A local rescue organization has brought to light the issue of puppy mills operating in Northwest Saskatchewan.
This week is Responsible Dog Ownership Week, and with pet store chains PJ's Pets/ Pets Unlimited and Petland recently opting out of the puppy-selling business, along with last week's rescue of hundreds of dogs from a mass breeding operation in Quebec, the topic of puppy mills is heating up in Canada.
Fortunately, Canadian dog-buyers now have a one-stop online source for learning how to make smart decisions when looking for a new dog. FindingFido.ca was created by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) as part of its program to help pet lovers steer clear of buying puppies that come from shoddy breeders or cruel puppy mills.
"Puppy mills are a big problem in Canada. It seems that every few months we hear about neglected dogs being seized from another inhumane breeding operation," says Barbara Cartwright, the CFHS's chief executive officer. "But we know these cases are only the tip of the iceberg. Puppy mills are often hidden away in rural areas and most go undiscovered."
Dogs in puppy mills are often underfed and kept in filthy, crowded cages, with minimal human contact and little or no veterinary care. Puppies bred in these facilities are sold to pet brokers and pet stores, and through the internet.
"This terrible industry would no longer exist if all dog buyers did their research and insisted on checking out breeders and their facilities before buying from them," says Cartwright. "With FindingFido.ca, we're showing Canadians how to do just that."
Visitors to FindingFido.ca will find essential tools for deciding if, how and where to get a dog, such as:
a quiz to see if they're really ready to own a dog
information about different breeds
a checklist of criteria that can be used to identify a caring, responsible breeder
tips for finding puppies and dogs up for adoption from humane societies, SPCAs and animal rescue groups
"We estimate that 100,000 or more dogs enter Canadian animal shelters every year. Some never get adopted, even though they're perfectly healthy and lovable, and they end up being euthanized," says Cartwright. "I think if most people knew how many pets are in need of homes - and what a great job shelters do making sure those they put up for adoption are healthy and well-adjusted - they would make adoption their first option."
The CFHS's Finding Fido program will run into 2012 and beyond, and is sponsored in part by wireless service provider Fido, Pacrim Hospitality's Purrrfect Place to Paws program and OnCouRSS Web Solutions.
About the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies
The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies is the national voice of humane societies and SPCAs. Since 1957, it has worked on behalf of its member societies to educate Canadians about animal welfare and advocate for the humane treatment of animals in communities, on the farm, in the lab and in the wild. www.cfhs.ca
