Laura is an intriguing main character. Her composure remains completely passive as she interacts with puppy mill breeders. She is therefore allowed access into the kennels and, on occasion the camera is allowed to follow. When this happens, what we see is predictably gruesome. One wonders how Laura can remain so emotionally detached while in the midst of such inhumanity. Clearly, she understands that such passivity is required if she is to accomplish the task at hand, namely the rescue of innocent victims, one at a time. The movie credits state that Laura has rescued more than two thousand dogs.

For those who are familiar with puppy mills, there’s really nothing new revealed here. The kennel conditions are beyond horrific, the dogs are physically and psychologically traumatized beings, it is clear that legislation is needed to make things better, and there are some happy endings thanks to generous, kind-hearted, patient people.

One could argue that, through her actions, the Madonna is enabling puppy mills to thrive. I wasn’t clear to me if Laura actually purchases the dogs she rescues. What was clear was that that none of her actions would deter the puppy mill trade. Laura is clearly a prisoner of her passion. One senses she would give up anything and everything in her life before surrendering her rescue missions. In a brief moment of emotional vulnerability she talks about the enormity of the puppy mill situation while seemingly trying to convince herself that by rescuing one dog at a time, she is making a difference.

Whether or not you agree with what Laura is doing, the beauty of this documentary is that it will educate the public about puppy mills. Someone contemplating purchasing a pup from a pet store just might be dissuaded from doing so after watching this movie. By the way, I wish the movie had more strongly emphasized that pups purchased on line (site and sight unseen) are also likely to be puppy mill progeny. Nonetheless, kudos to those responsible for making this documentary. Have a look and tell me what you think. By the way, you may want to have a box of Kleenex close at hand, and perhaps something to soothe your nerves while viewing the graphic scenes.

Is your dog’s processed pet food exposing him to dangerous toxins? Scientists at Indiana University have discovered chemicals used as flame retardants are present in the blood of pet dogs at levels 5 to 10 times higher than those found in humans (although st ill lower than those found in cats in an earlier study). From Science Daily (h/t to CathyA):

Venier and Hites report on an analysis of flame retardants in blood from 17 pet dogs, all of whom live primarily indoors. They also examined samples of the dry dog food that made up the pets’ diet, attempting to determine if food was a major source of PBDE exposure.The average concentration of PBDEs in blood from the dogs was about 2 nanograms per gram, about five to 10 times higher than the levels found in humans in the few studies of human exposure that have been done in North America.

In dog food samples, the researchers found PBDEs at levels averaging about 1 nanogram per gram. That is much higher than levels found in meat and poultry sold as food for humans, suggesting the PBDEs in dog food may result from processing rather than from the food sources.

Wow, let’s just totally miss the point. A ban on shopping for puppies while drunk? How about a ban on treating dogs like shoes, instead?

Doogie Howser, DVM? A new 6-year undergrad/vet school program will be launching at Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee next year. Which means, as the American Veterinary Medical Association‘s SmartBrief newsletter comments, your pet may be treated by a veterinarian only six years out of high school.

The Great Corgi Caper. David sent me dire warnings of what he’d do to me if I didn’t use this video of a Corgi aiding and abetting his sister to… well, you’ll see.

David always likes to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories. Give him a shout in the comments, or better yet, send him an e-mail.

Cleveland rocks: Brent Toellner at KC Dog Blog reports the best piece of news. After a dozen years on the books, breed-specific dog laws are being repealed in Cleveland. From now on, the decision on how to handle a dog will be based solely on prior behavior.

Owners of dogs at each level have different requirements to meet – -and if they do meet the requirements, they can get the designations lifted over time. You can get a lot of details on the ordinance here.

More and more cities are continuing to look at ordinances like the one in Cleveland because it allows the city to more efficiently use resources by targeted dogs (and dog owners) who have shown signs of being a threat to citizens and not focusing any resources on people whose dogs are not a threat.

Even better, the state of Ohio is considering following suit. It’s almost enough to make me do that arms in the air thing they’re so fond of. Almost.

