Animal News January 26, 2011

Junie chilling in her morning spot

Like my hair?  I don't know if you can see it or not, but mom braided it to show dad that I am in serious need of some grooming again.  He didn't take the hint yet.  I actually don't mind the braid.  Much better than a pony tail sticking off the top of my head.  I mean seriously, why do that to a dog?  She says it's so I can see.  I say it's so they can laugh at me.

On to some animals who need our awareness:

Missouri Woman Could Lose Dogs Due to Over-Crowding There are some thoughts on this subject in the comments.  I'll let you weigh in on it.
Animal hoarding uncovered Mom's definition of animal hoarding doesn't revolve around numbers but about around a person's ability to care for their animals.  She knows people have 20 big parrots who all receive excellent nutrition, care, exercise, love, etc and she knows of those who have only 2 cats and/or dogs and don't take care of them at all.  We have 7 birds and me and we all taken care of and loved immensely.
What Is An Animal Hoarder?  Good article.  They feel the same way mom does.
Bozrah woman faces animal cruelty charges I think this shows the definition of hoarding perfectly.  It's sad.  The city payed to have 3 tons of trash removed.  Feces, flea infested.  So sad.
Shelter owner pleads innocent to animal cruelty 4 were saved.  21 weren't. :(
Animal cruelty: S.C. woman tortures, hangs pit bull dog for chewing Bible It's a good thing she didn't have Twinkle.  Look at what she did to mom's book:

Mom saved the ballet book before it was destroyed. That's a special book.
That's not the first book Twinkle has destroyed.

In all seriousness though.  That is really really sad.
Foreclosure horror: home filled with dead pets 30 animals not saved
Ohio woman arrested after dog froze to death outside Another death that never should have happened. Mom takes me out for 2 minutes max in this weather.  I hate the cold.  I do my thing or I don't and I run to the door to go back in.  Why did she leave them outside?
Man Arrested For Allegedly Beating Puppy To Death It is hard to read these articles all the time but people need to know what is going on so that there are tougher laws, so that people fight for those who don't have a voice of their own.
Puppy Mill Dogs Up For Adoption They were saved.  Now they need families.
Effort to repeal Missouri dog breeding law begins Come on Missouri.  You just put a decent law in place for these dogs.  Are you really going to take a step backwards instead of forward?
Local Organizations Honor National Spay and Neuter Month in February I'm spayed!  Are your pets?
Caledon woman pleads guilty to animal cruelty  I hate that they had to go through what they did but it is so good to post another They Were Saved post!
Government blind to animal suffering Mom loves articles that say that parrots were saved.  She loves all They Were Saved articles, but you always hear about the dogs and the cats.  All animals are subject to situations like this including parrots.  She has seen some parrots at rescues that have come out of the most deplorable hoarding situations where they are missing wings, legs, eyes.  It is terrible for every animal.
Reward Offered For Information On Pitbull One was saved, one wasn't.
Schneider: Dead dog, Lansing-area cases of brutality shocking Some story as previous article with more details.
Tumbler Ridge man given 10-year ban on owning animals Whose side to you believe?
Virginia Gambriel, pet and human hoarder, charged with 75 counts of animal abuse And she just keeps doing it.
Former Warfordsburg man fined $2,500 for 832 pig deaths Somehow the punishment doesn't fit the crime here.
Colorado Legislators Consider Ban on Steer Tailing You know, I know rodeos are a huge part of western American history and mom has even enjoyed a few in her younger days but we would be glad to see the more inhumane parts of it go.
Puppy Slaughter: A Police Prerogative Mom loves all animals but she would do anything to protect her children or me.  Enough said.
Local rescue group takes in 16 puppies They were saved!
Casablanca Hotel Caught Trapping Miami Beach Cats, At Least Eight Euthanized Utah - Miami, what's next?
Undercover work brings down large puppy mill Totally agree with the author, puppy mills need to be brought down.
Puppy, Wishbone, Zafaria, Duke, and the Paula Malatesta Pack are our January 23, 2011 Pups of the Week I love Miss Paula.  She saves all she can.

