INDUSTRY STATISTICS
Every year, between six and eight million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters, some three to four million of these animals are euthanized because there are not enough homes for them. |
|
|
|
In 1994, Time magazine estimated that as many as 25% of purebred dogs were afflicted with serious genetic problems. |
|
|
Although all 50 states have anti-cruelty laws that should prevent neglect and mistreatment of dogs in puppy mills, such laws are seldom enforced. |
|
|
The worst offending states are; Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. In 1990 the frustrated Humane Society of the United States called for a boycott of puppy buying from these key states. |
|
|
|
According to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council it is estimated that 3,700 of the nation’s 11,500 pet stores are involved in this activity. The shops sell 300,000 to 400,000 puppies a year! |
|
|
|
KMOX News launched "Missouri: The Puppy Pipeline" in December of 2003 as an examination of Missouri's massive dog breeding industry. An estimated third of the puppies sold in the United States come from the state. Deplorable conditions in sectors of the industry have led some to call it the "Puppy Mill Capitol of the Nation". |
|
|
There are thousands of breeders and dealers across the country-in Missouri alone there are an estimated 3,000 dog-breeding operations that generate $2 billion a year.8
The nation’s largest puppy broker is the Hunte Corporation in Missouri, which also exports dogs overseas.9
The company has been linked to numerous negligent pet stores and breeders and has sponsored American Kennel Club (AKC) meetings.10
The USDA has loaned the company more than $4 million for expansion and upgrades in the last three years-taxpayer money used to bring more misery to dogs and puppies.11 |
|
Source- HelpingAnimals.com resources link-
http://www.awarenessday.org/helpinganimals.htm
12/5/05
Footnotes for article exerpt-
8) Pamela Selbert, “Activist Set to Hit the Road Again to Fight Puppy Mills,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 2 May 2002.
9) “USDA Approves Loan to McDonald County K-9 Distributor Blunt Announces,” Blunt news release, 5 Sep. 2001.
10) American Kennel Club, “AKC Statement on Relationships With High Volume Kennels,” 2003.
11) Shaffer. |
|