Two rulings from the bench: Separate decisions were handed down that should put smiles on the faces of pet lovers across the country. Both are discussed in this SFGate article. In the first, an IRS decision that effectively penalized a feral cat rescue organization for their work was overruled. The second one went to the heart of the age-old legal axion that pets are nothing more than property. The California Supreme Court ruled for the first time that…

the owner of an animal victim of intentional cruelty may now sue the perpetrator for the costs of medical care and treatment of that animal. Historically, even someone found guilty of a felony animal abuse who ends up serving jail time will only be responsible to the animal’s owner for the cost of “replacing” that animal; back to that earlier point of animals as “property,” the concept is replacement of that property’s “market value.” Now, that has changed.

The first case is good, but the California decision could have much wider significance in the long term. Thanks to Susan Fox for the link.

Puppy millers lose huge in Los Angeles: One more sign of the times… puppy milling scum are no longer welcome to do business in the City of Angels. Details in the Examiner.

Who knows what’s really going on here? I had a conversation with Susan Fox after she forwarded this link from Yahoo News. While there’s definitely something bad going on in the area north of Spokane, Wash., it’s such a poorly reported story that frankly, I haven’t a clue what the truth of the matter is. Are there wolf-hybrids wreaking havoc? Perhaps. Certainly something is. Do we know much more than that? Honestly, no. I have a little more faith in KXLY‘s reporting, but not too much.

Heat is no joke: Every year the warnings go out about the lethal nature of overheated cars in the summer, and every year someone else finds out (tragically) how serious it is. The headline from the San Antonio Express-News says it all. There is ‘No such thing as a five-minute errand’ in heat.

Video of the week: The New England Aquarium in Boston is more than just a fun place to spend an afternoon. The aquarium staff also performs critical rescues, and is able to take advantage of the region’s health care technology. In this Boston Globe video, a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle undergoes a CT scan. Great stuff.

Social media at work: Comedian Dane Cook lost his dog, and asked his Twitter followers to help out. The story had a happy ending, and when it was over, Dane took to Twitter to let his followers know all was well and to thank them. A high five to TMZ for the following line:

When you only get 140 characters, 13 exclamation points in a tweet means you’re REALLY happy.

Also, four instances of the word “so” has gotta count for a lot.

RIP The Cat Who: Lillian Jackson Braun Bettinger, the author of 29 best-selling “The Cat Who” novels, has passed away in South Carolina at the age of 97. The Washington Post had a kind remembrance with a quote from the late Ms. Bettinger.

Discussing the sleuthing abilities of her cat KoKo, Mrs. Bettinger once commented, “Of course when you’re writing about a cat solving mysteries, you can’t be entirely serious. He doesn’t speak English or leap tall buildings. But there are things he does that draw attention to clues that help solve the mystery.”

Pedicure time: Because you can never have enough icanhascheezburger, and definitely never enough lolcats. See you next week.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.
Photo credit: O-H-I-O, humorsoffice.com. Dane Cook tweet, TMZ.

A bill before the Iowa legislature would make it a crime to produce, distribute or possess photos and video taken without permission at an agricultural facility. It would also criminalize lying on an application to work at an agriculture facility “with an intent to commit an act not authorized by the owner.”

While the laws are meant to keep animal activists from revealing some farming practices (like shocking treatment of dairy cattle exposed in recent years), the proposals will also help keep puppy-mills behind the curtain of secrecy. They  could even protect poorly run shelters from being exposed (cough cough, Memphis, cough cough), argues the website care2.com:

The legislation proposed in Minnesota attempts to crack down on activists who have exposed repeated animal welfare violations. Among its provisions, the bill targets anyone who documents an “image or sound” of animal suffering in a sweeping list of “animal facilities,” including factory farms, animal experimentation labs, and puppy mills.

According to Will Potter, author of “Green Is the New Red: An Insider’s Account of a Social Movement Under Siege,” Minnesota’s House File No. 1369 goes even further.

