Forwarded message:

Dear Animal Advocates,
 

As all of you may recall, the Gorham, NY Town Board voted unanimously on March 21 to adopt a one year moratorium on new puppy mills in that community. The adopted resolution, that is listed on the town’s website, gave this heroic town board a chance to review zoning and ordinances for what they will do in response to any future commercial dog breeding operations aka inhumane PUPPY MILLS.
Listening to an outraged community and after two public hearings voicing strong opposition, the town said no to puppy mills for one year.
Well, since that glorious victory, a “committee” including 4 Mennonite farmers (obviously biased on this matter) has been formed to evaluate what the future holds for Gorham post-moratorium and its single puppy mill applicant, Curtis Martin.  Martin, also a Mennonite, is a notoriously inhumane breeder as evidenced by his past inspections and is currently operating a huge puppy mill near Seneca Lake where he rents his property and soon must vacate.  I have recently received information from various sources that the Gorham is going to lift the moratorium SOON and give the OK to Martin (and who knows who else?) to start his breeding factory in Gorham. 
 

It’s less than 2 months and it’s been said this decision is due to representation of outraged Mennonites on this committee and other NYS Mennonite puppy millers claiming the cruelty of puppy mills is all “propaganda” and they are nothing but responsible dog breeders!  We ALL know this couldn’t be further from the truth! 
 

Please call and/or write to Gorham Town Supervisor, Fred Lightfoote and the Planning Board Officer, Gordon Freida to tell them to honor their community’s demand that no puppy mills be built in Gorham and going backward on their vote is irresponsible and outrageous, esp. in light of the very brief period of time that have given for evaluation and the people’s plea.  We MUST let them know that these puppies are being sold on the Internet and in pet stores without regard to health issues and that the breeding parents are inhumanely caged for life, among other atrocities.  Please go to www.citizensagainstpuppymills.org to learn all the facts on puppy mill cruelty to respond responsibly to Gorham.  
 

Here are the emails and phone numbers. PLEASE– call, call, call, write, write, write!!!   
 

Fred Lightfoote, Gorham Town Supervisor
Phone: (585) 526-5231
Fax: (585) 526-4799
Email: flightfoote@gorham-ny.com
 

Gordon Freida, Building & Zoning Officer
Phone: (585) 526-5479
fax: (585) 526-4799
email: GordonFreida@gorham-ny.com
 

 Gratefully,
 Lorry Schlick
 President, NYS Citizens Against Puppy Mills
 www.citizensagainstpuppymills.org

A Kathleen Lowson Film

‪http://www.cryoftheinnocent.com/‬

A spiritual and psychological study of the human condition, this precedent-setting documentary film will awaken consciousness, with its center on the fur trade as a paradigm of a more expansive nemesis permeating our world.

Update: Laguna Beach Passes Ordinance

Publication/Event date: 2012-05-01

Publication name: Puppy Mill Mom

URL for more info: http://puppymillmom.blogspot.com/2012/05/companion-animal-protection-society.html

Summary:
Laguna Beach City Council Members, The Companion Animal Protection Society (www.caps-web.org) is a national, non-profit organization that exclusively investigates pet factories, puppy mills and pet stores. We have a national record of success exposing commercial breeding operations that violate federal and state laws. Our investigations and direct action campaigns have led to the ordinances that ban the sale of puppy mill dogs and cats you see being passed throughout California. We assisted the cities of West Hollywood and Glendale in the drafting of their ordinances. The Los Angeles ordinance, which is in the works, is based on the evidence from our investigations and our recommendations.

Continue reading…

Publication/Event date: 2012-04-30

Publication name: Seattle Dog Spot

URL for more info: http://www.seattledogspot.com/blog/2012/04/30/puppy-mills-ad#comment-7696

Summary:
I like this video from the Companion Animal Protection Society, not because it’s using a model as a spokesperson, but because it offers a straightforward, easy to understand explanation of why people shouldn’t buy pet store puppies without using gory, disturbing pictures.

Continue reading…

Publication/Event date: 2012-04-26

Publication name: Puppy Mill Mom

URL for more info: http://puppymillmom.blogspot.com/2012/04/chris-brown-selling-pit-bulls.html

Summary:
Watch Carole Raphaelle Davis, West Coast Director of The Companion Animal Protection Society on CNN with Jane Velez-Mitchell talking about Chris Brown and his selling of pit bulls on-line.

