The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Dog Swallows Over 100 Pennies



New York City, NY - A  cute little Jack Russell Terrier,  appropriately named Jack, swallowed at least $1.11 in change last weekend while his owner, Tim Kelleher, wasn't looking, according to Dr. Amy Zalcman, the senior emergency doctor at BluePearl Veterinary Partners who oversaw Jack's treatment.

Kelleher took Jack to the BluePearl clinic in Manhattan Saturday afternoon after he noticed the pennies were gone and his dog was sick and vomiting.

X-rays performed on the 13-year-old dog immediately showed a collection of pennies inside his body so veterinarians performed an endoscopy, using a camera to locate the pennies.  It took an internal  medicine specialist nearly two hours to remove all of the 111 pennies still left in Jack's system.  The doctor removed them four to five at a time, grabbing them with the scope and placing them in an attached basket, according to Zalcman.

"I would say he's a very lucky dog," she told ABCNews.com.  "First, that we were able to get them all out by scope and not surgery, and that he hasn't had any secondary signs of zinc toxicity."

Owner Kelleher told the New York Daily News his "voracious Tasmanian devil" of a pet was going after a bagel when he got the pennies instead.

"He climbed on my desk to get at the bag with the bagel and knocked the change all over the floor," said Kelleher, who could not be reached today by ABCNews.com.  "While he was licking up the crumbs, he swallowed the pennies."

Zalcman said the zinc pennies could have caused damage to Jack's kidneys, liver and red blood cells and eventually blocked his intestines, especially given the amount that he swallowed.

"We certainly see pennies consumed by dogs but not in this magnitude," she said.  "That's what is so extreme about this case."

Jack's owner said his dog is back to his normal self after the nearly $2,500 procedure, part of which was paid for by Tampa-based Frankie's Friends, an animal charity.

"He's driving me crazy again," Kelleher told the Daily News.



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Diamond Pet Foods Issues Cat Food Recall in 25 States



Diamond Pet Foods issues recall due to low levels of thiamine. Cats fed product long-term could be at risk for thiamine deficiency.

Select Diamond Pet Foods products may have low levels of thiamine (Vitamin B1) prompting the voluntary recall of Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat Formula dry cat food, Premium Edge Senior Cat Hairball Management Formula dry cat food, Premium Edge Kitten Formula dry cat food, Diamond Naturals Kitten Formula dry cat food and 4health All Life Stages Cat Formula dry cat food. According to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) release, cats fed the recalled product exclusively for several weeks may be at risk for developing a thiamine deficiency.

The following production codes have been recalled:
  • Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat Formula, 18-pound bags, distributed in Massachusetts with a “Best by” date of July 10, 2013, and production code NGF0703.
  • Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat Formula, six-pound bags, distributed in Florida, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, with “Best by” dates of Aug. 15, 2013, and Aug. 16, 2013, and production code NGF0802.
  • Premium Edge Senior Cat Hairball Management Formula, six-pound and 18-pound bags, distributed in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, with “Best by” dates of Jan. 3, 2014, and Jan. 4, 2014, and production code NGS0101.
  • Premium Edge Senior Cat Hairball Management Formula, six-pound and 18-pound bags, distributed in Florida, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, with a “Best by” date of July 10, 2013, and production code NGS0702.
  • Premium Edge Kitten Formula, six-ounce samples, six-pound and 18-pound bags, distributed in Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, with “Best by” dates of Sept. 26, 2013, Sept. 29, 2013, Sept. 30, 2013, Oct. 2, 2013, and production code MKT0901.
  • Diamond Naturals Kitten Formula, six-ounce sample and six-pound bags, distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, with a “Best by” date of Sept. 30, 2013, and production code MKT0901.
  • 4health All Life Stages Cat Formula, five-pound and 18-pound bags, distributed in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, with “Best by” dates of Aug. 14, 2013, and Aug. 18, 2013, and production code NGF0802.

At this time, there have been no complaints regarding thiamine levels, or any other health issues, related to these products. However, after tests conducted by the company indicated low levels of thiamine, the FDA says Diamond Pet Foods tested all other Diamond brands for thiamine deficiency to ensure product safety. No other product manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods is involved in this recall.

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Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Pet Owners You May Be Paying More for Vet Care



Pet owners, you may want to start saving more money for veterinarian care this year. The reason goes all the way back to Washington and an unintended consequence from medical reform.

