Help Fight Lancaster PS Puppy Mills

[dutchman]

Georgett originally tried to post some important informaiton but evidently ran into a few problems . Here are the correct web links:

HUA Anti Mill Link: www.hua.org/Prison/PAmills.html (http://www.hua.org/Prison/PAmills.html)

Hewpaper Link: http://www.lancnews.com/intell/letter.htm
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I tried to submit this to "rescue" several times but my links get messed up - if you can fix it, would you guys just put it there?
Thanks, Georgette
Lee Wheeler of Hearts United for Animals - the best animal advocacy shelter in the world - is asking for help to HALTthe influx of puppymills into Lancaster Penn. Yes those sweet Amish folks of fair fame know how to make a buck when out of the public eye - I'll send them a hex sign all right. Anyway Lee is deeply entrenched in local legislative red tape and needs our help. We need to send more letters - yes they do take awhile for most of us to write - hey with practice we'll get better, right?

The following link includes details:
[/URL]
Also, to write an editorial to the newspaper, go to:
[url=http://]http://www.lancnews.com/intell/letter.htm
Be sure to include your phone number because they check before they include the letter - they called me just today!
Also send hard copies to Lee because she is not allowed to introduce email at the hearings.
Bless you, Georgette



<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by dutchman on November 26, 2000 at 08:04 PM</font>

[Roxane]

Georgette, will do sometime before the day is over.
Thanks,
Roxane, G & B, S & B

[Tryergirl]

Would someone who writes a letter post the text of their letter here? I want to get more involved in this type of stuff.. but I'm not sure what to say.. I want to see what someone else would send for some inspiriation.

Thanks!

-TG

[georgette]

Dear Editor,

I am a high school teacher at nearby Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Flemington, New Jersey. I have been watching the influx of puppymills into Lancaster County with growing dismay.

Surely the citizens of Lancaster County must be aware that the mill "industry" flourishes by virtue of dog abuse that no respectable breeder would tolerate. Dogs who are doomed to live in a puppymill just might get to see grass from their tiny, crowded wire cage; but never in their lifetime do they get to touch it. Minimum shelter, nutrition, veterinary care, and emotional well being are ignored. Puppymills restrain dogs in tiny cages that cause many injuries to those trying to claw their way out. Ironically these dogs are so traumatized by the need for emotional warmth that their handlers would need to purposely avoid any signs of caring even if they were so inclined. Why? Because these dogs are so injured by deprivation that they become vicious between themselves when a morsel of human touch is offered. Although they are crowded by other desperate souls, each little life is imprisoned by their own lonely despair.

Enough. Please clearly hear that so long as Lancaster County welcomes the business of puppymills, it WILL NEVER experience the trade of those like me, who value the voiceless members of our nation. Furthermore I will continue to educate as I do now in opposition this tragic disgrace.

Respectfully,

[georgette]

.<FONT COLOR="Yellow">Now this letter to the "King" guy might be a teeny bit strong at the end (he-he):</FONT c>
I won't use the emotional arguments of animal advocates as I imagine these
would fall on deaf ears. (Speaking of deafness, do you know the percentages
of defects such as hearing loss, blindness, and other physical deformities that are suffered by animals who inhabit mills?)

I will simply inform that I will continue to educate youngsters and adults alike to oppose ANY businesses enterprise in a county that admits questionable "breeders". I will continue to express these truths publicly
and in editorial remarks to the press. Furthermore I will strive for legislation to prevent the perpetuation of this national disgrace.

I understand that your children tend to the dogs. Aren't you concerned about the inhumane message that you are instilling into them? Don't you care that you are abusing your own children by forcing them to partake in a barbaric endeavor?

On a personal level I find my intellect intrigued. What must it feel like
to be you - to actually inhabit your mind and soul? Isn't it scarey to know how decent people react to you and not to understand? Don't you lay awake at night in a kind of cold sweat, pondering about the nature of your derangement? I feel so blessed not to be you

[Wienergal]

Tryergirl, a little advice from a former writing teacher: When writing a letter of this type, say exactly what is in your heart, and you simply can't get it wrong!

--Pamela

[Penny's Aunt]

To the Amish, dogs are just another crop, like cows & pigs, just another source of income.

[Augie Dog]

Penny's Aunt is correct, the dogs are livestock. They can get more money out of milling than on hogs or cows. There is less overhead to keep and less cost to run the operation.

They rasie veal calf in the dark and closed quarter, but the dogs will eat less, not take up as much space as a cow and will bring A LOT more money. No wonder the mills are big here.

