School Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Local legislators have been invited to attend and learn what the
PFL is all about. We need to have a great turnout so that they will listen to us. Please plan on attending!!
Please sign our petition in support of the Pet Facitilies Law. You may do so online by clicking here. We will then present our petition to our Legislators when the PFL is being considered. Thank you for your support
and for wanting to help make a difference! Together, we will stop the misery in Wisconsin puppy mills!
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