The W5 segment was good in that it made a clear link between pet shops and puppy mills. When I was communicating with the show's producer I asked him to consider 2 things that would add more depth to his story- one was for the direct link to be made between mills and pet shops, and the other was to reveal that the real culprit in the whole sordid tale was the SPCA, who has had the power for years to shut down mills, but who for years has turned their back on the problem.
This is the crux of the tale- the proliferation of mills, pet shops, and resellers, are just a by-product of SPCA apathy.
I don't believe the OSPCA is any different than the BCSPCA. Where were they when MP Mike Colle was trying so desperately to get animal welfare legislation passed in Ontario last year? They didn't back him, and they should have been the ones who were asking for it in the first place. I realize the OSPCA is now circulating the "Honey Petition", asking for signatures of those who support stamping out puppy mills. I'd like to find out when this petition started circulating. Does anyone know? W5 first contacted me in July 2002, and they were probably contacting lots of others about mills too, possibly even the OSPCA. It would be curious to see if the start of the petition coincides with the segment time frame.
I believe the OSPCA knew of many of these mills for many years, and did nothing until W5 offered them a chance to look like heros. Actually, one of the OSPCA workers did comment on the show that they had been "monitering" the situation of one particular mill for quite some time.
I wrote to the producer to commend him on the piece as far as connecting mills and pet shops went. But I also asked him if he had tried to contact the BCSPCA for help, and if so, what was their answer. I'll post his response when I hear back.