Continue reading…

More than 25 protesters showed up to participate in a CAPS –sponsored protest of Puppy Town in Sarasota on Sunday, April 15.  Puppy Town, which also has a store in Tampa, buys dogs from puppy mills in the Midwest that have serious violations of the Animal Welfare Act and from an Internet seller in Georgia who does not have a USDA license.  ABC Sarasota and Sarasota News Network (SNN) covered the protest.  CAPS has started a pet shop campaign in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, which includes trying to get ordinances passed in both counties that would ban the sale of pet shop puppies and kittens.  CAPS is hoping to get Benderson Development, which owns shopping centers around the country, including two that have Petland franchises in Sarasota and Bradenton, to go humane, following the lead of the Irvine Company and Macerich Corporation.

Watch the SNN coverage of the protest:

Thanks to CAPS West Coast Director Carole Davis for not only presenting our investigation but recommending that the city introduce an ordinance!
Publication/Event date: 2012-04-17

Publication name: CBS Los Angeles

URL for more info: http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/04/17/la-city-council-moves-forward-on-banning-pet-sales/

Summary:
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The L.A. City Council voted Tuesday in favor of banning stores from selling dogs, cats and rabbits that are not rescues in an effort to curb the city’s animal euthanasia rates.

Eleven members of the council approved the motion, which will be drafted by the City Attorney’s Office into an ordinance banning pet sales. Councilman Bill Rosendahl cast the dissenting vote.

Continue reading…

Publication/Event date: 2012-04-16

Publication name: ABC 7/MySuncoast.com

URL for more info: http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/local/story/Protesters-gather-outside-pet-store-in-Sarasota/R5SBO8K21UOujU-b7Y_Fbw.cspx

Summary:
SARASOTA – A Suncoast pet store owner is fighting back against demonstrators.

People protested outside a pet store called “Puppy Town” on Sunday. They say the store on U.S. 41 in Sarasota gets dogs from puppy mills and that the store supports animal cruelty.

Continue reading…

Who: Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS)
Deborah Howard, Founder and President of CAPS
Howard founded CAPS in 1992 and is devoted to the protection of companion animals. She is a frequent guest speaker on the topic and has been featured on Animal Planet, CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX.
CAPS is the only national non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy mills.
www.caps-web.org

What: CAPS will kick-off the first in a series of protests against Puppy Town in Sarasota to draw awareness to the connection between pet shops and puppy mills.
Almost all pet shops obtain dogs from puppy mills.

When: Sunday, April 15, 2012 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm ET

Where:
Puppy Town
4045 S Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34231

Why: Puppy Town sells dogs from puppy mills – commercial breeding facilities that mass-produce puppies for resale through pet shops and brokers. USDA licensed facilities are puppy mills.

Puppy Town is linked to several breeders with multiple violations and one unlicensed online seller – which by law cannot sell to pets shops without a USDA license. The pet shop frequently buys from puppy mills from states like Iowa, Missouri and Georgia.

Some of the complaints describe in detail instances of gross neglect, inadequate veterinary care, lack of basic cleanliness, and in some instances animal abuse. A long list of customers complain of sickly dogs who had chronic illnesses that were contracted before purchase. It is important for the public to know the risk of buying a puppy mill dog and the cruel system they’ll be sponsoring if they buy a puppy in Puppy Town.

How: CAPS wants to alert consumers to the problems associated with purchasing puppies from pet shops. At these peaceful protests, CAPS will distribute fact sheets on pet shops and where to adopt in the Sarasota area and CAPS brochures. CAPS protestors along with concerned, local residents want Puppy Town to convert to a humane business model that dogs from local shelters, especially kill facilities, rather than from puppy mills.

A message from CPRPets:

When It Comes to Protecting Animals,
Your Silence Is Not Golden

These Devocalized Dogs–and Others At Risk For It–
Need You to Be Their Voice Against This Cruelty!

Please Watch, “Like,” and Share Their 2-Minute Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI-2M_vxerQ

Online Petitions Won’t End Devocalization.
Here’s What You Can Do–In 5 Minutes or Less.

Live in New York State? An all-volunteer network of animal lovers in Massachusetts passed a state law banning devocalization of dogs and cats (yes, it’s done to cats too!). Learn how you can pass a similar law in NYS by making 2 quick, easy calls:

http://nyagainstdevocalization.weebly.com/act-now-to-ban-devocalization-in-ny.html