The bill, introduced by six Republicans, also includes a number of other provisions that have popped up in “eco-terrorism” bills and “animal enterprise terrorism” laws over the years. Similar legislation has also been introduced in Florida and Iowa to target undercover investigators.

The Minnesota bill includes a number of dangerous parts. Among the most important:

1. “Animal facility interference.” This provision targets those who, without the owner’s consent, “produce a record which reproduces an image or sound occurring at the animal facility.” Even worse, it targets those who “possess or distribute a record which produces an image or sound occurring at the animal facility.”

Translated: Taking pictures and videos is illegal, but so is uploading them to YouTube for public consumption. Anyone else have a problem with this?

Community supported agriculture for pets! I have friends from Maine to California who participate in community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs. Perhaps you do it in your area. But here’s a new wrinkle: CSA for dog food. Kim Thornton sent me this link from the Village Voice, about Jake Dickson of Dickson’s Farmstand Meats in New York.

The new “dog-food program,” Dickson explains, “allows us to close the loop completely so we’re nearing zero waste.” The parts that he doesn’t have much use for, such as the 80 pounds of beef liver he receives each week, make ideal canine sustenance. But rather than just package and sell them as is, Dickson partnered with Stacy Alldredge, a dog trainer and canine nutritionist who, Dickson says, “is a big advocate of cooking real food for pets.”

Great idea. Use naturally-grown agricultural products that would otherwise go to waste, give dogs fresh, nutritious meals, and support local farms. Everybody wins. To see how this concept works already, check out the SFRaw co-operative, to which Christie and Gina both proudly belong.  It’s a little different in operation, but the local, sustainable and humane ethic is the same.

“I’m not asking you. You’re not nice.” Dogs beg people for food. Not exactly a news flash, is it? Here’s the kicker: it seems dogs know who to ask, by paying close attention to how people interact with each other. This article from The New Scientist article on the finding is frankly scaring me. (thanks, Patti S.)

Luxury in Boston for all: The Boston Globe spotlights the trend we’re developing here in the Boston area for creating –  and supporting –  ultra-luxurious vacation spots for pets. As a Red Sox fan, I found this next snippet irresistible.

At Fenway Bark, the best room in the house, the 72-square-foot Owner’s Box, costs $150 per night. True, that’s almost as much as the $155 average daily rate for human hotels in the Greater Boston area, according to the Massachusetts Lodging Association, but it does come with unlimited dog-owner Skype sessions, bottled water upon request, and custom-made beds with 6-inch orthopedic foam.

The Skype was a perk that Tara Philbin of South Boston could not resist. Before heading off to her bachelorette party in New Orleans Saturday, Philbin downloaded the Skype app so she could chat with her boxers Declan and Kiera.

I particularly like Fenway Bark‘s website. Check it out, unless you’re a Yankees fan, in which case you should just move on to the next paragraph.

Highlights from around the Pet Connection Blogosphere. Recent posts I particularly like from our distinguished blogroll:

A shout out to Ingrid: Our own Ingrid King‘s personal blog The Conscious Cat has a post I particularly like. This one is about World’s Best Cat Litter and how they’re supporting shelter causes in Texas.

Woo Woo! Photo essay posts from Three Woofs and a Woo always make me smile.

Happy Tax Day: Love this cartoon from SmartDogs.

Finally, speshal nom from icanhascheezburger.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.

Photo credit: Memphis Animal Shelter video snapshot courtesy of YesBiscuit.wordpress.com.

In case you are unfamiliar with dog auctions, let me fill you in. Envision rooms filled floor to ceiling with crates and cages each housing dogs whose sole purpose in life is to make puppies.

Every dog in the room is identified by the number on the auction tag hanging round his or her neck. There are purebreds of multiple varieties, although some might not be recognizable as such given their lack of health care and horrifically overgrown hair coats.

And, of course, there are plenty of “designer hybrids,” the mutts that are purposefully planned because they are “all the rage” and their litters will earn big bucks for some lucky puppy miller.

Some of the rooms filled with dogs are eerily quiet; these are animals with broken spirits, too scared to vocally protest and too disassociated from their miserable existences to invite attention from the humans peering into their cages.

