The two abandoned Pomeranians were undoubtedly the non-productive dead wood of a breeder. The young (intact) male had a leg injury and the old (intact) female was worn-out from years of repeat breedings. Dumping is cheaper than paying a vet to medicate or euthanize and more secret than taking the dogs to any rescue group who would be sure to ask questions.
Dumping non-productive breeding stock is extremely common. So are all the other atrocities of the puppy trafficking industry that the public is just becoming aware of. No thanks to the SPCA though, which has never insisted that breeders, sellers, resellers, puppy millers, and back yard breeders be regulated, licensed, inspected for standards of care - and made to pay taxes on the millions of dollars in hidden income. That last one alone would drive most of these dog abusers out of business.
Puppy trafficking is a dirty, underground, cottage industry. Puppy traffickers keep their breeding stock their whole lives in crates, filthy outdoor cages, barns, basements and yes, closets. They are innocent prisoners of greed. It's time that the media investigated this - in depth. Nice stories of happy endings are easy and sell papers, but there are thousands of captives who cannot speak, waiting for the media to speak for them.
AAS has a data base on its web site, www.animaladvocates.com with over 4000 entries of these puppy traffickers in BC. It is the only one in Canada, perhaps in all of North America. We have twice offered it to the SPCA but our offers have not even been acknowledged. Stopping the source of these cute rescue stories might not be good for the business of 'animal rescue', but it must be done, and if the SPCA won't do it then those suffering dogs can only hope the media wakes up and speaks for them. AAS cannot do this all alone.
Judy Stone
President, Animal Advocates Society of BC
Puppy Mills Investigations page: http://www.animaladvocates.com/puppymill-investigations.htm
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Dumped pooches given new lives, Surry Leader, January 19/03
By Sheila Reynolds
They’re energetic, clean and living in secure, safe homes now, but that wasn’t the case for two Pomeranian dogs brought to the Surrey SPCA last week.
The pair of pooches – an unspayed female estimated at about 12 years old and a one-year-old male that hadn’t been neutered – were found separately, apparently abandoned by their owners.
The male, Perry as he’s now known, had to have his left front leg amputated as the bottom portion was half-severed and terribly infected. Teddy, the older, female dog was found to have numerous cancerous tumours.
“They were in terrible shape,” says Julia Beaton, coordinator for Papillon Rescue Canada, who picked up the dogs from the shelter. “What upsets me is why do people do this? There’s no need to dump a dog. There are rescue groups that can help.”
While the optimum scenario would be for owners to contact dog rescue groups directly instead of abandoning unwanted dogs, that’s obviously not always the case. It’s for that reason that some Lower Mainland dog groups are working with the SPCA to establish a list of rescue organizations that shelters throughout the province can contact when they receive specific canine breeds.
“The SPCA’s so busy ... it would free up space,” says Beaton. “Because the rescue groups know the breed, it’s much easier to place the dogs in homes that will meet their needs,” explains Karen Palylyk of the B.C. Pomeranian Rescue Society.
Palylyk helped place Perry and Teddy, who now have permanent homes in Coquitlam and Abbotsford.
A procedures manual for the SPCA/dog rescue group initiative is in the works, which will be reviewed and then sent to the SPCA. The rescue groups included on the list will be closely screened, ensures Palylyk, to guarantee breeders or “dog collectors” aren’t involved.
Organizations like B.C. Pomeranian Rescue and Papillon Rescue Canada take care of an unwanted dog’s health problems, vaccinate them, and ensure proper behaviour before matching them with people who can provide good homes.
It’s hoped the list of rescue groups will be ready by March. For information, contact your local SPCA. In Delta, phone 604-946-7848, or call Surrey at 604-597-5655.
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