Indy.com
Today:
Harsh Conditions at Pet Store
Posted: Dec 20, 2007 in Culture
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I received this email from a friend earlier today:
With finals, holiday preparations, etc., I can't believe I missed this issue but hope to make up for it by joining the protest at the East Washington location of Uncle Bill's Pet Shop. Please read below for info and videos from undercover investigations - including a series from WTHR - about the horrible conditions these dogs live in. In one report, a person says they can't understand why this is happening when they are plenty of dogs available for adoption in shelters and at the Humane Society. The reason is money - these puppy mill folks make a killing - and these innocent dogs pay the ultimate price. I will never shop at Uncle Bill's again unless and until this issue is resolved. I hope some of my animal lover friends out there can make it to at least one of these protests, or at least refuse to shop at Uncle Bill's and Safari Pets. Go to Pet Supplies Plus, PetSmart (they even have adoption days), or elsewhere. Please also spread the word! Thanks for your time! P.S. - The e-mail below is from someone named Sara, who is on the IndyFeral list-serv. FYI, I am a feral cat colony caretaker.
- [friend's name]
Hello everyone--
As I mentioned before, we must take full advantage of the recent media attenion on Uncle Bill's and hit them as hard as we can, especially during Christmas. For this reason we are adding a 2nd protest for this Saturday. We did 2 last weekend and had an amazing turn out so I am hopeful we will again. This is the last weekend before Christmas so it is very important. I know everyone has a lot to do for the holidays but I am begging you to give up your Saturday to speak out for puppymill dogs.
Here is the Demonstration information:
**Uncle Bill's in Greenwood Saturday Dec. 22nd 12:00 to 1:30. The address is 870 US Highway 31 N, Greenwood, IN, 46143.
Then on to the East side on the same day from 2:30 to 4:00 Uncle Bill's at 9411 E Washington St. Indianapolis, IN
We hope to see all of you at both locations if possible. We should have enough signs but if you feel like making one, that would help ensure that we do have enough.
PLEASE RSVP to this address and let us know if you can attend Greenwood, East side or both.
Please cross post far and wide.
My sincere thanks to all of you that are giving up your time for this very important cause.
Sara
Undercover Investigation Videos:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2wHOxrTey50 http://youtube.com/watch?v=GhjqBsOCiPs
WTHR - Indiana's Puppy Pipeline Part 1 http://youtube.com/watch?v=3w1dpws116M&feature=related
WTHR - Indiana's Puppy Pipeline Part 2 http://youtube.com/watch?v=2qD1yp8QBlg&feature=related
WTHR - Indiana's Puppy Pipeline Part 3 http://youtube.com/watch?v=x3FGWrQkfY8&feature=related
I don't shop at Uncle Bill's but I have been to the one on W. 38th St. before and felt sick at the way the animals were treated. So even if those of you who own pets can't make it to the protest, I hope you'll consider boycotting Uncle Bill's.
Thanks for posting this!!! I received it from my pet sitter, as well. I cringe every time the pet store commercials have aired advertising their fresh stock of pure bred puppies ready for Christmas. Disgusting! Poor pups.
Unfortunately I had to learn the hard way about this horrible ordeal. I bought a Cockapoo puppy from the Washington St. Uncle Bill's in June. Four months later she started having seizures, was diagnosed with epilepsy, and soon after had to be put to sleep. They honestly don't test these dogs they're breeding for neurological disorders... or any serious disorders that could be passed on to their offspring for that matter. To top it off, even after telling the store what was going on, the parents of my puppy are still being bred....meaning many more Indiana families will have to go through the same heart break we did.
I'm never buying from a pet store ever again. They're over priced, untrustworthy, and immoral. You can get a guaranteed healthy puppy with papers from a breeder for a lot less.
Thanks for the comments.
It's much better to adopt animals from a shelter. That way, you're saving a life and also not contributing to the pet stores bad practices. Finding reputable breeders (especially for dogs) is also a much better alternative.
A good way to know if a breeder is respectable is if they breed only one or two types and if they're an AKC breeder.
FACE is an excellent no-kill shelter. They also do low-cost spaying and neutering, and they give cheap vaccinations (though you have to get there early on Saturdays for those).
I do still adopt from the Humane Society, as well. In my mind, it's important to save those most in danger of being put to sleep. But I can understand why some people steer clear of them, too.