Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Purrs 4 Peace- Week 13 Announcement: Eliminate Puppy Mills Now

May all that have life be delivered from suffering.
-- Buddha

Perhaps it is not immediately obvious that eliminating puppy mills would have anything to do with achieving world peace. But once one truly knows the horrors that innocent dogs endure in these animal gulags, then the link is inescapable. For when there is such widespread suffering and pain for living beings in the world, there can never be peace.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) defines "puppy mills" as breeding facilities that produce purebred puppies in large numbers. The dogs trapped in them have been called prisoners of greed since they suffer solely for the profit of the humans who run them.

The shocking and inhumane conditions of such places are well documented and include constant breeding of dogs trapped in tiny cages who are covered in matted, filthy hair. They often have rotted teeth, eye ulcers and are chronically underfed. These poor animals are never allowed outside of their cages and sometimes lose feet and legs because of cramped conditions and lack of veterinary care. Dogs freeze in the winter and die of heat stroke in the summer. Dogs who can no longer have puppies are brutally killed. And the puppies produced are often unhealthy and genetically defective.

My mummy’s sister adopted an Australian Shepherd eight years ago who was so ill-treated as a breeding dog in a puppy mill that authorities took her from the owner and they were prosecuted. Sadly, there is not enough enforcement of animal cruelty laws and prosecution of puppy mill owners is not common.

What can we do? The HSUS has created a webpage of tips...chief among these education of the public so that no puppy from such a mill is purchased over the internet, at a flea market, from a pet shop, or elsewhere. See http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_affecting_our_pets/get_the_facts_on_puppy_mills/

There are also a number of groups on Facebook where you can get further information and who update members on specific cases. Once such group is maintained by the HSUS itself.

And this week we are going to take other affirmative action to eliminate puppy mills. We are going to purrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...........

Week 13 of Purrs 4 Peace details are as follows:

  • Week thirteen’s appointed time is Sunday, September 6, 2009.
  • Participants should purr for three minutes commencing at 3 p.m. EDT (U.S.) which is 8:00 p.m. (20:00 hrs.) BST in the U.K.
  • The cat’s human staff should assist their cats with the project by stroking and nuzzling the cat at the appointed time.
  • Please post your cat name and the country you purr in at www.confuciuscat.blogspot.com as a COMMENT if you are participating in this historic project. (posting a link to your own website-if you have one-is encouraged.) Or let me know by message on twitter or facebook.
  • Posting purrs on facebook ( Acolytes of Confucius Cat or as friend to Alley Mason) and twitter (@ConfuciusCat) is encouraged, since it inspires purring in others, but not required. On twitter please use #purrs4peace in your tweets.


Purring with purpose. Purring for puppies. Purring for peace.

16 comments:

Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs said...

We hope the Australian Shepherd your Mummy's sister adopted is doing OK. We will say an extra purr for her.

Bruce said...

This is such a good cause Confucius. We will be purring with you on Sunday.
your friend,
Bruce the cat:)
p.s. pirate4aday is fun!

Anya said...

We wiil be there on sunday :)

dangerkitty said...

We'll be there on Sunday, purring for the puppies. :-)

Anonymous said...

Each week I read your column and I'm always incensed at the viciousness that seems to pervade the world. I would become discouraged at humanity but I refuse to do so. Hate would win. Hate, hatefulness, all loser words. So this weekend I will purr for love, for positive energy and we will all win. Purrs. (signed): Smokey8 (fr Twitter).

George The Duck and the HotMBC Kittehs said...

My cats will be purring with you Confucius.
Sanjee, Boni Maroni, Mini, Gree, Pepi
of @HotMBC

Da Fambly Cat-a-blog Kittiez said...

We're in with bells on! We also know of some horrors that go on in cattery's too. Horrid. A friend of mine adopted a male cat a couple of years ago that only got out of his cage for breeding and for showing. He was nine years old! When Karen brought him home that cat acted like a little kitten hopping all over the place and running from room to room - sleeping on her pillow and giving her kisses when asked! What man does to animals is horrid, just horrid.

Noir the Texas Tabby said...

All 6 of us will put out purrs on LOUD.

Noir in Texas

Unknown said...

CC-
Puppy Mills are horrible places and not enough laws or enforcement. I will ggrrr and purr at 3pm today.
norwood

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

We will be purring ad praying over here for sure.. thanks for all your hard work against this..

Hugs GJ xx

pughysgingerfurball.blogspot.com

Buzz Lucas said...

Buzz & Baxter Lucas will be honored to purr with purpose for puppies and peace. (places paws together & bows, "thank you for helping us make a difference in the world" Nosetaps.

Arran, Arthur and Mum said...

We will be purring and wagging too!

athenswoman said...

I will be doing my doggie best to purr along in Ohio!
http://twitter.com/mozartdane

FRUGALDOUGAL said...

We will be purring in the UK mai pal what a great thing to do for da anipals

POWER NUBBY- raising money for handicapped pets said...

Fuffooey
Squirt
Mr. Mojo
Tweak
Bibble
and Chili Cat
Will all be purring for peace it might be hard as the owner to multitask and get all of them to purr for 3 minutes at the same time (especially since some dont like to be in the company of others) but i will do it.

Cappy came from a puppy mill (was saved be DAWS.org) and we got him. He was inbred so badly that he is missing a foot!

You can see his story here (POWER NUBBY)

We are trying to raise money for handicapped pets and awareness of the evils of puppy mills

Anonymous said...

Toby and Mo purred, and continue to purr! Hopefully no more mills in our future,
thank you for this gathering of positive thinking!