Junie says to check out: Rescued: Saving Animals from Disaster

Animal News January 23, 2011

Junie hanging in her favorite spot

That picture of me is me in my favorite spot.  It drives mom crazy.  She's worried I'll get burned on it.  She moves my bed farther away and I just get into the space between the radiator and my bed.  If she moves my bed against it, I move my bed away so I can get back in there and stay really warm.

Did you know that the Chinese royalty used to use Chinese Cresteds as their own personal heating pads? It's true.  Read a little bit about us here.  It is also claimed that we can be used to cure arthritis (by using us as a heating pad).  We have no problem with this as it gives us a chance to snuggle with our human.  There's nothing we like more than being with our human.  Mom looks at the rescued Chinese Crested sites sometimes (because she'd like to rescue a friend for me when they buy a house) and almost every description describes the dog as a shadow or Velcro dog.  Mom laughs because that's exactly what she calls me.  It's true.  I doubt there is another breed of dog that likes to be with their human more than we do.

Note:  Mom would like to disagree with that second link that claims that we don't like to bark loudly or often and that we don't make good guard dogs.  I bark loudly and often, especially when I hear the kids moving when they shouldn't be.  I may not be a huge guard dog, but I make an excellent watch dog.  I watch from under the bed while I'm barking.

On to some animal news:

US man spends month in lions’ den to raise cash Wouldn't catch me in there.  Do you agree it's exploitive?
Should UBC experiment on monkeys? Should they?
Shielo: Cruelty Free Hair Mom loves finding new products that are cruelty free.
Another Case of Animal Abuse in Lansing Poor pit.  Mom loves the saying at the top of that blog.
West Side Woman Charged With Animal Cruelty After being charged before, why does she own more animals?
450 Horses Near Death I wish we had the money to feed them all. :(
Investigators have good leads in dog-abuse case I hope they catch the person.
Reward Increased In Dead Dog Case Disgusting.
Thomas faces huge fine for animal cruelty 722 counts of animal cruelty.  Why do people not take care of that which they have made a commitment to by bringing them under their care?
31 dead animals found in Granite Falls home It's hard to read all of this stuff all the time, but awareness needs to be made so people will help those who can't help themselves.  It's so sad.
Dog Auctions Very good article.  Such sad pictures.
What to do about “hell-hole” puppy mills? Another good article.
Arrest made after dog survives shooting in parking lot Really?  Someone else's dog is in their truck and you shoot it?  Where is the common sense here?
Can you spot pet abuse? Good article
Peacock Killer Found Not Guilty of Cruelty Go ahead and do what you want to peacocks in Hawaii.  They won't convict you of animal cruelty.  Especially if you plan on eating it after you bludgeon it to death.
Police say student killed mice for an art project, charged with animal cruelty Label it art, I guess. Gross.
Shafter High School Students Say Animal Cruelty Happens Often This is from mom - next generation of serial killers coming right up.  You know they say most serial killers started out abusing animals than moved on to humans.
Rep. Curt Oda received threats over animal cruelty bill, police say To answer violence with violence is not the solution here.
Brooklyn Couple Allegedly Hoarded, Abused Dozens Of Cats I'm not a cat friendly type of dog but even I'm against abusing cats.
Is E-Bay selling Blood Pups? I agree.  I hate that Ebay classifieds allows people to sell animals.
We must outlaw roadside pet sellers. Will the world ever be a safe place for animals?
Ebay Classifieds Gives Puppy Mills a Platform Another Ebay Classifieds article.

Junie says to check out: Chinese Crested Dog Design Messenger Bag (only because mom wants it herself.)