Six auctions are held every year in Farmerstown, Ohio. In fact, the next one, of 351 dogs, is on April 2.

If you happen to live near Farmerstown, I encourage you to attend. You will be surrounded by puppy millers and their ilk who have come to socialize, discuss their trade, and buy and sell “livestock.” You will also find folks from breed rescue organizations hoping to place some winning bids that will alter the dismal fate of as many dogs as is affordable.

Don’t take a camera with you; it will be confiscated. You see, these are rather covert affairs; journalists and photographers are not allowed. The photographic images accompanying this post were obtained undercover.

On average, 300 to 500 dogs trade hands on any given auction day. The dogs who fetch the highest prices are those with proven fertility records; bitches already pregnant are highly valued. Details about each dog’s breeding behavior and previous litter sizes are provided, but information about basic temperament or breed-specific inherited diseases within the family tree is unavailable because it is deemed unimportant. After all, naive puppy buyers don’t request such information.

If you attend the auction in Farmerstown, be sure to look for Mary O’Connor-Shaver. You will find her at the peaceful protest that is a visible presence on each and every auction day. In my mind Mary is a hero, working tirelessly to convince Ohio legislators to ban dog auctions from her state. I hope you will visit her website. Mary has been a huge source of information and inspiration for me.

What can you do to help eradicate dog auctions and put an end to puppy mills? Here are some suggestions:

1.Educate your friends and family to boycott puppy mills and stores that sell puppies. Let them know that this means never ever purchasing a puppy from a pet store or from an on line source (site and sight unseen). Encourage them to visit their local shelter and contact local breed-specific rescue organizations, or to purchase a puppy from a responsible breeder.

2. If you live in a state that sanctions dog auctions (Ohio, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Arkansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri), write your legislators and appeal to them to stop this madness. And if there are efforts within your state to create legislation banning dog auctions, please pitch in. This might involve organizing rallies, writing letters, and gathering signatures of support.

3. If you don’t reside in a state that sanctions dog auctions, write letters to the governors and legislators of the eight states that do. Let them know you will no longer support their state in terms of travel and commerce until their dog auctions cease to exist.

4. Let your veterinarian know how you feel about dog auctions and puppy mills, and encourage him or her to take a public stance against them. Goodness knows, we see first hand the horrific health issues and accompanying heartbreak produced by puppy mills.

5. If you are a teacher, educate your students about puppy mills and dog auctions. Teach them about responsible ways to acquire a dog. I believe in my heart of hearts that educating children about these issues is the key to success.

6. Please share this post with anyone and everyone you know who loves a dog, and encourage them to take action.

My youngest child attends college in Athens, Ohio. During a recent visit we checked out Petland, the largest pet store in Athens. We found no fewer than three dozen utterly adorable purebred and designer hybrid puppies, undoubtedly puppy mill progeny.

There were plenty of customers in the store that day interacting with the pups and contemplating buying one. I chatted with the store manager about the Boxer pup on display, and asked to see the paperwork documenting if Boxer cardiomyopathy existed in the pup’s lineage. Boxer cardiomyopathy is an inherited heart condition that can prematurely snuff out the life of an afflicted dog.

She responded by saying, “No, we don’t have that paperwork, but no problem because Petland guarantees full refunds on any dogs that develop symptoms caused by an inherited disease.” No problem for Petland, that is. It’s a different story for the dog, or the people who love him.

What are you willing to do to help stop this madness?

Photos taken by an undercover photographer who has asked to be unnamed to preserve his or her ability to continue to do this work. Used with permission.

You know it’s gonna be good.

You can listen over the Animal Wise Radio network here, and if you’d like to ask questions, just drop into the Auditorium chat room where you can post them during the interview.

You can also listen on your mobile device here.

“See” you tonight!

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said it was the first time animal DNA had been used to win cruelty convictions in New York City. And the convictions, returned on March 8 in separate trials, are two of only a handful that have been won in the country, experts said, though the existence of DNA evidence has encouraged many defendants to plead guilty.

