'Puppies Aren't Products: New York'
Best Friends' peaceful demonstration at Manhattan pet store part of national campaign to expose truth about puppy mills
NEW YORK - Best Friends Animal Society's successful "Puppies Aren't Products" campaign is coming to the Big Apple, carrying the lofty goal of helping to end the tragedy of puppy mills in this country by ending the sale of puppy mill dogs in city pet stores.
Beginning this Saturday, Best Friends' volunteers will stage an educational demonstration in front of American Kennels, 798 Lexington Ave., one of the oldest pet stores in Manhattan.
"The goal of our demonstrations will be to stop American Kennels from selling dogs obtained from irresponsible breeders," said Kelli Ohrtman, Best Friends campaign specialist.
"We are working with Pet Shop Puppies Inc., one of our strongest allies in the fight against puppy mills. Pet Shop Puppies Inc., through its database, has documented that puppies sold at American Kennels are obtained from puppy mills, where breeding parents and puppies are kept in inhumane, overcrowded conditions."
Ohrtman added, "We also want to encourage people to adopt pets either from stores that offer rescued animals, or from shelters and rescue groups. Every year millions of homeless, adoptable dogs are euthanized in shelters and we want to stop that unnecessary killing."
The "Puppies Aren't Products: New York" campaign has the support of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's AnimalsŪ
Jane Hoffman, president of the Mayor's Alliance said, "While the Mayor's Alliance member groups and shelters are making great progress toward our goal of making New York City a no-kill city, there are still too many dogs that were sold as puppies in pet stores flooding into our shelters. Buying puppies from pet stores contributes to the problem of homeless pets dying needlessly because no one adopts them. Among the many rescue groups and shelters in New York City, there is the right rescued dog to meet any family's lifestyle. So come on and save a life, please adopt, dont buy a dog."
Best Friends "Puppies Arent Products: New York" campaign is an outgrowth of the successful campaign in Los Angeles, which resulted in converting former puppy mill-supplied pet shops to humane business models that only offer dogs from shelters and breed rescue organizations.
"Dogs in commercial breeding facilities, such as those that supply American Kennels, are not treated like pets, but more like livestock," Ohrtman added. "They are confined in small cages, for years at a time, for the sole purpose of churning out as many puppies as possible. A severe lack of socialization and genetic testing for the puppies means many pet store dogs have physical and behavioral issues not apparent until the dog is taken home."
To find out more about Best Friends Animal Societys campaign, please visit Puppies Aren't Products. To find out more about how to help on a local level and get involved with the fastest growing online community of people working to help homeless pets, visit the Best Friends Network.
AT A GLANCE
Meet Mabel, a loveable beagle 'mom' who was repeatedly bred in spite of her advancing age and partial blindness. She was rescued from a puppy mill and is a pampered pet now. Mabel and other dogs rescued from puppy mills will join peaceful protestors in front of one of the oldest pet stores in Manhattan.
WHO: Best Friends Animal Society volunteers
WHAT: Peaceful education demonstration aimed at ending sale of puppy mill dogs in pet stores
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 24 and Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 25
WHERE: American Kennels, 798 Lexington Ave. in Manhattan
WHY: Peaceful protesters will encourage shoppers to adopt an animal instead of purchasing a dog or cat from a pet store, or over the internet. The volunteers will provide shoppers with adoption resources and information about puppy mills.
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CONTACTS:
Best Friends Animal Society
Barbara Williamson (435) 689-0200 (cell) (or) barbara@bestfriends.org
John Polis (435) 644-2001, ext. 4858 or johnp@bestfriends.org
About Best Friends Animal Society:
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009, Best Friends Animal Society advances nationwide animal welfare initiatives by working with shelter and rescue groups around the country. The society operates the nation's largest facility for abused, abandoned and special needs companion animal, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, which is located in southwestern Utah. On any given day the sanctuary is home to approximately 1,700 dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds, and other animals. The society publishes Best Friends magazine, the nation's largest general interest, pet-related magazine with approximately 300,000 subscribers. For more information on Best Friends Animal Society, visit: http://www.bestfriends.org/
