Saturday, September 20, 2008

We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Programming For This Important Announcement

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Today is Saturday and it's football season so I should be posting my football predictions for the weekend. But I have something more important to post about today. Today is Puppy Mill Awareness Day. As you know, Jo herself came from a puppy mill. Here are some excerpts from a USA Today article that ran in yesterday's paper.

"Grass-roots puppy mill protests and events are planned for today nationwide, from Northville, where about 50 people are expected to parade through town to raise awareness and distribute information about puppy mills, to Fresno County, Calif., where volunteers will gather at a mall "to publicize the atrocities of puppy mills," says organizer Joyce Brandon."

"Puppy mills -- large, inhumanely run breeding operations that sell puppies to some pet stores and online -- have for years been in the crosshairs of animal welfare groups. Breeding stock, they say, are kept in tiny cages, fed subsistence diets and given no medical care, exercise or socialization; then the animals are killed when they no longer produce large litters. The puppies, they say, are often sick when sold, or genetic issues soon emerge."

"In South Bend, Ind., the annual Mutt March in St. Patrick's County Park to benefit a no-kill shelter will have a significant anti-puppy-mill component this year, says event chairwoman Linda Candler." Yea, South Bend!

"The biggest event -- with 600 to 1,000 participants expected -- will be held in tiny Dutch Village in the middle of Lancaster County, Pa., which experts say is ground zero for puppy-millers. Organizer Carol Araneo-Mayer says people are flying in from all over the country to bring awareness -- for the fifth straight year -- to the number of farms in the pastoral surroundings where "dogs are being treated like a commodity." (Hanging my head in shame)

Yes, today is Jo's day. She came to us as one of those who had been used as breeding stock. When we got her she didn't wag her tail, was afraid of all men (including D), and had no idea to do with the toys we had given her. And now? Her tail wags constantly, is falling in love with D (those car rides sure do help his cause!), and has figured out what to do with her toys. All in all, life is good for Jo. My sister-in-law sent me an article last week about the things we can learn from dogs. If Jo could talk, I am sure this is what she would say.

"Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it."

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3 comments....porters always have something to say!:

Anonymous said...

I've said before, JoJo thinks she's in heaven. I doubt she remembers the ugly years. Love the quote. May have a use for it.

megawatt miler said...

awww

Unknown said...

If people would stop buying from puppy mills they would have to go out of business. I know it's hard to turn your back on abused puppies and dogs but it is the only way to get rid of the puppy mills.

Reputable breeders aren't hard to find, one visit and just by talking to the owners will tell you if they are trying to advance the breed or their pocket book.

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