Some 35 years after human DNA was first used in criminal cases, the collection of animal DNA is “becoming more and more common as law enforcement officials are thinking about using the genetic tools they have at their disposal in lesser crimes,” said Scott Heiser, criminal justice program director at the Animal Legal Defense Fund, based in California. Last year, scientists created the country’s first DNA database of dogs used in dog fights to help investigators establish ties among breeders, owners and the animals themselves.

I love technology, don’t you?

Update on Cody: Remember Cody the retriever? I’ve been itching to give you an update, and now I can. He underwent his liver shunt procedure earlier this week at the Animal Medical Center in New York. Cody’s benefactor Stephanie Green reports on her Facebook page:

Talked to chick Cody is doing great eating bouncing happy incision looks great won’t pee apparently he is looking for grass and a tree which is hard to come by in the middle of manhattan.

“Chick” is Dr. Chick Weisse, who is on staff at AMC, and performed the procedure. Here’s hoping Cody has a speedy and complete recovery!

Are you prepared? Disaster preparedness for pets is a frequent topic for us, but in light of the recent events in Japan, it bears repeating. If the unexpected happens, have you taken the steps necessary to take care of your pets? Dr. Jennifer Scarlett of the San Francisco SPCA gives us timely reminders (thanks to SFGate for the link).

Help is on its way from around the world: The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association reports that animal relief efforts are taking shape around the world to assist pets in Japan. Meanwhile, difficult and sobering estimates of the disaster’s damage emerge, courtesy of Scientific American. (thanks, Diana G)

Good celebrities, bad celebrities: This week forces me to say something nice about a celebrity I ordinarily can’t stand, and then criticize another star I normally admire. First, radio/media giant Howard Stern goes off on a most excellent rant about people who abandon their pets….fair warning, since this is Howard Stern, expect some decidedly less than family-friendly language. Dogtime has the clip. Next, what is the deal with Whoopi Goldberg? I really expected better from her, but she spouted off this week on The View that she’s totally OK supporting puppy mill scum. Dearest Whoopi: I’m a big fan of yours, but please, if you don’t know what you’re talking about, at least have the decency to shut up. Thx.

New sports star to admire: From the world of pro hockey, we have St. Louis Blues all star David Backes, who has come out in loud, proud support of local shelter pets. Way to go, David! Do me a favor? Please give Whoopi a call and educate her a bit.

Miracle in Boston: On February 23, a fire destroyed a house in Boston’s Hyde Park neighborhood. If that wasn’t bad enough, Terisa Acevedo couldn’t find her long haired dachshund Lola. After a month without any signs of her, she was starting to believe Lola hadn’t made it out of the house after all. Then, a miracle. Lola had somehow survived the fire, became trapped in the house afterward, and a month later, was found. She’s not only alive, but doing very well, after a checkup at Angell Medical Center. Boston Globe coverage and video here.

Stop the presses! I hope you’re sitting down. I don’t want you to become alarmed, but cats are known to hunt and kill birds. The New York Times says so, so it must be true. Mother Jones responds, in effect, “Yeah, so?”

Correction: Earlier this week, I attributed a story to Seattle DogSpot. Not only was I wrong, but I was really wrong. The poignant picture (and most importantly, the absolutely perfect Emily Dickinson quote) actually originated from our own favorite blogger Shirley Thistlethwaite at YesBiscuit. To news wrap readers, and most especially to Shirley, please accept my apology.

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet,send me an e-mail.

Photo credit: Scruffy, ASPCA. Lola, boston.com.

According to board-certified veterinary criticalist Dr. Kelly Hall, the hope is that the University of Minnesota’s new trauma center model will be adopted by other large veterinary medical centers and teaching hospitals across the country, creating a network that will work collaboratively to continually develop methods to improve trauma patient care.

“By working collaboratively with leaders in the veterinary trauma field throughout the country, advancements in trauma care will be shared between centers rapidly, assuring the most severely injured patients have access to the most advanced therapies,” Hall said.

Like human trauma centers, the Animal Trauma Center will also provide leadership in education and research. The Animal Trauma Center designation reflects a depth of resources as opposed to just an ability to deliver medical care.

