The Martlet

Only several months prior to my arrival at UVic, I was watching TV when I received the shock of my life.

I found myself staring at the screen like a person passing a tragic car accident: horrified, nearly sick and completely glued to what I was watching. The show featured puppy mills.

I had heard of puppy mills before (large-scale dog breeding facilities that churn out vast quantities of purebred dogs), and had always been against the idea, but when I saw real-life footage of these operations I could not believe my eyes.

Three or four dogs were crammed into tiny cages, and had no choice but to step over often-empty food and water dishes, and their own excrement.

Their fur was matted; their feet were swollen and bleeding because they were never let out of their cages.

Female dogs were bloated because they were bred every time they came into heat. Male dogs that were not sent to the pet stores were euthanized (a vast quantity of males being of less necessity to the operation).

Although the puppies at pet stores look soft and happy, many unsuspecting buyers are not aware of the terrible start their new pets had or that upon the purchase of their new dog, they have actually promoted these conditions.

At the end of the horrific show, all I could wish was that all of these mistreated animals would be sent to safe, loving homes, and that these “mills” would be abolished.

But that decision isn’t up to me, or up to one person alone. It’s unbelievable that these businesses have been allowed to run at all, let alone since before the ‘60s.

Many people have their hearts set on a purebred dog, but don’t realize that it’s entirely possible to adopt one. Adoption doesn’t cost money. If a person adopts a dog, they only have to pay for the spaying or neutering of their pet, which costs around a hundred dollars — a charge any non-breeder would have to pay anyway. Compare this with the prices of purebred dogs from puppy mills (which can range into the thousands), and the answer becomes clear.

If a person has his or her heart set on a purebred dog, then it’s that person’s right to contact a responsible breeder.

However, mixed-breed and adoption dogs have been proven to live longer and healthier lives because they have more promising beginnings than those generated from puppy mills.

Rescuing animals is the first step we can take as a society toward the elimination of inhumane situations for mass-produced puppies.

Spaying or neutering our pets is the second step, as this will greatly decrease the numbers of unwanted strays.

Pet store animals offered for adoption deserve loving homes just as much as rescue dogs.

Their lives, through no fault of their own, began at puppy mills.

Without being part of the process, however, it’s impossible to simply imagine how inhumane these establishments are.

It’s our responsibility to stop cruel treatment towards our four-legged friends who aren’t able to speak for themselves.