Dog owner Lori Heiselman was surprised where her veterinarian posted a warning on Facebook.

The notice read: “Because medical equipment and supplies will be going up in cost, that extra expense will have to passed on to the customers.”

So Lori is already tightening her belt to pay for the increase in her dog’s care. Though she doesn’t like it, she’s willing to pay more for her pets.

“They’re very important. They’re members of the family,” said Heiselman.

Why the increase? Its part of a new 2.3-percent federal excise tax on certain medical devices that just went into effect. The tax will help fund the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, intended for people, not pets. Manufacturers pay the tax, but a recent survey found more than half plan to pass it along.

Some vets say they can’t afford it. Dr. Mike Hatcher is one of them. He explained, “I’m extremely concerned how this is going to be a hidden tax to our consumers that is going to be passed on.”

How does this work? Medical devices used only on animals are exempt. However, items including IV pumps, sterile scalpels and anesthesia equipment, which are medical devices that have a dual use, meaning they can be used on people and animals, will be taxed. Hatcher said, “Putting off an equipment purchase is something that can terribly affect our clients’ ability to have quality care.”

The American Veterinary Medical Association represents 82,000 vets. At this point, they don’t know how much this new tax will indirectly cost them. The organizations members are waiting to hear from more device makers.

Dr. Mark Lutschaunig is the director of the Governmental Relations Division of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

“Congress never intended for this tax to impact veterinarian medicine and unfortunately it has, and I think that’s very unfortunate that veterinarian medicine now is subsidizing human health care,” said Dr. Lutschaunig.

Congressional sources who worked on the Affordable Care Act said lawmakers tried to exclude vets from being affected by the dual use medical devices tax, but it was too complicated.

Carol Smock knows about complications. She founded a charity that helps struggling pet owners pay for vet care. Smock started Brown Dog Foundation after struggling to pay for her chocolate lab’s medical bills while she was unemployed. Her organization is a 501c3 public charity that provides funding to families who find themselves in similar situations: A sick pet that would likely respond to treatment, but due to an unforeseen circumstance, there is not enough money immediately available to make it happen.

Smock is afraid The Brown Dog Foundation is going to be overwhelmed with requests.

“The impact this price increase is going to have on any of those families I think will be pretty devastating.”

Lori Heiselman said she worries about other families too, but she’ll find the money for her four-legged friends. “We’ll just have to cut back somewhere else.”

Veterinarians say, if your pet is sick or acting strangely, don’t delay care. That could just cause medical problems to get worse.

If you’re concerned with the cost of vet care, be sure to talk with your vet about payment plans or other financial options.

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Monday, March 11, 2013

His Dog Was Really His Best Friend - Cemetery Allows Dog to Sleep on His Owners Grave Every Night



A faithful dog has refused to leave the side of his dead master's grave for six years.

A German Shepherd, named Capitan ran away from home after the death of his owner, Argentinian, Miguel Guzman in 2006.

A week later Mr Guzman's family went to pay their respects and found the heartbroken pet sitting by his owner's grave, wailing.

Since then the grieving dog has rarely left the spot at the cemetery in the town of Villa Carlos Paz, central Argentina.

Mr Guzman bought Capitan as a present for his 13-year-old son Damian in 2005.

He died suddenly in March the next year, but by the time his family had returned home from the funeral Capitan was gone.

Mr Guzman's widow Veronica told Argentina's Cordoba newspaper: "We searched for him but he had vanished. We thought he must have got run over and died".

"The following Sunday we went to the cemetery and Damian recognised his pet. Capitan came up to us, barking and wailing, as if he were crying".

She added: "We had never taken him to the cemetery so it is a mystery how he managed to find the place".

"We went back the next Sunday, and he was there again. This time, he followed us home and spent a bit of time with us, but then went back to the cemetery before it started getting dark".

"I don't think he wanted to leave Miguel on his own at night".

The cemetery's director, Hector Baccega remembers the day he first saw the dog. He said: "He turned up here one day, all on his own, and started wandering all around the cemetery until he eventually found the tomb of his master".

"During the day he sometimes has a walk around the cemetery, but always rushes back to the grave. And every day, at six o'clock sharp, he lies down on top of the grave stays there all night".

Mr Baccega said staff at the cemetery are now feeding and taking care of Capitan.