I am suprised that the county government is allowing some public outrage to reach the press with out a fight. The number one income for the county is tourism, number two is ag production. Amish play big in both. Start bashing the Amish and you are hurting the major industries in Lancaster County. Then again if enough noise is made, the county will have to act or loose $$$$$$$$$$$$

[Rosalyn]

Wow, I think Fritz came from eastern PA. And the registation papers sounded like amish names. I always thought he might be a puppy mill puppy. That was Feb 18,1991 when we got him from a pet shop in Altoona. At $300 a lot of money for a pet. But, now they are $700 plus in Johnstown, Pa. In the mall. Wow, he has hip troubles and is very tempermental. Not like me I'm just mental. No really I knew this was going on. They also grow and sell tobacco but, will not use it. They want the cash. And they have a lot of it. They come to Morrison's Cove and pay cash for farms $200,000 and up.
The Word of God doesn't say be kind to animals. But, as Christians you think they would know better. Christ would go after one sheep if it was lost and leave the whole flock!

[Mandy]

Actually the Amish are not Christians. The Amish broke away from Judaism a long time ago. Not that this really matters. It's disgusting and horrible how they treat these poor creatures. I live in the next county from Lancaster (in Centre County), so hopefully we can help put a stop to some of this...or at least try to end a small corner of it......Bart and I spent an hour this morning explaining to some people about the horrors of puppy mills...I hope it doesn't fall on deaf ears.....keep up the fight everyone!

[Rosalyn]

Oh Wow,
You think the Amish are not Christians? Oh well, all the books I have studied on them they are. And are not to come apart and seperate into the world. Mean materialistic society. However, as we see the all mighty dollar is indeed at work here. At the very high cost of precious little puppies. And it will only get worse. As I have seen that the high demand for purebreed dogs is still at work. Then they will continue. What is the law that shows that you can't have X amount of litters a year? Our poor state will not even have a dog law officer in our county. Our dog law officer for Bedford County PA has to serve more than one county. Who would be the person or persons to check on such conditions? I do suppose they have specialised personal who opperate on the state level. The same as the ones who have to inspect and keep humane society's and state licensed kennel operator's inspected. Where are the dollars for this task? Puppy mills will continue to operate as long as the people like me who bought a puppy from a pet shop still exist. Now I know better. Our long haired mini came from a local breeder. And when the time comes I will look again for a local breeder. And that will mean patience to wait. Or better yet. Try to find one to rescue. It is a touchy subject when so many half breeds are put down every day. We even neutered our pure doxie. And spayed the girl. If someone could make up a sample of a letter for our legislatures, and send it to all the web members here. Then we could copy and sign and mail to Harrisburg,PA. It might help. I mean I hope it would help. My husband works for the State in the Highway Dept. and they cut back and cut back.

[TessieMom]

I would like to echo the fact that Amish are indeed Christian. "The Amish Faith had its start in Switzerland and was founded by Jakob Ammon. He and a small number of people became dissatisfied with the worldliness of the parent Mennonite Church. It was their wish to live a more strict and simple life; therefore they formed together as a group who rejected wars, materialism and frivolity." My mother's family was Mennonite and I suspect that they would be deeply offended by anyone thinking that they were not Christian. They tended to be farmers and came from the region between France and Germany. Most Amish and Mennonite families I have met have had a deep and sincere respect for the earth and all living things. However, as in any group of people, there are folks who become greedly or who, when facing the need to feed their family, may resort to rejecting their normal system of values. What I am trying to say is that we should not judge all Amish by those who operate puppymills. Rena

[Mandy]

I apologize if I offended anyone. The Amish individuals I have spoken with have told me that the Amish religion was a form of Judaism. I did not mean to infer that they are a cult or anything of the sort....I apologize for may inaccurate information and ignorance. Please let it be known now that I respect everyone's decision to follow whatever religion or lack there of that they so choose and would never knowingly provide inaccurate information. I respect everyone's right to their religion or lack there of and expect the same respect for my religion. I have studied several religions in-depth, including Christianity, but have never studied the Amish society....I was only going on information given to me by a few Amish (who for all I know may have different beliefs). So, again I apologize publicly and hope that there are no hard feelings...and I hope that no one feels that non-Christians, whether they be Jewish, Buddhist, or any other religion, are offensive or lacking in comparison.

[Mandy]

According to the AKC, anyone who has more than a certain number of litters per year (I believe last time I checked it was seven) and registers then with the AKC must be checked out. However, as we all know from watching the Dateline special....it doesn't really matter if they are checked out when the inspector walks through with his/her eyes closed!

[wireweiners]

In the past 15 years or so AKC has upped the requirements for record keeping and identification of dogs kept for breeding. AKC inspections are to see if records and id's are properly kept, not kennel conditions but if the conditions are inhumane they can place sanctions on the breeders and will report them to the local authorities. Also if a mill doesn't care enough to provide proper care for their dogs, their records aren't likely to be up to snuff either. AKC has also recently added a requirement that all males that sire over 7 litters a year be DNA typed. Because of the additional requirements and increased inspection by AKC, many puppy mills are going to "alternative" registries created by puppy millers for puppy millers. Registries like the Continental Kennel Club, World Kennel Club, etc. are puppy mill registries. The AKC, UKC, FCI, and Canadian Kennel Club are the most reputable registration agencies.