A Puppy-Factory Dog's Story

A PUPPY MILL PUPPY'S STORY

I don't remember much of the place where I was born. It was cramped and dark, and we were never played with by the Humans. I remember Mom and her soft fur, but she was often sick, and very thin. She had hardly any milk for me and my brothers and sisters. I remember many of them dying, and I missed them so.

I remember the day I was taken from Mom. I was so sad and scared, my milk teeth had only just come in, and I really should have been with Mom still, but she was so sick, and the Humans kept saying that they wanted their money and were sick of the "mess" that me and my sister made.

So we were crated up and taken to a strange place. Just the two of us. We huddled together and were scared, still no Human hands came to pet or love us. So many sights and sounds and smells! We are in a store where there are many different animals! Some that squawk! Some that meow! Some that peep! My sister and I are jammed into a small cage. I hear other puppies here. I see Humans look at me through the glass. I like the "little humans", the kids. They look so sweet, and fun, like they would play with me! All day we stay in the small cage, sometimes mean people will hit the glass and frighten us, every once in a while we are taken out to be held or shown to humans. Some are gentle, some hurt us, we always hear "Aw they are so cute! I want one!" but we never get to go with any of them.

My sister died last night, when the store was dark. I lay my head on her soft fur and felt the life leave her small thin body. I had heard them say she was sick, and that I should be sold at a "discount price" so that I would quickly leave the store. I think my soft whine was the only one that mourned for her as her body was taken out of the cage in the morning and dumped.

Today, a family came and bought me! Oh happy day! They are a nice family, they really, really wanted me! They had bought a dish and food and the little girl held me so tenderly in her arms. I love her so much! The mom and dad say what a sweet and good puppy I am! I am named Angel. I love to lick my new Humans! The family takes such good care of me, they are loving and tender and sweet. They gently teach me right and wrong, give me good food, and lots of love! I want only to please these wonderful people! I love the little girl and I enjoy running and playing with her.

Today I went to the veterinarian. It was a strange place and I was frightened. I got some shots, but my best friend the little girl held me softly and said it would be okay. So I relaxed. The vet must have said sad words to my beloved family, because they looked awfully sad. I heard Severe Hip Dysplasia, and something about my heart... I heard the vet say something about back yard breeders and my parents not being tested. I know not what any of that means, just that it hurts me to see my family so sad. But they still love me, and I still love them very much!

I am six months old now. Where most other puppies are robust and rowdy, it hurts me terribly just to move. The pain never lets up. It hurts to run and play with my beloved little girl, and I find it hard to breathe. I keep trying my best to be the strong pup I know I am supposed to be, but it is so hard. It breaks my heart to see the little girl so sad, and to hear the Mom and Dad talk about it might now be "the time." Several times I have went to that veterinarians place, and the news is never good. Always talk about Congenital Problems. I just want to feel the warm sunshine and run, and play and nuzzle with my family.

Last night was the worst. Pain has been my constant companion now, it hurts even to get up and get a drink. I try to get up but can only whine in pain. I am taken in the car one last time. Everyone is so sad, and I don't know why. Have I been bad? I try to be good and loving-what have I done wrong? Oh if only this pain would be gone! If only I could soothe the tears of the little girl. I reach out my muzzle to lick her hand, but can only whine in pain.

The veterinarian’s table is so cold. I am so frightened. The Humans all hug and love me.They cry into my soft fur. I can feel their love and sadness. I manage to lick softly their hands. Even the vet doesn't seem so scary today. He is gentle and I sense some kind of relief for my pain. The little girl holds me softly and I thank her, for giving me all her love. I feel a soft pinch in my foreleg. The pain is beginning to lift, I am beginning to feel a peace descend upon me. I can now softly lick her hand.

My vision is becoming dreamlike now, and I see my Mother and my brothers and sisters, in a far off green place. They tell me there is no pain there, only peace and happiness. I tell the family goodbye in the only way I know how-a soft wag of my tail and a nuzzle of my nose. I had hoped to spend many, many moons with them, but it was not meant to be. "You see," said the veterinarian, "Pet shop puppies do not come from ethical breeders." The pain ends now, and I know it will be many years until I see my beloved family again. If only things could have been different.