Mr Guzman's son Damian said: "I've tried to bring Capitan home several times, but he always comes straight back to the cemetery. I think he's going to be there until he dies too. He's looking after my dad".

The story is similar to that of Hachiko, an Akita who is said to have waited at a Tokyo train station for its master to return each day for nine years from May 1925, following owner Hidesaburo Ueno's death at work.

Loyal: Capitan has not left the side of Miguel Guzman's grave since 2006 - and sleeps on top of it every night.



His Masters Grave: The German Shepherd ran away from the family home shortly after Mr Guzman's funeral and miraculously found his resting place.



Protector: Although it has been six years since Mr Guzman's death Capitan proves a faithful companion and guards his grave day and night.



Here to stay: Mr Guzman's son Damian has tried to bring Capitan home but he always runs back to the cemetery in Villa Carlos Paz.


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Sunday, March 10, 2013

Are Dogs Really Smart? You Bet They Are!



New studies on how dogs process information could lead to more clues about their personalities. CBS News' Rebecca Jarvis talks to the author of "The Genius of Dogs, " a book that shows dogs may be smarter than we think.







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Thursday, March 7, 2013

Michael Vick Enrolled in Dog Training Classes at PetSmart



Quarterback Michael Vick, who served prison time for his role in a dogfighting case, was seen enrolling in a dog training class, a sports website reported.

The Philadelphia Eagles' player, whose contract was recently renewed, was spotted at a New Jersey PetSmart store enrolling in a training course, the Philadelphia website Crossing Broad reported.

"Vick, his family and a bodyguard have been attending dog training classes for Angel, the Vick family's young Belgian Malinois," the website said, adding, "Vick frequents the store and signed up for a total of six training classes on Monday evenings."

Vick was released from prison in 2009 after pleading guilty to involvement in an interstate dogfighting ring, and served 21 months in prison. Last October, he divulged he owned a dog, permissible after his probation terms expired last summer, USA Today reported Tuesday.

"Our pet is well-cared for and loved as a member of our family. This is an opportunity to break the cycle. To that end, I will honor my commitment to animal welfare and be an instrument of positive change," he said in a statement at the time.

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Monday, March 4, 2013

The Dolphin - Known for Their Intellect, Gregarious Nature, and Acrobatic Abilities



Dolphins are highly intelligent marine mammals and are part of the family of toothed whales that includes orcas and pilot whales.

Dolphins are well known for their intellect, their gregarious nature, and their acrobatic abilities.

They are found worldwide, mostly in shallow seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating fish and squid. Dolphin coloration varies, but they are generally gray in color with darker backs than the rest of their bodies.

The body of a dolphin is designed to help them move through the water quickly and without exerting huge amounts of energy. They rely on their pectoral fins and the fluke (tail) to help them navigate through the water.

Even though dolphins have 100 teeth, they don’t use them for eating. They do use them to get the fish though and then they swallow them. They can consume up to 30 pounds fish per day. They usually work as a team in their pod to get the school of fish surrounded and balled up. From there, they can plow through the middle and eat plenty as they do so.

Dolphins are found all over the world; generally in shallow seawater of the continental shelves. You can witness dolphins in the cold waters as well as the warm tropical waters. Of course, there are certain species of dolphins that show preference to a particular temperature and region.

Lifespan: Most dolphins live long lives. The bottlenose dolphin can live over 40 years, and the orca can live to be 70 or 80!




Parts of the Dolphin


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Man Caught on Video is Believed to Have Sexually Assaulted Horse - Do You Know this Man?



Marion County, Fla. (WTSP) -- Abby Conder treats her horses like they are her kids.

"We breed these horses, we show them, we sell them."

Since May, she says her world class miniature horses have been under attack.

"She had been severely brutalized," Conder said of one of her horses. "She had been raped both by a man and by several objects. She was so hematomed on the back and so bloody, that she looked like they put her whole bottom through a garbage disposal."

The vet found bodily fluids inside the horse. Conder says Marion County Sheriff investigators took a report, but they haven't been much help.

"We have been told that we have to catch him in the act and if we catch him in the act and then call them, they will come and arrest him. But we don't want to die trying to protect our horses."

She says they bought a dog to protect the horses, but it was beaten to death as well. So they setup surveillance and a live internet feed. On Saturday the cameras caught him.