I Found Someone Else I Like

Watching TV With The Youngest Girl

I've spent the last month following mom around, never letting her out of my site, not paying much attention to anyone else in the family.  Now, now I love The Littlest Girl too!  When I can see mom and know she is within helping me if I need her, I go to the littlest girl and paw at her until she starts to give me belly rubs.  I chase around her in circles so she will play with me.  I just adore her.  She really is a nice little girl.

I've also found new toys.  I love dry leaves.  They are so fun to run and chase and hop on!  They just keep blowing and I just keep chasing.

I also found out the wonders of an empty toilet paper tube.  It fits right over my muzzle and is so much fun to flip around and throw!  I have a stash now that mom has set aside for me so I can play to my heart's content.

Let's get to some animals that need attention -

Dog Run Down in CT - Accident or Animal Cruelty - I don't know.  She's been charged with animal cruelty.  Laughing and cheering by the passengers is not right and it seems to me if you hit a dog, you wouldn't drag it 45 feet before stopping.
Woman Charged With Animal Cruelty For Killing Kitten - Disgusting
Pup on mend after scissor torture - Seriously, what is wrong with people?
Horrors of hoarding: Living and dying in chaos, clutter - It's truly sad. Someone died. Animals get hurt all the time from it.
Dogs rescued from puppy mill - They were saved! They all need saved!
Missouri Wants to Keep Puppy Mills in Business, Despite Passing Prop B - one question - why?
Denver Dumb Friends League gets dogs from Missouri puppy mill -  Yay!  They were saved. Even inadvertently because the mill gave them up to be in compliance with Missouri's new laws.
Action urged on puppy sales - We agree.
Deciding Where to Get a Puppy Can Be a Tough Choice - It really isn't that tough.  Don't buy from pet stores who get puppy mill dogs.  And as a former puppy mill dog, I'd like to challenge the author's word of allegedly.
Rescue work reaps remarkable rewards - I think I'm in love.

Junie Says To Check Out: Rescue Matters: How to Find, Foster, and Rehome Companion Animals: A Guide for Volunteers and Organizers

I'm A Teacher

Kind of blurry, forgot the flash. Junie snoozin'

At least today I was a teacher.  My mom took me outside to go to the bathroom after the kids got home from school.  There were a few kids outside that started running towards me.

Mom picked me up and when they asked if they could pet me she said, hold out your hand and let her decide.  Honestly, I didn't want anyone to pet me.  New people make me nervous.  I start to shake and mom can tell how I'm feeling.

She explained that I was nervous.  That before I came to their house people weren't very nice to me and that I was hurt a lot.  It takes me a bit to feel ok around new people.

One of the little boys said, does that mean she was bullied?

Mom looked at the little boy in amazement.  Exactly!  That is exactly what it means.  Junie was bullied by someone who was bigger than her, someone who liked to hurt her.  Animals don't like to be bullied any more than kids do.  You don't like to be bullied do you? All answered no.

Mom said then think about Junie when someone makes you mad.  Think about how she must have felt to have someone bigger than her picking on her and hurting her.  Think about that before you ever pick on anyone else.

Maybe they will, maybe they won't.  Hopefully it will stick with them though.  It usually disgusts and saddens decent people when they see my jaw and hear what happened to me.  (Not disgusted about my jaw, disgusted over how I was treated.  Mom said my jaw doesn't distract from my beautiful-ness at all, and I agree.)

That's what my story is here for.  To help animals and people.  To teach humans what happens to dogs like me and hope that it touches their heart and maybe changes the way they do things. (ie: bullying other kids in this case, not buying from pet stores that get their dogs from puppy mills, etc.)

Junie says to check out: Stop Bullying Bobby!: Helping Children Cope with Teasing and Bullying

Recent News Stories

Junie, mom, and one of The Birds

Life has been good, eating, sleeping on someone's lap, getting belly rubs to my heart's content, and yes, the dreaded going outside in the cold.  Not even my shivering will make my mom take pity on me and let me go in the girls' room to use the bathroom.

