Thinking...

I am not to be considered a hateful or violent person. Occasionally, I get pretty pissed off about issues that are especially hateful, cruel, indifferent and down-right STUPID. Puppy Mills and the Amish and other people who operate many of them fit this category. I did watch Oprah's deal on Puppy Mills on Friday. It was awful and shameful and cruel. I came to understand that these (Amish) generally thought of kind, decent and peaceful people are the BIGGEST murderers and mistreaters of dogs, cats, and sometimes rabbits on the planet. I learned that these people would never think of having a pet to love. The mere thought of a dog or cat or rabbit in their home is foreign and outrageous. Those of us millions of folks who make a decision to get a pet, and treat it with love, care and tenderness should be outraged and make an effort to STOP buying pets from the Amish Puppy Mills (and all others, too) and the pet stores that they sell to. STOP, it is the only way to make a dent in their pockets. Take away the demand and they can stick to making quilts and rugs. OK, I think I am allowed one snotty comment a day.

There's a place near Madison, that I mentioned a while back in a previous blog, who has over 1,000 dogs. He breeds these cute little "hybrid" versions, like cockapoos, and puggypoos, and so on. He claims his operation meets the needs of the dogs quite well, and they are happy and healthy. BS!!! Anyone who has a pet of any kind knows dogs especially need a place to run, and exercise everyday, and veterinary attention, and love and love and more love. The not only require it, they demand it. STOP buying your pets from pet store. STOP, please.

Fred and I have two Golden Retrievers. Molly and Brody. They are purebred dogs. We got Molly from a nice lady in Spooner, Wisconsin, who had Molly's mama and daddy and grandfather on the site. We bought Brody from a lady near New Richmond, Wisconsin who had two mama's and a really nice place for them to live. You could tell she loved her dogs and took very good care of them. We have decided if we ever get another dog, we would like to get a Golden, but this time, we will definitely get one from the Golden Retriever Rescue of Wisconsin. Minnesota has a sister organization. Sure, we may get a special needs dog, or a dog that is older. But, we will make the committment to doing the right thing.
The Chipppewa Humane Association is a NO-KILL shelter. Not so with many, many other shelters that are over their limit for dogs, cats and rabbits. PLEASE, if you are going to get a pet, PLEASE choose one of these. They need homes, love and attention. Dogs, and actually any kind of pet give back so much more than they ever ask.
And, speaking of STUPID, Representative Michele Bachmann from Minnesota recently introduced a Bill titled the "Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act," the bill seeks to repeal the nationwide phase-out of conventional light bulbs, the kind that have been used for more than a century -- pretty much since the invention of the incandescent light bulb. Bachmann, a first-term Republican, is challenging the nation's embrace of energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights, saying the government has no business telling consumers what kind of light bulbs they can buy. Michele, how about introducing a Bill that would STOP the torture of dogs, puppies, cats, and rabbits, by making Puppy Mills illegal?

My Representative is going to hear from me. How about you?

On a final note, I am haunted by the idea of the mama's and daddy's...well, the males are shot, the mama's keep producing puppies, and when they are no longer viable, they are shot, as well. The puppies go to buyers, actions and pet stores. The mommies....well, you get the picture. They really have no choice, but YOU DO.