Let’s see more of these to come in other parts of the country!

Prop B to be reversed: We kept close track of Missouri’s Proposition B in November. Though it passed with 52 percent of the popular vote, the state Senate is now watering it down in a big way. Business Week reports the legislature is concerned Prop B will destroy the state’s dog breeding (read: puppy mill) industry.

Missouri has about 1,400 licensed commercial dog breeders, according to the Missouri Department of Agriculture. They amount to a $1 billion industry that employs thousands of people and spends millions of dollars annually on dog food, veterinarian services and utilities, said Sen. Mike Parsons, R-Bolivar, who is sponsoring the legislation reversing parts of the voter-approved initiative.

[...]
The Senate bill would strike a provision in the voter-approved initiative that limits businesses to owning 50 breeding dogs. It also would roll back various requirements on the dogs’ living conditions. For example, it would replace a mandate that water bowls remain free of debris, feces or algae with a general requirement for water to be provided in a safe container. Parsons had argued that, under the ballot initiative, breeders could be jailed if dog dropped a piece of food in its water bowl.

Specific language mandating that dogs have sufficient space to lie down or turn around in their cages? That’s being struck down. Plus more. Maybe the “Show Me” state could show some concern over the dogs forced to live their lives in these places?

Iditarod update: The 2011 Iditarod Sled Dog Race is underway in Alaska. Defending champion Lance Mackey’s team is seriously depleted, and two other teams have already withdrawn. Thanks to AP and the Anchorage Daily News for the updates.

Caution on Easter rabbits: Easter is April 24. For those considering buying a rabbit as an Easter gift, please don’t, unless you’ve thought it through very carefully. The House Rabbit Society gives you a few points to keep in mind.

• Rabbits are not “low-maintenance” pets, and are a poor choice as a pet for children.
• They have a lifespan of 10 years and require as much work as a dog or cat.
• Your home must be bunny-proofed, or Thumper will chew cords and furniture.
• Rabbits must be neutered or spayed or they will mark your house with feces and urine.
• They should live indoors, as members of the family.

Perhaps it might be better to consider the Make Mine Chocolate campaign. That’s right, I’m urging you to support your local chocolatier. You could send me some, too. Dark, please.

Work out with your dog! A fun iVillage slide show to remind you about the importance of getting enough exercise for your pooch – and yourself. Stay tuned for a post later today from me on the topic, too….

Caring for Cara: Do you read Covered in Cat Hair? Robin’s tale of the enduring struggle of monitoring her cat Cara’s ongoing health issue is exhausting, scary, and at the same time, it leaves me with lots of hope.

Al fresco in Poe’s back yard: Now here’s some legislation I can get behind. The state of Maryland is considering a bill to allow dogs to accompany diners in outdoor venues. Ever had fresh Chesapeake stone crab on a warm summer night in Baltimore? It’s worth trying, trust me. (thanks, NBCWashington)

Irony – Ur doin’ it right. Finally, a Thursday chuckle. Enjoy.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures,

Note: The news wrap is taking a short hiatus. You’ll be hearing from me plenty over the next week, but most of it will be from Global Pet Expo 2011 in sunny Orlando. I’ll be joined by a Pet Connection posse: Ericka, Gina and Dr. Becker. Plus, a cameo appearance by our own Dr. Tony. Hmmm, Dr. Becker, Dr. Johnson and yours truly in the same place? This could be fun (or dangerous, take your pick).

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet,send me an e-mail.

Photo credit: UMN ATC screenshot courtesy KARE11.com. MMC logo, makeminechocolate.org.

Before Wolfie’s demise, Onruang took measures to preserve her genetic material and that of her sister Bubble in the hope that he could have them cloned at some point in the future.

First, Onruang had to raise the money to have the expensive cloning procedure performed on Wolfie and Bubble. He founded a company, Hollywood Paintball, with the express purpose of raising the money — to the tune of several hundred thousand dollars.