"He inspected the horses that were on the left first to see what horses were in stalls. "

Conder goes on to say, "They are tied to the corner to the fence, where they have been abused and been tortured. They can't fight with a person, they don't know to fight with a person, they would go with anybody.

Conder is hoping someone will recognize the person in the video and is sending him a warning.

"I've never shot a gun in my life, but if I catch this man in this barn taking out another one of my horses and he's gonna traumatize this young horse and hurt her internally like he has my other horses, I will come down and I will kill him."

Florida is one of a handful of states with laws against having sex with animals. That law passed in 2011.



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Sunday, March 3, 2013

Is it True that Chimpanzee Have Better Short-Term Memory Than Humans?


Scientists often talk about how primates are some of the smartest non-human animals, but very rarely do you hear about a species surpassing humans in a intellectual exercise.

A Japanese researcher, Tetsuro Matsuzawa, presented the remarkable capabilities of the chimpanzee Ayumu at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. So, what could Ayumu do that humans couldn’t? When a series of numbers were presented on a screen out of sequence and randomly placed, the chimpanzee was able to remember where the numbers were on the screen, and touch them in the correct sequence to count up from 1.

While only a small group of humans, known as savants, can display such good memorization skills, six out of six chimps were able to accomplish the task.

Scientists report that this skill would help them in their natural environment as they navigate through complex arrangements of tree branches and make other split second decisions in the wild.

Will this mental ability help strengthen the case against using animals in research? Seems ironic, since we know this ability was discovered through research.

Take a look at the video below and see it firsthand.




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People Are Having Their Pets Tattooed? Cute or Animal Abuse...You Decide




First, let me say that on my blog I post all types of stories about animals. I did not write this story but felt the need to share it with my readers. I can't believe people are doing this! I don't usually make comments on my content, however, in this case, as an animal lover I feel this is...animal abuse, and there should be a law against it!

What is our society thinking?...or are they! I hope these pictures are photoshopped as the original writer indicated.

Apparently, a new trend is getting tattoos put on your pets, particularly any pet that is hairless. In Russia, the hairless Sphinx is the most frequent tattoo victim. Yes, I said victim.

In the 1980s before the microchip was invented for identifying pets, it wasn’t uncommon to tattoo pets with an identification number, often on their inner ear or bellies while they were under anesthesia for another procedure such as spaying or neutering. I think animals should never, ever be put under just for a tattoo.

Note: some of the images may be photoshopped. Very hard to verify.


                                           Body Modified Dog - Thank GOD this one is totally photoshopped. I hope.



Cosmetic Tattoos - This poor Dalmatian had a pink nose, which is a failure in the breed standard. So his owner got his nose tattooed.


In the ear tattoos - Dogs are often tattooed in their ears, usually with an ID number to help find them if they get lost. But this whole image thing is new.



Sphinx Cat with Ink - By far the most common pet that gets tattooed appears to be the hairless breeds, such as the Sphinx cat pictured here. This could be fake/photoshopped, but it looks pretty much like human tattoos do.


                                       Jack Russel Belly Tattoo - So this poor dog got a Hello Kitty tattoo on it's belly.


Cat immediately post-tattoo - In this photo, the cat is still anesthetized following it's tattoo. I found several shots of this cat being tattooed while under, so I do think it's real. It's a beautiful tattoo. Just wish it was on someone that could give consent.



                                                                             It's likely these are fake...I hope.



Yes, another hairless Sphinx sporting what looks like real ink. That's a lot of ink for a little cat. I'd say it took 3 hours at least.



Daschund Belly Ink - This little guy has a tiny tattoo on his belly. Likely done when it was spayed/neutered and didn't take too much time.



                           Louis Vutton Pigs - Apparently, tattooing pigs is a HUGE thing. Seriously, google it. Scary.



                                                                                     Small Tribal on a Sphinx



                                                                Demon bat wings tattooed on both sides...sad!



                                                                                          Tattooed Pigs

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Friday, March 1, 2013

Horse with Badly Deformed Leg Receives a Prosthetic One



Argyle, Texas - A horse was beaten with a baseball bat and left to die. But, an animal sanctuary in North Texas is refusing to put him down.

Spirit has been battered and abused but he cannot be broken.

He was beaten with a baseball bat in the knee and left to starve in a barren pasture for 8 months.

