Domino and Hope are back from Christmas travels. They had a lot of fun opening presents and visiting family. Hope is still doing great, she runs effortlessly and has made significant social adjustments. She is a joy.
Being involved with Hope’s rescue and recovery has made me a lot more aware of issues affecting the pet industry. I commute around 500 miles a week, and I see dogs wandering frequently by the side of the highway. It is usually unsafe to stop and try to help, but this week alone Rebecca and I rescued two small dogs - the one is at Red Dog Farm (Yoda, see website), the other found a new home and family through our local vet. It is sad to know that many of these animals, bred for domesticity, are suffering in the cold, eating garbage, and risking their lives in the wild and around busy highways.
Some new legislation was introduced to regulate the puppy mill industry, and I hope this bill picks up traction. It is facing some strong opposition. Puppy mills continue to be a problem nationwide, and lead to disease and overpopulation. The link below gives a detailed report on the workings of this bill. Be cautioned, it is disturbing.
I am not an activist. I do not spend my time looking for dogs to save (more often than not, honestly, I drive on like everyone else). But we can all help curb the problem of overpopulation and abuse by spaying/neutering our pets, supporting and referring our local shelters and rescue organizations, considering adoption before purchasing a dog from a breeder, and voicing support for humane treatment of domestic animals. I know this bill is somewhat controversial (it sounds prudent and reasonable to me, but I respect the dissent), however it highlights an issue that is both wrong and unnecessary. I welcome your comments on this.