A few years later, Onruang says a South Korean company has been paid for the cloning procedure, and he now awaits the births of Wolfie and Bubble clones. (He plans to call the puppies Wolfie and Bubble, if you’re wondering.)

Mr. Onruang has a website explaining what he’s doing. This makes a great addition to the ethical debate — adopt, breed or clone (assuming you have a spare hundred thousand kicking around).

Puppy mill debate includes multiple voices: In 2008, the state of Pennsylvania took a major step forward in cracking down on their (at the time) enormous puppy mill industry. They passed a law to substantially upgrade the standards of breeding kennels.

Now, State Rep. Gordon Denlinger of Lancaster County is making new claims about the 2008 law costing the state millions in sales and tax revenue. The ASPCA isn’t buying it, and they’re not pulling any punches. They want HR 89 shot down, saying it would create the first step toward gutting the 2008 measure.

Who supports HR 89? The American Kennel Club. From Bill White of the Allentown Morning Call:

“The AKC encourages Pennsylvania responsible breeders and dog owners to contact the committee, and your state representative, and ask them to support House Resolution 89,” the AKC says in a press release that appears on its website. It repeats all the preposterous claims of the puppy mill shills who concocted this scheme.

[...]

Make no mistake about why almost 2/3 of Pennsylvania’s commercial kennels have disappeared. It’s because Amish/Mennonite farmers and other operators were unwilling to make the investment needed to upgrade their facilities. They profited richly by exploiting these dogs. Running a legitimate, humane business? Not profitable enough.

Despite the best efforts of their lobbyists and apologists, they lost that fight. The new state dog law passed overwhelmingly. And if some breeders won’t change the way they operate, I’m glad they’re out of business.

Lead sponsor Gordon Denlinger, R-Lancaster, claimed the resolution, which cleared the state House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Tuesday and now goes to the full House, is not intended to reopen the law but rather to study its impact on state revenue and jobs. That claim doesn’t jibe with the language and tone of his resolution — or for that matter, with Denlinger’s history as an opponent of the original legislation and de facto defender of puppy mill operators, many of them based in his home Lancaster County. And why “study” the impact of the law before all its provisions even have gone into effect? The last set of regulations won’t kick in until this July. Makes no sense, unless the goal is to derail it before it starts.

The AKC, as you might presume, has a whole different take on the issue.

HR 89 also contains a number of positive statements in support of breeders and the impact overly-restrictive breeder legislation has on the economy, including:

• Recognition of the “substantial investments” that breeders have made in land, buildings, veterinary care, etc.
• Estimating that the new laws have resulted in millions of dollars in economic losses for small businesses
• Recognition that the laws/regulations have resulted in the loss of numerous jobs.
• Recognition that there are many questions regarding the costs in implementing the new regulatory standards.

The AKC strongly supports this resolution, which recognizes the significant impact that dog breeders have on the economy and the significant resources breeders devote to their business.

The bill has made it out of the Agriculture Committee. If you live in Pennsylvania, make your voice known to your local rep.

Attention all cat owners with kids: There’s good evidence indicating that domestic cats do a great job calming people. Here’s the tricky part —  why? Professors Ben and Lynette Hart of the University of California, Davis are working to gather data to furnish clues. Specifically, they’re interested in surveying families with children and cats. From the Daily Democrat:

The Harts, working with veterinary geneticist Leslie Lyons, have begun a multi-part study to tease out how those relationships benefit children and whether feline genetic traits can help identify positive behavioral characteristics in cats.

In their part of the study, the Harts are asking adult cat owners in families with children to respond to an online survey to help develop a picture of children’s relations with cats. The anonymous questionnaire asks about the family and the behavior of their cat around children, including its friendliness, aggression and fearful behavior.

A family member over age 18 may take the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ucdcatbehavior/. The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. Respondents also have the opportunity to provide some personal details about the family cat in a special comments section.

Blind CKCS regains sight, loses best friend: From the Manchester Evening News, a great news, terrible news story. Ellie is a one year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who had been blind, but had her vision restored with successful cataract surgery. That’s the good news. The bad news is her faithful guardian, a big German Shepherd named Leo, passed away soon after Ellie’s surgery.