Spirit arrived at the Ranch Hand Rescue Sanctuary four weeks ago. He was starved and his left front leg badly deformed after it was left untreated.

He's already gained 150 pounds since being at the rescue center, showing his will to live.

Spirit is an abuse case out of San Antonio and Bexar County where charges are being filed.

Locally, the Denton County Sheriff's Department has helped with the case.

"We had a lot of people that said he needed to be euthanized," said Ranch Hand Rescue's Bob Williams.

Ranch Hand Rescue believed Spirit had a chance so they turned to Prosthetic Care in Fort Worth which helped save another horse named Midnight.

Spirit's prosthetic brace is carbon fiber with stainless steel joints and a special foam which molds directly to the injury.

Spirit and Midnight bonded like brothers when they first met, a connection that extends throughout the sanctuary.

"You know we put God in everything we do I believe with all my heart he brings us these animals, we're their last hope," Williams said.

And it is at the sanctuary where hope is the medicine that heals.

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The German Shepherd Dog - Known for Their Intelligence, Protectiveness, and Loyalty



The German Shepherd, also known as an Alsatian, is a breed of large-sized dog that originated in Germany. German Shepherds are a relatively new breed of dog, with their origin dating to 1899

German Shepherds are one of the most registered dogs, which proves how popular they are as a breed. These large and powerful creatures are just as loyal and compassionate. They make great pets for families because they are good with children and can be trained to protect the house.

They are very popular dogs because of their personalities; among their positive qualities are intelligence, protectiveness, and loyalty.

German Shepherds are large-breed dogs that are generally between 22 and 26 inches long, with an ideal height of 25 inches. They weigh between 49 and 88 pounds. The coats of German shepherds come in different colors, with typical mixes being tan/black and red/black. Full white and full black varieties are also found.

German Shepherds show a high degree of loyalty toward the people they are most familiar with, including young children. If not socialized well, however, they can become too attached and wary or aggressive to outsiders.

The average lifespan of a German shepherd is 7 to 10 years.

German Shepherds are known to be one of the best breeds of working dogs. They are often employed by the police, military, and search and rescue operations.

German Shepherds are one of the breeds that have remained steadily popular over the last three decades, currently ranking second in popularity behind Labrador Retrievers.






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Samoyed Dog Dies After Competing in Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show - May Have Been Poisoned



The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show that aired earlier this month made headlines by crowning an affenpinscher as Best in Show for the first time ever, is back in the headlines today after the unexpected death of another competitor.

Cruz, a 3-year-old Samoyed who was competing in his first Westminster this year, died Feb. 16 while competing in another dog show in Colorado, just four days after the Westminster competition ended. Both the dog's co-owner, Lynette Blue, and his handler, Robert Chaffin, suspect the dog was poisoned.

"We have gone through all the steps of where he was, what was done, and he was always on a leash," Blue, 67, who has co-owned Cruz since birth and has raised and shown the fluffy, snow-white breed of dogs since the 1960s, told ABC News today. "He was never outside. He was always with the handler."

Cruz, short for his show name, GCH CH Polar Mist Cruz'N T'Party At Zamosky D, was competing at the 18th Annual Rocky Mountain Cluster Dog Show in Denver when he became sick, vomiting blood. Chaffin, his handler of over one year, who was also at the Westminster, took him to an emergency veterinary clinic, where he later died of internal hemorrhaging. The dog was cremated and a necropsy was not performed.

The internal hemorrhaging, along with vomiting blood, could be a symptom of rodenticide, or rat poisoning, according to medical experts.

Blue said the manager of the hotel where the Cruz and Chaffin stayed in New York told her the facility does not use rat poisoning. The dog, who was ranked seventh in the nation among Samoyeds, according to Grand Championship Points issued by the American Kennel Club, was also not walked outside or in any of the city's parks, Blue said, which could have been sprayed with rat poison during his stay in New York.

But according to Dr. Tony Johnson, a clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Cruz's symptoms of internal bleeding and eventual death could also be attributed to natural causes such as cancer.

"Two of the things that will cause bleeding in the abdomen are cancer and rat poisoning and people often attribute it to poisoning as opposed to cancer," he said. "We see a lot of dogs that have bleeding in their abdomen due to cancer so that is a possibility."

