The dark side of that puppy in the window

Recently in Los Angeles hundreds of people, many wrapped in blankets, stood in line on a chilly morning at one of the animal shelters for a chance to bid on ten tiny purebred puppies.

The puppies, five Yorkshire Terriers and five Maltese, were survivors of a cruel puppy mill export/import operation in South Korea. Ten others couldn’t be saved. The puppies were seized by Animal Control at the Los Angeles airport before they could be sold to pet shops in the area.

Forged papers indicated that the puppies were five months old with health certificates; they were actually five weeks old, far too young to be taken from their mothers.

After months of veterinary care at the shelter, they were pronounced healthy enough to go to their own homes. Los Angeles law requires that an auction be held if more than one person wants a particular dog.

Before the auction Ed Boks, the general manager of L.A. Animal Services, warned the bidders:

These puppies are the product of a cruel, factory-style dog breeding operation that produces animals with chronic health problems, temperament issues and hereditary defects, so our message to all of you this morning is buyer beware.

Sometimes potential buyers will be screened to make sure they have the facilities, temperament, and finances to take on puppies that may have many problems, but there was no mention of this in the story.

Fetching prices in the thousands, all ten of the Korean puppy mill survivors, as well as 52 other pets from the shelter, got new homes. At the end of the day Animal Services had raised more than $20,000 for the city’s shelters.

As authorities are cracking down on puppy mills in this country, we can expect to see more and more factory puppy breeding and importing from foreign countries. By using the internet, dishonest brokers and pet stores can easily get puppies from overseas.

The only way to stop this practice is for the public to become aware and stop providing a market.

Complete story NPR

Comments

[Saint Lover]

An auction seems kinda strange, but I guess it keeps people honest. I hope they all go to loving and adequate homes.

[Rose]

I would love to know any legislative action that is planned about puppy mills. We need to keep this ball rolling! Rose

[Jean]

Five weeks old! How sad. Those puppies will have problems for a long time to come without special help of an animal behaviorist to give the adoptive families some help.

Levi's mom

[the three dog blogger]

Five weeks old, that's so sad.
It's good that money was raised but an auction does seem a bit strange.
The most money doesn't mean the best owner but I suppose if people are willing to spend the money hopefully that means they will provide good homes.

[Wendy]

I'm glad the puppies were rescued (as well as the other shelter dogs that found a home that day) I'm hoping these people start memorizing the vet's office and their local behaviorists numbers quickly, and that they understand the value of high quality positive socialization for puppies that have been through so much trauma.

[jackie]

buy from humane society...only

[Hudson and Mary Jo]

I'm so thrilled that puppy mills more and more are getting exposed but I still feel the general public doesn't truly have a clue on how cruel these puppy mills are. So many people think that they are helping these puppies by buying them but it doesn't. It just encourages the puppy mills to keep doing what they are doing and making a huge profit off of dogs they treat so inhumane. Buying a dog is still an impulse buy so people forget about anything but how cute the dog is. So sad when thousands of dogs a year are killed at shelters because of over crowding. Thanks for keeping the public informed. Love reading your blog....Hudson and Mary Jo

[Neil]

Tell everyone you know not to support mass breeding. I've convinced a few folks to adopt instead, and we are all happier for it!

[Jimmy]

Oh my gosh.... Anything for a buck!
Thanks for helping expose them!

[cube]

Those poor pups are going to have trouble being properly socialized dogs. I hope they go to families that understand their special needs.

[Lynn Sinclair]

As cute as those puppies are in the pet store window, they're often purchased from puppy mills.

[Lindsay]

I've been thinking a lot about the pet "overpopulation" lately. I haven't read the book you suggested yet, but I've been thinking of creative ways to find homeless dogs new homes.

Anyway, this auction seemed to work out well. I just hope all those poor dogs ended up in good homes.

[Neva]

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[Neva]

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[blafband]

great post, i`ll subscribe to your blog! i really like your writing style..