Airline’s Puppy Deaths Spark Debate about Commercial Breeders

[Ladysmom]

Airline’s Puppy Deaths Spark Debate about Commercial Breeders


http://www.aspca.org/news/news-alert-images/puppy-3.jpg As animal lovers become more aware that purchasing a dog from a pet store supports the inhumane practices of puppy mills, commercial breeders are using online sources to get their dogs directly into homes across the country.
On August 3, seven puppies died of suspected heat-related complications in the cargo hold of a plane en route from Tulsa, OK, to Chicago, IL. The victims were seven of 14 pups transported by the airline, and reportedly came from a commercial breeder in Oklahoma—many of the puppies were booked on connecting flights, making it likely that they were purchased online by buyers in different cities.
“Puppy mill operators are creating professional looking websites that convincingly dupe consumers into thinking they are reputable breeders,” says Cori Menkin, ASPCA Senior Director of Legislative Initiatives. “A sure way to spot a scam is that they often offer to ship the dogs to the buyer without ever meeting in person. No reputable breeder would ever ship a puppy to a buyer sight unseen.”
Buying a puppy over the Internet is just as risky as buying from a pet store—you can’t see the puppy’s breeding premises or meet his parents. Furthermore, those who sell animals online are not held to regulations established by the Animal Welfare Act.
“The Animal Welfare Act requires breeders to be licensed and meet specific minimum standards of care for animals bred for resale, but a loophole allows puppy breeders who sell directly to the public—which includes over the Internet—to go unregulated,” says Menkin. “They are able to keep inspectors away and operate without being accountable to anyone.”
“The bottom line is the only way to be sure your new puppy isn't a product of cruel and inhumane conditions is to see for yourself where he lives—visit the breeder’s facilities and meet the puppy’s parents,” Menkin states. “Or better yet, adopt from your local shelter.”
For more information on the risks associated with buying a puppy in a pet store or online, please visit our online Puppy Mill campaign. __________________

[MalteseJane]

I might be opening a can of worm, but aren't there reputable breeders who ship too ? that's what I understood from reading in this forum.

[janettandamber]

My 3 came from very reputable breeders, Pashes, Laureal, and were shipped to me sight unseen, so breeders do ship even reputable ones.

[MaryH]

Yes, reputable breeders do ship ... and that's the problem with articles like this ... they start out pretty good but then lose their credibility when they make statements that just aren't true.

[michellerobison]

The real blame in the end is the airlines and how they handled the puppies.It was flippin' hot so why did they keep those poor babies in that heat? I was travelling that same week they died and I can tell you it was just horrible hot.
Whether or not breeders or greeders ship puppies via the airlines isn't the issue,it was the airline's fault they died,pure and simple.

[MaryH]

Originally Posted by michellerobison

The real blame in the end is the airlines and how they handled the puppies.It was flippin' hot so why did they keep those poor babies in that heat? I was travelling that same week they died and I can tell you it was just horrible hot.
Whether or not breeders or greeders ship puppies via the airlines isn't the issue,it was the airline's fault they died,pure and simple.

[MalteseJane]

Originally Posted by michellerobison

The real blame in the end is the airlines and how they handled the puppies.It was flippin' hot so why did they keep those poor babies in that heat? I was travelling that same week they died and I can tell you it was just horrible hot.
Whether or not breeders or greeders ship puppies via the airlines isn't the issue,it was the airline's fault they died,pure and simple.

[njdrake]

Originally Posted by michellerobison

The real blame in the end is the airlines and how they handled the puppies.It was flippin' hot so why did they keep those poor babies in that heat? I was travelling that same week they died and I can tell you it was just horrible hot.
Whether or not breeders or greeders ship puppies via the airlines isn't the issue,it was the airline's fault they died,pure and simple.

I completely agree!

[Ladysmom]

Originally Posted by michellerobison

The real blame in the end is the airlines and how they handled the puppies.It was flippin' hot so why did they keep those poor babies in that heat? I was travelling that same week they died and I can tell you it was just horrible hot.
Whether or not breeders or greeders ship puppies via the airlines isn't the issue,it was the airline's fault they died,pure and simple.

Of course the airlines is responsible for the death of the puppies and of course reputable show breeders ship their puppies.

The ASPCA used this tragedy as a teachable moment to raise awareness that puppy mills operators sell puppies over the internet to unsuspecting buyers who are fooled by a professional website. The article was directed at a less knowledgeable buyer (unfortunately probably the majority).

The members here are much smarter and more educated about puppy mills, brokers, etc, but we still get newbies who bought puppies off puppyfind, etc. only to find out later on that their puppy came from a puppy mill. Internet puppy sales are not regulated so it's important to take every opportunity to warn potential buyers, even a tragedy like this.