(This story may be published or reprinted in the hopes that it will stop unethical breeders and those who breed only for money and not for the betterment of the breed)

Copyright 1999 J. Ellis

Puppy Factories or Puppy Mills, Call Themselves Breeders

Many Malaysians, don't register the word 'mill' as 'factory. So in my communication, I have been using the words 'Puppy Factory'. It's rampant here in Malaysia. If you bought your dog from a pet shop, there's an extremely high chance that you've supported the Puppy Factory business.

I am not blaming you or trying to cause hurt. You probably didn't know better. However, what I'm trying to do here is create an awareness. To share knowledge with the public, and I hope you do the same... I don't hope for you to cry, or get angry, or emotional in anyway. What I do hope for, is that you open your mind to knowledge, and after this, do more research of your own... to discover what has been kept from you, your friends and relatives for so many years...
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. Part 1
.Oprah's Sophie. 13 years of love
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.Part 2
.In USA, they shoot old broken down machines (read old dogs). In Malaysia, because we don't carry guns, Malaysians can't shoot dogs that are too old to breed (read churn out puppies for sale). So, what is normally practised in Malaysia is:

1. Throw puppy into monsoon drain. Cheras monsoon: an old, semi-blind Shih Tzu was found, wrapped in a cloth and dumped into roadside monsoon.
2. Release dog onto roadside. Klang: Aging dobermann found wondering aimlessly & disoriented by it's surroundings, believed to be dumped by puppy factory for being too old to breed. The Dobermann was covered by genetically caused skin disease, common in dogs that suffer from in-breeding (read incest, father mate with daughter, mother mate with grandson, cousins & siblings mating each other etc)
3. Release dog just outside factory's gate. Somewhere in Selangor: Aged Labrador retriever was thrown out of a home based puppy factory. The dog had no where to go and loitered at the front gate, sometimes howling & whining to go back inside. Every few hours or so, it's owners would come out and try to scare the dog away.
4. Bury alive. In the northern region, where there's a lot of land space, deep holes are dug, and old dogs, sick or deformed puppies are buried alive.
5. Sold for meat to illegal exotic-animal restaurants. These restaurants are illegal, as they sell dishes of exotic and endangered species. They support illegal animal trade, poaches etc. They are wanted by the government, Jabatan Perhilitan, and international organizations. If you know of any of these places, make a report to CITES, PETA, WWF (international) and Animal Asia. You can google their websites.
6. Dumped at the doors of local shelters. They are, usually dumped and not handed over, because these people want to remain anonymous. The fact that they want to remain that way, shows that they know that what they're doing is questionable.
   

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.Part 3
.In dog fur language,
Matt-ed fur = tangled up fur...
Felt-ed fur = fur that is soo badly tangled, it usually covers a portion of the body, and is tangled right down to the skin.

Some long coated dogs from puppy factories are never groomed. So their fur is so badly felted, that the dogs have difficulty turning their heads, because the fur would pull, and that would hurt. The felt also makes it difficult for the dogs to move their limbs. As time goes on, early stage arthritis sets in. Mats and felts also cover their anus and privates. forming like a 'mesh' and trapping poop against their anus. Or, keeping urine against the skin around their 'privates'. This leads to severe skin problems, as well as swelling of the anal area.

Responsible breeders however, take good care of their dogs. Most in Malaysia have nice rooms for their dogs. Responsible/good breeders are usually breed specific. Meaning they only focus on 1 or 2 types of breeds. Versus having many many different type of trend breeds. They are concern of where the puppies are going to go, what their life is going to be like, not just as a pup, but their concerns stretch till the puppy's old age. Their dogs are happy, calm, very very healthy and contented. More on this topic on another post.
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.Part 4
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.Part 5
.In Malaysia, the euthanasia (in other words, killing by drug overdose from an injection) process works pretty much the same way. Difference here, is that the dogs are not 'put-down' one by one but in groups, there's no freezer, instead of 'body bags' we use black garbage bags, and it's the garbage collector who collects the dogs.
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.Part 6
.Low cost kembiri (Malay for spay/neuter)... Not for pure bred dogs:
http://www.spca.org.my/v51/klinikkembiri_fees.php
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.Part 7
.VISIT the breeder. Ask to see where the dogs are kept. Responsible breeders will gladly welcome you in. Irresponsible breeders a.k.a. puppy mill a.k.a. puppy factory will not allow you near them, or ask questions of where the puppy came from. They just want you to pay and go.
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.Part8
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