That being said, I thought I would focus on some animals that need the attention more than I do today.

(Don't mind the silly bird in the photo - and sorry it's blurry, cell phone pic - Twinkle kept flying to mom's head when she was trying to get a picture of us together.  Then I wanted to see what Twinkle was doing and we couldn't get a decent picture.  I'll show you the other shots after the news articles.)

• Appalling Animal Abuse and Food Safety Threats at Top Egg Producer This made mom sick to read.  She couldn't bring herself to watch the video.  She could only imagine the horrors she would see.
• Wiregrass teens faces felony animal abuse charge in dog beating He was saved, then he was gone.  That poor puppy.
  
• Dogfighting and Cockfighting Media Sold on Amazon Amazon has been selling some very questionable stuff lately.  It makes my mom want to cancel our affiliate account.  They recently took down a controversial book and mom is happy about that (but there are others that are similar), but do they leave these up under people's first amendment rights?  Or do they take it down as something that incites illegal acts? Another article on this subject.
  
• 'No-Kill' Facilities Contribute to Animal Hoarding I'm wondering how you feel about this one.  In a way, it is true.  That being said, there are rescues that do very thorough background checks, visiting homes, etc of potential people who will adopt a pet.  I truly feel this should happen for all adopters.  More work, I'm sure. More money, maybe?  But will that animal keep showing up over and over again at one rescue, then at another, than at your local ARL where they will be euthanized? (At least the Iowa ARL euthanizes animals.)
  
• Woman fined $225 for dyeing pooch's paws pink On this one, I have to say, probably harmless.  I'd much rather have had my paws dyed pink than my jaw broken.  That's just me though.
  
• House votes on bill to stop animal 'crush videos' I didn't even know there was such a thing.  Humans can be so evil.
  
• Petitioners pushing to ban Ohio dog auctions Puppy mills, auctions, and all of that stuff is evil. 'nuf said.
  

Takes 54 and 55

Junie says to check out: Beyond Closed Doors: Science, Ethics and Politics of Farm Animal Welfare

How Badly Was I Abused

Junie sleeping on mom

My mom said she would like to say sorry for not blogging for a couple of days.  She's been busy with The Boys being sick and then there was a bacherlorette party that she would not take me to. She got behind on things and didn't help me blog.

 My dad pointed out something to mom last night, she had already noticed it.  When he put his hand up to pet my head, I flinch away.

Mom noticed when she'd be standing up and bend down to pet me.  I flinch.  I can't help it.  I can't tell them how much I was abused.  I can't communicate that to them.  I wish I could.  I know they wouldn't hurt me, but it's instinct.

Daddy kept petting me saying, nadie te va a pegar, which means nobody is going to hit you. I'm learning Spanish in my new house too.

My mommy and daddy talked about it. They can't understand how anyone could hit an animal, let alone an animal as small as I am.  We know bad things happened to me because of my broken jaw that was never fixed, but they will never know all the bad things that happened to me.  I'm just so happy that they will never happen to me again.

I'll leave you with this clip from the Daily Show the other day.  Please tell me the lady they are interviewing first is not serious?

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Big Red Dogs
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Rally to Restore Sanity

Junie says to check out:  Kids Making a Difference for Animals

It Is Official. I Am Going To Hibernate.

Junie Bee could have her belly rubbed all day

I don't think I went outside much at the puppy mill. I don't remember seeing all this cold and wet and yucky stuff outside before in my life.  I told you the other day that I wasn't crazy about the frost on the ground.  Today when my mommy opened up the sliding glass door I took one look outside and turned right around.  I hopped up in my basket and gave her a look that I thought meant, are you crazy?

Obviously she couldn't read my look.

She picked me up and took me to the porch and said, go potty Junie.

I don't see her stepping off the porch into the cold freezing rain.

I walked back to the door and sat.  Shivering.

