[Editor : This is the first of a 3-part series on Animal Welfare by Miradeaux]
Animals are everywhere. A lot of us own them as pets, our beloved dogs, cats, rats, hamsters, fish, and many, many more. Some people even adopt wild animals - there was once a couple who adopted a lion cub!
But have you ever heard of puppy mills? I will not go into too much detail, but a puppy mill is a place where dogs are cruelly treated and forced to mate with each other in order to sell puppies at pet stores and sometimes online. They are very cruel, inhumane, and - legal!
Yes, puppy mills are, indeed, legal. You would think such a thing would be illegal - after all, it’s torture. But in the US (I am unable to speak for other countries) it is still 100% okay (in terms of legality, not morality).
Why do we allow such things to happen to animals? Such things would never be allowed for humans. And it is especially a cruelty in my eyes because there are so many wonderful pets waiting to be adopted from shelters.
Why Shouldn’t Pet Stores Sell Pets?
Have you ever been into a pet store? You likely have. Did you know that the vast majority of pet stores that sell pets will get their animals from cruel places such as puppy mills?
To be blunt, every time someone buys an animal from a pet store that gets their animals from puppy mills (and other such places) that is supporting the puppy mills. And I know that everyone who reads this would never want that! The pet stores trick you into believing they love animals . . . but they don’t.
If you’d like to help, there are so many things you can do. Join the Humane Society’s attempt to prevent puppy mills. Try your hardest to only buy from a pet store that does not sell animals. Try to stop pet stores selling animals. Make your own organization to stop animal cruelty. Because one person CAN make a difference - and I’m not saying that to be cheesy!
(NOTE: I was not trying to place guilt on anybody who shops at pet-selling stores or anyone who has bought a pet from one, I’m just trying to educate.)
