Humane Society of the U.S. Puppy Mill Awareness Week

The Humane Society of the United States’ Puppy Mill Action Week
Encourages “Puppy Friendly” Pet Stores
Take action to stop puppy mills November 16 to 22

(November 6, 2008) -- The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has announced its second annual Puppy Mill Action Week - - November 16 to 22 -- designed to educate the public about puppy mills just before the height of puppy buying season – the holidays.

This year during Puppy Mill Action Week, The HSUS asks that consumers work with local pet stores to encourage them to develop and implement “puppy friendly” policies, like refusing to sell puppies in their store and supporting shelter adoptions instead.

According to Stephanie Shain, puppy mill expert and director of The HSUS’ Stop Puppy Mills campaign, “Thousands of people have already signed our pledge to stop puppy mills, promising not to shop at stores where puppies are sold, and to never purchase a dog from a pet store or over the Internet. This year’s action week asks that consumers work with local pet stores and encourage them to support animal shelters rather than selling puppies. People should never buy a dog from a pet store or over the Internet.”

Puppy Mill Action Week consists of seven easy steps to take starting November 16:

• Visit your local pet store and encourage the store to become a Puppy Friendly Pet Store. Store owners who sign and return the pledge which declares that they will discontinue selling puppies in their store by the end of 2008, or those who “make official” a current policy of not selling puppies, will be listed on The HSUS website. They will also receive materials to display promoting their decision and to educate their customers on adopting a pet or finding a responsible dog breeder.
  
• Sign the “Stop Puppy Mills” pledge at humanesociety.org/puppymills promising not to shop at stores where puppies are sold.
  
• Contact and urge your elected officials to co-sponsor the Puppy Uniform Protection Statute (PUPS), HR 6949, to require broader federal oversight of puppy mills. Call the Capitol (202.224.3121) or visit humanesociety.org/leglookup to find your federal legislators. Urge Congress to support PUPS to help crack down on puppy mills and close a loophole allowing many massive mills to evade oversight.
  
• Purchase new “Stop Puppy Mills” merchandise as holiday gifts and stocking stuffers - new tote bags and other items are available at humanesociety.org/puppymills.
  
• Write to newspaper editors about the pet store/Internet puppy mill connection. Download a letter you can sign and send to your local paper at humanesociety.org/puppymills.
  
• Listen to and share the new version of “How Much is that Doggie in the Window” sung by Patti Page. She recorded the original nearly 60 years ago at a time before pet stores were filled with doggies from mills. Now, over the same familiar melody, new lyrics sing the praise of shelters instead of puppy mills, and the song is destined to become an anthem for homeless pets. Patti’s song may inspire you to visit your local animal shelter to see how you can offer support. Shelters bear the brunt of the homeless pet crisis caused by over-breeding.
  
• Re-visit! On November 22 -- the last day of Puppy Mill Action Week -- make a follow-up visit to the local pet store or even better, visit more stores in the community and ask them to sign on to be a Puppy Friendly Pet Store. Activists will be asked to work with their local stores to help facilitate partnerships with animal shelters that will bring new business into the stores and increase the adoption rates of local shelters.
  The HSUS combats puppy mills in many ways including leading some of the largest and most successful puppy mill rescues in history, supporting legislative changes, conducting groundbreaking investigations and litigation, and promoting public awareness.