She said, Junie, you have to go potty.

I stuck my face up to the door.

She must have gotten the hint that I was not going to go out and get wet and cold.  At least I thought she did.  She picked me up and took me inside.  Then she went out the front door.  Ok, we're good.  Still a roof over our heads.  Then she opened up the big door that leads to the outside.  She sat me down on the sidewalk and said go potty Junie.

That's how I felt about that.  There was no way I was going out in that cold wet stuff.  Nuh-uh.

A man opened the door and looked at my mom.  Then he looked at me and started grinning.  My mom smiled and said, she doesn't want to go potty because it's too cold and rainy.  They had a little laugh and he went off to work.

I don't think it's funny.

After a few moments out there, I realized she was not going to take me back in until I went.  I gingerly picked my way through the stone border in front of the bushes, taking care to stay under the edge of the roof so I wouldn't get wet, and went potty.

Happy?

Not quite.  She said she's going to keep taking me out until I do the other.  No pooping on the carpet she says.

I say pooh on her.  It's cold.

She brought me inside and gave me a good belly rub.  I love having my belly rubbed.  I live for having my belly rubbed.  Then she held me for a long time until I was nice and warm again.

She's going to take me back out.  I know it.

It's too cold out.

She's not sure whether to put one of my raincoats on me so I don't get wet or my winter coat so that I stay warm.  I say neither and we stay inside.

She said it's going to snow overnight, but it's supposed to be just a little.  I should be ok going out to potty in the morning.

Sometimes I think that woman is crazy.

But I love her.

Junie says to check out: Fashion Pet Quilted Dog Parka

Can We Fly South For The Winter?

Junie says the cold is for the birds - the birds disagree.

My mommy took me out to go potty this morning and there was this white cold stuff on the ground.  Mommy said it wasn't snow, it was frost.  I say, I don't know what snow is, but if it's worse than the frost stuff, I'm going the bear route and hibernating for the winter.

When we went out, I bounded out the door like I always do.  When I hit the grass with the frost, I stopped.  I looked at my mommy.  I don't like this.  I gingerly, yet quickly, found my favorite spot to go, went, and jumped onto the cement block border that goes in front of the bushes.  Mommy was wondering if that was all I had to do.  I sniffed around the cement, then went to the sidewalk, no frost there! My mommy said, Junie are you done?  She started laughing when I went from the sidewalk to the cement block border, to the porch, all with out touching the grass again.

She thinks it's funny.  I'd like to see her go out barefoot on the frost.  She had shoes on. I'm a Chinese Crested, I don't have much hair on my feet.  She promised me that she has new boots coming, they were shipped the other day.  The other boots she bought me were way too big and personally, I think bells are for cats.  I don't need little jingly bells following behind me when I'm trying to go.

When we came inside, I hopped up into my daytime napping spot, my basket with all the pillows and fleece blankets piled up. I sat there shivering, hoping she'd get the point.  She did.  She went and got me another fleece blanket and tucked me into my "bed".

I don't plan on going out again.  I'll hold it.

My mommy said she disagrees, I have to go out.  She said if the littlest boy didn't like to play in his own diaper if she doesn't get it off fast enough, she'd get me a puppy pad for the house when it's cold out, but she thinks he will play with that too.

Ew.  I don't even play with poo.  I don't know why he thinks it's so much fun.

Here's a few stories that I tweeted out yesterday that I felt were important:

Chicken Hatchery Hell (Graphic) - Agriculture at it's worst.  We're not vegetarians over here (obviously, I'm a dog), but I've heard my mommy tell people that she has trouble eating meat because of things like this.  She tries to buy only products that were made by companies that treat their animals without cruelty.  It's hard though unless someone is behind the scenes like this.  She's thought about going vegetarian, and she's still thinking about doing it for herself.  She doesn't think daddy would go along with it for the entire family though. This kind of story really bothers her and it bothers me too.  No animal should ever be treated like this, even if it's going to end up as food. :(

Wayne Pacelle Clears Up Misconceptions over Prop B in Missouri - I'm not quite sure how people would misunderstand the law.  It seems clear cut.  But, some people like to twist and deceive for their own good.  It's why I'm glad I'm a dog.  What is.... is.  Black - white.  No need for deception.

