Puppy smuggling
By Gina Spadafori
December 21, 2005
I feel sorry for the children who get sick and dying puppies. I feel sorry for the puppies. But I can no longer feel sorry for people who keep cruelty thriving by buying smuggled or puppy-mill dogs. From this morning’s L.A. Times:
Puppy smugglers continue flooding the market with animals from Mexico, many of which die or pose health hazards to unsuspecting buyers, according to a recent survey.
Animal welfare agency inspectors found 517 puppies, many concealed in vehicles and destined for swap meets across Southern California, during the two-week survey earlier this month at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry.
The puppy smuggling phenomenon, first noticed about two years ago, troubles animal welfare groups, because many of the puppies suffer from parvovirus, distemper, scabies and other hard-to-detect ailments.
The animals — often mixed-breed poodles and other toy breeds — are usually sold to bargain-seeking buyers at swap meets or through classified advertising.
Though they appear healthy, they often die within a week.
Here’s the piece (need a log-in?). If you buy from these people, you are an accomplice to cruelty.
Update: Here’s a longer, more comprehensive piece from the San Diego Union-Tribune. I guess we’re supposed to feel sorry for the woman who bought a puppy outside a Wal-Mart for her 12-year-old son, only to have the animal die soon after. She says her "heart melted," but in in fact, it was her brain that wasn’t functioning. Commenting on the sleazy and cruel puppy-smuggling trade, a humane officer notes that "At up to $1,000 a pup, "it’s better than selling drugs."
You know, the whole Christmas puppy scene may in fact be the reason why I do not like the season. The degree of shameless greed and cruelty (from the sellers) and thoughtless, immature idiocy (from the buyers) is just downright depressing, year after year.
The other thing I find “intriguing” about people who’ll pay $1000 for a puppy mill dog is that they’ll also balk at the cost of getting that dog veterinary care. I know someone who paid close to $1000 for a dog from a “puppy store”, and he’s never had the dog spayed because of the expense. I’ve also seen numerous instances on Animal Planet shows of people with purebred puppies who get parvo because they haven’t had shots, and then the owners don’t want to pay for the vet care. Truly boggling.
Comment by Leigh-Ann — December 21, 2005 @ 4:42 pm
Thank you for this. I read the article today, too, and had the same reaction. I know that people think they’re doing something good in the moment, but they’re forgetting the far-reaching consequences of their actions.
Comment by Christine — December 21, 2005 @ 9:18 pm
As a Malamute owner, I’m terrified at the prospect of how many mals and huskies will be bought and abandoned after Disney’s Eight Below movie comes out in the new year. Alaskan Malamutes are already the most dumped dog breed in Australia.
The movie and/or DVD should be screened with a short pet-care film showing the consequences of inappropriate pet ownership.
Comment by Mike — December 25, 2005 @ 11:18 pm
I stumbled upon this site as I was in the process of doing some online research. I wish there was some way to shut down every puppy mill in existence. They are exploitative and cruel, period.
Comment by panasianbiz — August 9, 2006 @ 8:28 am
I stumbled upon this site as I was in the process of doing some online research. I wish there was some way to shut down every puppy mill in existence. They are exploitative and cruel, period.
Comment by panasianbiz — August 9, 2006 @ 8:28 am