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Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Middle ground elusive in debate over proposed pet store ban
(Photo courtesy Humane World for Animals) Politicians, government officials, animal activists, and shelter operators pleaded Tuesday with state lawmakers to advance legislation that would prohibit the retail sale of pets in Nevada, while pet store owners warned the measure would put them out of business. 'Public records show that Nevada pet shops import puppies from awful Midwestern puppy mills that no consumer would knowingly support,' testified Rebecca Goff of Humane World for Animals, formerly the Humane Society of the United States, which released an undercover investigation earlier this year that traced puppies sold in Nevada pet stores to puppy mills. The bill is named for Cindy Lou, a dog that died after its medical needs were neglected by a Las Vegas pet store, according to the investigation. 'Breeding dogs are treated like breeding machines with no regard for their wellness,' Goff said of puppy mills. 'Under USDA standards, they can be kept stacked in wire cages that are only six inches longer than their bodies for their entire lives. They could be bred repeatedly until their bodies wear out, and then they can be killed.' Christy Stevens, executive director and founder of Hearts Alive Animal Clinic, says retail puppy stores flout animal welfare laws and were implicated in two forensic investigations and necropsies (animal autopsies) conducted last year by Hearts Alive. 'In one case, a woman who had been repeatedly sold Yorkie puppies by a pet store was later found to be hoarding animals in appalling conditions,' Stevens told members of the Senate Natural Resources Committee. 'Despite the stores knowing that the puppies were dying in her care, they continued to sell her puppy after puppy, Seventeen dead Yorkies were later discovered in her freezers. This is not an isolated incident. It is evidence of a system where profit is prioritized over animal welfare.' In the second case, authorities found close to 200 dogs, birds, and guinea pigs in a home, hotel room, and vehicle belonging to a Las Vegas couple, and 66 were dead. Dozens of the animals were purchased from the Petland store in Summerlin, where employees were aware of the multiple purchases, testified Gina Greisen of Nevada Voters for Animals. But opponents, primarily industry representatives, complained the legislation would unfairly punish all stores, even those that contend they obtain puppies and kittens from reputable breeders. 'In New York and in California, 93 to 95% of all of the pet stores that were affected and impacted by a pet sale ban closed,' testified Alyssa Miller, a lobbyist for the Pet Advocacy Network, a trade association that represents pet stores. 'The idea that someone can just shift a business model is misleading and is also unrealistic.' PAN is also represented by Nevada lobbyist Alisa Nave, whose family business owns more than a dozen veterinary clinics that serve the same rescue organizations that support the pet store sales ban. Nave declined to comment. Former Republican State Sen. Warren Hardy, a lobbyist representing Humane World for Animals, told lawmakers that given the failure of the federal government to adequately regulate or shut down puppy mills, there's no room for compromise. 'After 12 years of trying, there's no middle ground on this. This is our option.' Eight states, including the entire West Coast and some 500 municipalities, including Clark County, Reno, North Las Vegas, and Mesquite, have prohibited retail pet sales. The majority of pet stores in Nevada, including national retailers Petco and Petsmart, already do not sell puppies, but 'thrive as part of the $147 billion pet products and service industry,' noted Goff. 'We're in a time when we are cutting government personnel at all levels and agencies,' observed Jill Dobbs, executive director of the SPCA of Northern Nevada. 'It is not reasonable to expect there to just be regulations that can be enforced on these businesses.' The Nevada Assembly approved the measure, Assembly Bill 487, following a hearing last month. Without passage by a Senate committee this week, the bill will die. Goff confirms she was told by Senate Democrats to line up the votes to pass the contentious and emotionally-charged measure out of committee if she wanted a hearing. Democratic Committee Chair Michelee Cruz-Crawford, fellow Democratic Vice-Chair Melanie Scheible, and the caucus spokesperson would not respond to questions about the ultimatum, which negates the purpose of a legislative hearing. The hearing appeared on the legislative schedule Monday, after inquiries from news media. The Animal Foundation (TAF), Southern Nevada's primary government-supported shelter, announced publicly Tuesday the facility is currently housing more than 1,000 animals, including 547 dogs, and is on the brink of killing animals to make room for more. Shelters in the U.S. euthanized more than 1 million dogs and cats in 2016, according to Best Friends Animal Society. Last year, that number dropped to below half a million. 'Roughly 7 million people in America are planning to acquire a pet this year, and if just 6 percent more people chose to adopt versus purchase their pets, we would end the killing of dogs and cats in our nation's shelters,' said Julie Castle, the organization's CEO. 