Woman to Stand Trial For Cruelty - Cages stacked on top of each other. Flea infested dogs.  Feces. 

Berglund-Fosdick said the paralyzed dog, which was euthanized, had thick, wrinkled and cracked skin that she compared to an elephant, and had suffered chronic fungal disease as well as a raw abdomen from urine.

Sadly, it sounds like what I grew up in.  Except I wasn't paralyzed.  Just had my jaw broken and never fixed.  I made it out.  He didn't. Some did.  They all need saved.

Ohio Teen Beats Baby Alpaca To Death - All I can say is why?  What did that little baby do to deserve that?  Same as the rest of us who were abused.  Nothing.

Burned Puppy Ready For Adoption - Go out and find your forever home little guy!  May your life be full of love and adoration. You deserve it.

More Abandoned Dogs Found Dead - I understand forgetting your pillow, maybe a box of silverware when you move, but your dog?

Animal Abuse Leads To Violent Behavior Against Humans - Really?  You just now realized that the kid who thinks it's funny to put a cat in the microwave on defrost might just grow up to be a serial killer?

Ban On Pet Sales Would Reduce Puppy Mills - Another no brainer to me.  Most pet stores get their puppies/kittens from mills.  No live animal sales in pet stores would obviously lead to a reduction in puppy mills.  Supply and demand.  No demand, no need for the supply.  I like the way the pet store here does it with cats and dogs. They are all rescued animals that need adopted.  Now if they'd stop selling the other animals....

Junie says to check out:  PAWZ Disposable Reusable Boots - 12 Pack Small in Red

(Those aren't the ones I have coming, but mommy says she's ordering me some of these too.  She's heard good things about them keeping dogs' paws dry.)

Just Another Day

Junie and one of The Girls

Just another day is turning into every day and I love it!  I have a full tummy, a warm lap to sleep in, I get to go outside and run around in the sun, I'm clean, I'm healthy, just another day is the most wonderful thing for me now!

One of The Boys (the one who lives down the living room hall) is home sick today.  Mom says he was actually sick yesterday but because he got sick at school he can't go back for 24 hours.  I don't mind him being home.  He's been rubbing my belly all day.  I live for having my belly rubbed.  My mommy said it looks like I'm in a trance when someone rubs my tummy.  All I know is that when my belly is rubbed, I get all sleepy, and my eyes start to close, and my head lays on whoever is rubbing my tummy, and it's just heaven.  Mommy caught a picture of me after he rubbed my belly until I went to sleep last night.

Junie after a good belly rub! The girl gave her the girl's favorite sheep to sleep with.

I thought I would show you some of the stories that I tweeted out yesterday.  You can see my tweets in my left sidebar and you can follow me on Twitter here.

30 dogs rescued from Ohio puppy mill

After being trapped in horrendous conditions, more than two-dozen rescued canines in Cincinnati will soon enjoy a better life.

Junie says:  Those 30 dogs were saved before it was too late!  They all need saved!

24 dogs rescued from a home in La Grande, Ore.

Many of these dogs malnourished, with over grown toe nails, and infections.
Another worry is not knowing how many litters each had. Too many litters can create tumors and other health issues.
"Certainly looks like these females have been breed a number of times, it's hard to say, but that's the typical situation," he adds.

Junie says: I know just what those little dogs went through.  I was in one too.  I hope they all find forever homes with loving families like I did. They all need saved!