GWP Samantha and Shelby County: Please read this story from our friend Mary at GWP Rescue. The tale of a terrific Missouri shelter and a brave German Wirehaired Pointer named Samantha (and those who love her) makes you believe there’s hope for all.

Biodegradable options: It’s problematic when good points are made by people with issues. Another piece from the L.A. Times has merit, but the author is a bit, shall we say compromised. Let’s start with the observation that she clearly doesn’t have any use for pets. Also, she was allegedly bitten by a breed that doesn’t actually exist. Ms. Carpenter, there are Afghan Hounds, and there are Greyhounds. Two different breeds.  In spite of that, the article on pet waste disposal is worth reading.

Reviews R Us: Recently posted product reviews from our intrepid tester Ericka Basile: IPad or IPaw’d, and testing the Halti.

Cats with thumbs: I love this video, (sent by four different friends) though it terrifies me something awful.

The face of freedom: It’s Monday, so you need a chuckle, right? Please, before you do anything else, go check out the photo on this Daily Mail page. You’ll smile, guaranteed, or your money back.

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.

Photo credits: Terriers on the beach, myfriendagain.com.

Max was shipped to California at 10 weeks of age from a breeder in Missouri. His loving owner, Ed, had been looking for a Boston Terrier and fell in love with Max the moment he saw his photo online. He did not feel the need to visit the kennel where Max was born because he was so reassured by the emails and telephone conversations he and the breeder had exchanged. She seemed to provide all the right answers to Ed’s questions. Max’s health was guaranteed. Any problems and Max could be returned, no questions asked.

Other than the extra noise associated with Max’s breathing (not uncommon in smoosh-faced breeds), Ed thought he had a normal puppy on his hands. It was only as Max’s body grew in relation to his narrowed windpipe that he developed labored breathing, and he eventually needed to utilize almost every ounce of energy struggling simply to breathe.

When I examined Max, I found out that he had a severely narrowed windpipe, a condition known as a “hypoplastic trachea”– imagine yourself trying to breathe through a straw. Ed was devastated by the news that we had no way to fix this problem. With his own heart breaking, he held his sweet little Max tightly as I injected the euthanasia solution.

Chloe, an eleven-month-old Cocker Spaniel, was born with defective kidneys. Joe and Cindy first laid eyes on Chloe when they happened to pass through a shopping center pet store on their way to the movie theatre. They never made it to the movies that afternoon. They bought a puppy instead. They simply could not resist the charms of the little blonde puppy with the big brown eyes.

Joe and Cindy noticed that Chloe drank lots of water, and she could never be fully house trained. A few months later, when she began vomiting and refusing her food, kidney failure was diagnosed. Ultrasound revealed that Chloe had a birth defect called renal dysplasia; both kidneys were small and malformed.

The once vigorous playful puppy gradually became profoundly weak and lethargic. Unfortunately, we had no reasonable way of creating long-term improvement for Chloe. Heartbroken, Joe and Cindy gently stroked and loved their little girl as I ended her life.

In telling these two heart-wrenching stories involving my patients and clients, my intent is not to put a damper on your day. Rather, my hope is that these stories will provide concrete examples — a wake up call, if you will — of the heartache that can result from purchasing a damaged pup from an unsavory breeder — damage that can be physical, as was the case with Max and Chloe, or behavioral.

Whether you are adopting from a shelter, rescue organization, or breeder, please make sure that a veterinarian has evaluated your prospective pup before you meet him. Learn what the veterinarian actually reported (best to see the medical record with your own two eyes). Don’t be seduced by the classified ad that says, “vet-checked.” This says nothing about the vet’s actual findings. If it’s not possible to have the dog vetted in advance of adoption, schedule an exam as soon as possible, preferably on your way home from picking up your new pup and before you’ve fallen hopelessly in love.

And to learn how to find a reputable breeder for your new four-legged family member, please read “A veterinarian’s guide to finding a great breeder and avoiding puppy-milling scum.”