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.
Want to discover the best places to bury a bone? What about tips for licking food off the floor?
You can learn this information, and more, as award winning actor, Taye Diggs, star of ABC’s Private Practice, and dog owner, reads excerpts from ALPO’s first-of-its-kind “Real Dogs Eat Meat” Handbook at a fun and interactive virtual book reading event.
The book takes readers into the hearts, minds and mud-covered “soles” of real dogs - those opposed to doggie spas and designer sweaters - as they share their infinite wisdom about drooling for dinner, scratching wherever it itches and marking their territory. The Real Dogs Eat Meat Handbook is written by 20 “paw-thors” (dog owners and lovers who submitted stories on behalf of their dogs) who won a 2009 national ALPO photo/essay contest.
It’s easy to participate – all you have to do is log onto www.ALPORealDogs.com and register! You will receive reminder emails as the event approaches, and then, on May 19th a 10:00 a.m. EST, they can view the live book reading event, happening in New York City’s Meatpacking District. For more details, please see below:
VIRTUAL EVENT MEDIA ADVISORY
ACTOR TAYE DIGGS HOSTS A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND
VIRTUAL BOOK READING EVENT . . . FOR DOGS!
Real Dogs and Their Owners Invited to Enjoy a Good Dose of
Canine Common Sense from 20 Celebrated “Paw-thors”
- Diggs to Read Excerpts from Newly Released ALPO® Real Dogs Eat Meat Handbook -
WHAT: Real dogs across America and their owners are invited to participate in a first-of-its-kind virtual book-reading event. Hosted by award winning actor and dog lover Taye Diggs, the book reading celebrates the release of the ALPO® Real Dogs Eat Meat Handbook, a how-to manual written by 20 “paw-thors” that is designed to help dogs get back to the business of being dogs. Mr. Diggs will read excerpts from the handbook to an audience of real dogs at an event in the Meatpacking District in Manhattan. The book reading will stream live on www.ALPORealDogs.com so real dogs everywhere can enjoy the mud-covered musings of their canine kin.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 19, 2010
10:00 a.m. EST
WHERE: www.ALPORealDogs.com
KEY VISUALS:
· Actor, TV star and real dog owner Taye Diggs reading to dogs in Meatpacking District of Manhattan
· Dozens of real dogs eagerly listening to the book-reading
· Free downloadable copy of the ALPO Real Dogs Eat Meat Handbook
For more information, contact: Jennifer Newberg, jnewberg@coneinc.com or 617-939-8359.
Austin Lofty Dog will give you more than a penny for your thoughts! Take the Lofty Dog client survey and they'll send you a $5 off coupon for your next visit to the store.
The survey should take you less than five minutes. Also take some time to look at some adorable animals that are adoptable now by visiting our Adoptions page.
Help Us Help Kids With Autism! American Humane desperately needs your help building our Animal-Assisted Therapy Program to address a serious challenge affecting innocent children across the country: autism. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,1 in every 110 kids born in the United States struggles with autism, a developmental disability that often makes communication and interaction with others difficult. These children also face tremendous stress in their daily lives, as they valiantly work to keep up with their peers in the same classrooms. The good news is therapy animals can help kids with autism cope and connect with others! Our Animal-Assisted Therapy Program brings specially trained teams of animals and human volunteers to a variety of settings, including classrooms that serve kids with disabilities. There’s just one problem: The need to serve children with autism is bigger than our program. That’s why your donation to help our Animal-Assisted Therapy Program grow is so critical! Interacting with a friendly, patient therapy animal from time to time is a great way to encourage the development of children with autism -- and relieve stress. Here are just a few examples of how it works:
A Belgian Malinois Inspires a Child With Autism If you have any doubts about helping more kids with autism through animal-assisted therapy, consider the story of Michael* and Jaxon. Michael is a second grader with autism. Jaxon is a big-hearted Belgian Malinois who was adopted by Barbara Weiss, an American Humane volunteer and a school system assistant in special education. Every other week, Barbara brings Jaxon to school to provide animal-assisted therapy to Michael and other children. Communicating is tough for Michael, but he recently surprised everyone by exclaiming, “Jaxon lives with Michael!” He went on to describe how Jaxon was going to sleep on his sofa, and even be carried in Michael’s backpack despite the lovable dog’s huge size! This display of affection and humor may seem like a small thing. But for Michael, it was a tremendous breakthrough. Please donate today so American Humane can bring more kids like Michael and therapy dogs like Jaxon together! *Michael’s story is real, but his name has been changed to protect his privacy. |
Whether you’re celebrating Easter, Passover or the arrival of daffodils, it’s time to show our pets some love by keeping them safe from one of the season’s most popular—and poisonous—plants, the Easter lily. Our feline friends are particularly vulnerable to this arresting flower, which can cause kidney failure within 36 to 72 hours of ingestion.
“All lilies belonging to the plant genus Lilium are highly toxic to cats,” explains Dr. Steven Hansen, Senior Vice President, ASPCA Animal Health Services. “Consuming even small amounts can cause a life-threatening situation.” Common lily varieties that are dangerous for cats include the Easter lily, tiger lily, rubrum lily, Japanese show lily and certain species of daylily.
Don’t know your lily from your laurel? Check out our new Pet Safe app for all of your flower power know-how! Compatible with the iPhone and iPod touch, the app includes a searchable database of plants that are toxic to cats, dogs and horses. It’s now available in the iTunes Store—download it today, and you’ll always have the life-saving information you need right at your fingertips!