Woman arrested for animal cruelty

Upon arrival at the residence, officers found a horse on the property with no food or water, and numerous deceased animals in various stages of decomposition around the property. They also observed dogs, cats, birds and other animals in the residence both inside and outside of cages. All of the animals appeared to be in various stages of neglect, according to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department.
Officers were able to obtain a search warrant and entered the residence to secure the animals, which included dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, parakeets, cockatiels, a chinchilla, a cockatoo, and a rooster.
“At that time, approximately 200 animals were located at the residence and 44 were of those were deceased,” said sheriff’s spokesperson Chris Douglass. “Animal Control took possession of (all) the animals.”

Junie says: Not all were saved, but some were.  Thank you for getting the ones out you could.  They all need saved!

Animal Hero Award Given To Police Detective

Several cases Moscarelli has recently worked resulted in convictions leading to jail time, probation, fines, or some combination. Two were jailed for abandoning dogs in apartments — a not uncommon form of animal neglect/abuse. Another was sent to prison for nine months for kicking a pup to death and another was fined for mistreatment of dozens of farm livestock and poultry, plus forfeiture of the creatures.

Junie says: YAY!  He saves them!!

Puppy Thrower Banned From Owning Pets

Beal  took the puppy home in January this year but  became upset with the pet and threw it  several times against the wall.
The puppy, which had been given to her by a friend, died from its injuries.

Junie says: Why don't they do this more often?  Like to the woman who was found with 25 live cats and 82 dead ones packed into a freezer.

That's just a few of the animal welfare stories that came out (along with others I tweeted).  If you hear of anything, let me know and we'll share it.

Junie says to check out: Why Animals Matter: The Case for Animal Protection

Good News For Dogs In Missouri....Kind Of

Slightly windy out, mom.

     I say kind of because in my mind there is something wrong with that measure passing with only 51% of the vote.  I mean, come on Missouri, normal rational human beings should outnumber evil puppy mill breeders.  Why did that vote not pass with a huge margin?  Have you not been to a puppy mill?  I lived in one.  They are evil, despicable, horrible places.

    But it is good news for the dogs in Missouri.  I heard of a place here in Iowa that had over 250 breeding dogs.  It was filthy and the dogs weren't taken care of and people are STILL working on shutting them down. I have blocked out the conditions of the mill I grew up in and I don't want to remember.      I don't know why someone needs 50 female breeding dogs PERIOD let alone more than that.

    The victory comes in that:

Proposition B, which would take effect in a year, will beef up Missouri's existing laws by restricting commercial breeders to no more than 50 female dogs for breeding, increasing the size of dogs' living spaces and by requiring commercial breeders to have their dogs examined yearly by a veterinarian.

The measure, which applies to operators with more than 10 breeding dogs, also requires the animals to be fed daily and not be bred more than twice every 18 months. Breeders also must house animals indoors with unfettered access to an outdoor exercise yard.

     Now Missouri, it's time to step up and start enforcing that law when it goes into effect.  Though, I'm not sure 15 days in jail and a $300 fine is really a huge deterrent.  Not when one puppy could go for more than that.

     Stay positive here Junie, it's something, it's something.  It's a victory for dogs in that situation.  It's a victory for dogs that are in mills like the one I mentioned above.  The dogs that are still living what I was.

     I think the punishment should have been being made to live in a cage the size of the ones the breeding dogs are kept in with barely room to turn around.  The offender would never be let out to go the bathroom.  He would lay in his own filth for those 15 days, not even close to the length of the sentence I had before someone saved me.  A sentence I served when I had done nothing wrong.  I'm not even saying they should be forced bred time after time after time.  Just the cage and the never getting out and not receiving medical care and not getting enough food, that's enough for me.

    Maybe then, maybe then these evil monsters would know what they do to us dogs/cats/birds/animals might possibly be able to understand what they to do to us.

Missouri, it should have been a landslide vote.

But we'll take what we can get.


Junie says to check out: Saving Gracie: How One Dog Escaped the Shadowy World of American Puppy Mills