Johnson added that it is "not an uncommon scenario" for an animal to not have an autopsy done, "but in the absence of a toxicology or pathology report," as in Cruz's case, "it becomes speculation," he said.

Blue said the only time Cruz was not being watched by Chaffin while in New York was when the dog was "benched" at Westminster, a time when the dogs are required to stay in an assigned area with other owners and breeders.

Cruz's handler, Chaffin, whom Blue says she "absolutely" does not suspect was involved in Cruz's death, is convinced that the dog was poisoned and said there was a four-hour window during which the dog could have been poisoned, but not by a competitor. Instead, Chaffin said he is suspicious of an animal rights activist he encountered at the dog show who "was just scowling at me and telling me how cruel I was."

"All of our competitors in the breed are good people," Chaffin told ABC News. "I don't think it was someone in the dog world. There are lots of crazy people out there."

A representative for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) which has sent people to Westminster in past years, brushed aside Chaffin's suspicion that an "animal rights activist" could have been responsible for Cruz's death.

"The accusation is ludicrous and he hasn't even identified the person as an animal rights activist," Lisa Lange, senior vice president at PETA told ABC News. "It was someone at the dog show who criticized him."

Blue said the show provides dog owners the option to hire security guards during their stay in New York, a sign that "it could be a dangerous situation." The owner was more open, however, to the possibility of other motivations.

"It could be some crazies or some animal rights fanatics," she said. "Or it's always possible he was a top-winning dog, so it's always possible, those things have happened -- that other people in the dog show world try to knock out top competition. ... You just don't know."

Westminster, in a statement issued to ABC News today, said, "We have never, to our knowledge, had an incident at our show where a dog has become ill or was harmed as a result of being poisoned.

"We are ultra cautious to the point where we do not allow dogs to be off lead at any time while at our show," the statement read. "Unfortunately, no autopsy was performed, so there are a lot of unanswered questions. No other animal which attended our show was reported to our show veterinarians with any incident of serious illness. We have been made aware that no rodent poison is used at the Piers and pest control is maintained through trapping."

Cruz, who did not place at Westminster, held the designation of "Grand Champion," a title given to dogs earning a total of 25 points with three major wins at other shows. Cruz had competed in at least 30 other dog shows over the past year, according to Blue.

After Cruz's death, the owner of a fellow competitive dog, not in Cruz's breed, came forward to offer a $2,000 reward for "any information that could lead to the arrest of the person who might of done this to Cruz," calling the possible poisoning a "worst nightmare."

Blue said she filed a complaint with the New York Police Department last week but is still awaiting a follow up call from the agency. A representative for the NYPD told ABC News it can find no record of a complaint filed by Blue.

"People just need to know they need to be aware of where their dogs are," said Blue. "This thing has just left a hole in my heart. It has taken some of the joy and fun out of showing and raising dogs. It's something I'll never get over."



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Members of Congress Reintroduced Legislation to Establish Greater Federal Oversight of Puppy Mills



This week members of Congress reintroduced legislation to establish greater federal oversight of puppy mills and online dog sales.

The Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act would require commercial breeders who sell their puppies directly to the public, sight unseen, including via the web, to be licensed and inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Currently, only breeders who sell dogs to pet stores or to puppy brokers are subject to federal oversight.

Many puppies sold online come from puppy mills and are commonly bred in unsanitary, overcrowded and often cruel conditions without sufficient veterinary care, food, water or socialization. While facilities that breed puppies for commercial resale through pet stores are required to be licensed and inspected, breeders who sell directly to consumers, via the Internet, newspaper classifieds or other outlets, are exempt from any federal oversight.

“As the ASPCA has seen firsthand, the photos of happy, healthy puppies posted on a breeder’s website often grossly misrepresent what conditions are really like for these puppies and their parents,” says Nancy Perry, Senior Vice President of ASPCA Government Relations. “Puppy mills are able to completely evade federal oversight by taking advantage of a pre-Internet loophole in current law, but the PUPS Act would change that.”

As mentioned in USA Today, the PUPS Act will require that any breeder who sells more than 50 dogs each year to pet stores or online must meet federal standards.

“The current loophole has allowed too many dog breeders to get away with abusive behavior for far too long,” adds Cori Menkin, Senior Director of the ASPCA’s Puppy Mill Campaign. “We encourage Congress and the USDA to take meaningful steps to protect dogs in commercial breeding facilities.”





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