For more information about harmful household flowers, check out our online guide to toxic plants. As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.
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This April, the ASPCA invites you to join millions of animal lovers across the country as we celebrate Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. Starting four years ago as a small adoption event in New York City, the ASPCA’s April celebrations have mushroomed into a nationwide observance of the human-animal bond and our victories on behalf of animals. We encourage you to organize a pet parade in your neighborhood, get your town hall to light up in orange, or enter our Go Orange Photo Contestto show your love and support of the furry kind.
Last April was great—let’s make this one even better! Join us for April’s “Go Orange for Animals” campaign, and together we can improve the lives of animals in every corner of the country. Here are some ways you can participate:
Visit ASPCAApril.org for more ways to celebrate Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, and have a happy April!
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Here's the Lofty Dog April newsletter with news of exciting upcoming events (and special savings!) for you and your pet. Don't forget about Woof Wednesdays and be sure to check the website for monthly coupons.
You can keep even more up to date by following them on Twitter.
It’s a big, scary world out there for cats and dogs who are lost and alone, far from home. Even if you think your pet would never run away, the sad fact is that it can happen to anyone. Millions of dogs and cats are taken to animal shelters as strays each year -- but only about 15 percent of dogs and 2 percent of cats without an ID tag or microchip are reunited with their owners. American Humane is celebrating Every Day Is Tag Day this Saturday, April 3, to encourage all pet owners to tag and microchip their companion animals.
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Spring has sprung, and with the change of season, our thoughts inevitably turn to Easter celebrations, spring cleaning and much-needed home improvement projects. But the new balmy weather can prove not-so-sunny for curious pets—or their unwitting parents. Before you embark on seasonal chores or outdoor revelry, take inventory of potential springtime hazards for your delicate, furry friend. To help you out, our ASPCA experts have come up with a few seasonal tips that will help prevent mishaps or misfortunes.
Here’s a sneak peek at Springtime Safety Tips for Pets:
Read our complete article Springtime Safety Tips for Pets, and enjoy a safe and sunny season.
As more and more Americans turn to the Web to find the pet of their dreams, scams have skyrocketed as criminals seek to take advantage of unsuspecting pet parents. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, hundreds of complaints are filed each year by victims who were conned when attempting to buy a dog online.
One potential pet parent, Diane, was hoping to add a Yorkshire Terrier puppy to her family when she spotted a classified ad in her local paper. “It was over my morning coffee that I saw the perfect ad for a Yorkie named Nancy,” says Diane, who lives near Cleveland, OH. She sent an email to the address listed, and immediately received a response—Diane could have the puppy if she promised her a loving home and sent $500 to cover the shipping fees.
“I corresponded for an entire week with this man who claimed to be a missionary,” Diane explains. Diane sent the requested payment via Western Union, but once she sent the code for the money transfer, she never heard from the “pastor” again.
Like many trusting animal lovers, Diane fell victim to one of many “free to good home” scams currently circulating the Internet and classified sections of newspapers. So how do you avoid persuasive cons and still get the dog of your dreams? The ASPCA recommends never buying a dog you haven’t met in person and always check references. Also, keep in mind that adoption is still the best option, even if you have your heart set on a purebred dog. There are thousands of dogs waiting for good homes at local animal shelters, including purebreds! Please help others avoid being cheated by emailing your puppy scam story to dogstory@aspca.org.
Is your pooch mad for people food? Does your kitty like to self-medicate? Sadly, not everything we love is good for us. In fact, many common household goods that we take for granted as harmless can poison our furry friends. In 2009, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, IL, handled more than 140,000 cases of pets exposed to toxic household substances, including insecticides, cleaning supplies and prescription medications.
To help you keep your pet safe and sound in 2010, our experts have created a list of the 10 common poisons that most affected our furry friends last year. Here’s a sneak peek at their advice:
As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your vet or the ASPCA’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435. To read our complete list of the 10 most common pet poisons of 2009, visit APCC online.
Does this Collar Make Me Look Fat?
Just like people, animals have individual metabolic rates that help regulate
whether they maintain average weight, or become overweight. Some breeds also have
a natural propensity for either a svelte, or heftier shape. As a group, however,
pets face the same problems of weight gain that their owners do. Overeating,
snacks and not getting enough exercise are usually to blame. Dogs and cats are by nature hunters, not grazers. In the same way the human body does, your pet's body is designed to store energy as fat as precaution against lean times. If allowed to eat as much as they want, many pets will consume food as if they were out in the wild hunting, eating as much for as possible, when all
they're actually doing is lying around all day. When we feed them the proper amount of food and exercise them regularly, pets tend not to put on weight.
Did you know that we indirectly teach our dogs to pull on the leash? When we are out for a walk we often start to cinch up on the leash for more control. Well, that cinch causes pressure on the neck and when pressure is applied to the neck the dog gets endorphins. The more endorphins a dog has, the more it will actually feel good to pull towards an object it wants. The same happens with sled dogs when the harness pulls against the sled.
When your dog pulls towards an object, change directions and that will release the pressure on the neck briefly, once the pressure is released, reward with a cookie at you side, but only if the leash is loose.
Editor's Note: For practice and more tips about leash walking, join Sandra on January 11 and 18 at 7:45 for Leash Walking 101.
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