'We're in a critical capacity crisis, and are making urgent pleas to the public to adopt and foster,' TAF's CEO Hilarie Grey told lawmakers. 'Right now, we have terriers, Labradors, French and English bulldogs, Aussies, poodles, Cocker Spaniels, even a Papillon.' 'There's no need to continue supporting the puppy mill pipeline, but there's great need for ethical businesses to partner with shelters and rescues to promote adoption while selling pet supplies or services,' Grey testified. 'Sign us up. We will gladly bring puppies and kittens.' Clark County taxpayers spend more than $10 million a year supporting TAF, Commissioner Michael Naft testified, in addition to spending millions more on animal control and code enforcement, 'all with the goal of shelter diversion. We know that pets that come from pet stores end up disproportionately higher in shelters and at our rescues, and we need to put an end to that.' Clark County resident Casey Kern testified there is 'no justification for allowing the sale of commercially-bred animals while healthy, adoptable cats and dogs are being euthanized simply because there aren't enough loving, responsible homes and they cannot be warehoused indefinitely.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania puppy mills cited in national nonprofit's annual report of violators
A dog at Wuanita Swedlund's kennels in Farmington, Iowa, as photographed by USDA inspectors. (USDA photo courtesy of Humane World for Animals) Pennsylvania is again ranked near the top of the list in the annual 'Horrible Hundred' tally of states with the most dog breeders and brokers cited by regulators. The nonprofit Humane World for Animals, formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States, recently published its 2025 installment of its annual Horrible Hundred report cataloging the most egregious regulatory violations as cited by state and federal inspectors of puppy mills. For the 13th year in a row, Missouri had the highest number of dealers in the report, with 26 different operators listed. Missouri was followed by Ohio, with 16 operators; Iowa, with 12, and New York and Pennsylvania, with 11 each. The breeders based in the commonwealth listed in the report are: Tina Berkstresser/Mountain Hideaway Kennel, Waterfall: This past January, the owners were each reportedly charged with at least 14 misdemeanors for 'failure to keep [the] kennel in sanitary and humane condition.' State inspection reports show the dog warden noted six different violations at the kennel, including issues with cleanliness, maintenance and bedding that was 'soiled and dirty with an unpleasant odor. State inspectors also found more violations at the kennel in March. Christian and Sallie Blank/Hilltop Kennel, Gap: In May 2024, the dog warden ordered a veterinary check on five dogs at the kennel due to their visible condition during the inspection. When inspectors returned six months later, they issued a citation after finding violations for issues such as inadequate temperature control and humidity levels. In 2023, the kennel had two separate verbal and written warnings. Israel B. Byler/Walnut Grove Kennel, Belleville: The owner received an official warning from the USDA in April 2024 due to an issue with an injured dog. The previous month, Byler had received a Direct violation after inspectors found a miniature poodle who was not putting weight on her leg. He admitted the dog had been injured after jumping off a grooming table two days prior, but had not received any treatment. Even after the warning, the USDA found another dog in need of veterinary care in September 2024. Reuben Esch/Mountain View Kennels, Howard: During state inspections in September and December of 2024, Esch received two citations. At the December visit, inspectors found matted dogs, two of whom were 'heavily matted.' At the September visit, inspectors found six different violations for issues such as high humidity readings, a ventilation system that was not running, and a lack of adequate veterinary care and record keeping. Elmer Fisher, Newport: Fisher failed three different state inspections within six months last year. The most recent one was in August 2024, during which inspectors noted eight different violations. Fisher had three other violations in May and March 2024 combined. The August violations were related to housing, ventilation and veterinary issues. Sam and Ben Kauffman/Chester View Kennel, formerly Sunny Slope Kennels, Honey Brook: The facility was previously called Sunny Slope Kennels. The operation was closed for enforcement reasons in 2010, but later reopened in 2012 and has had recurring issues since then. Most recently, the kennel was cited in late 2024 for enclosures 'that were caked with dirt and grime,' and one enclosure that was not large enough; it received a verbal and written warning. Issues in prior years included another written and verbal warning for keeping dogs in such dark buildings that it was difficult to check on the health of the dogs, and dirty, unsanitary and unsafe conditions. State officials found veterinary issues almost every year between 2013 and 2023. Elizabeth and John King/Sunrise Kennel, Narvon: State inspectors who visited Sunrise Kennel in April 2024 viewed 'several dogs with abnormal conditions' and made a referral to the Pennsylvania SPCA over their concerns. They also ordered veterinary examinations on three dogs. It was at least the sixth time in five years that veterinary checks were required at Sunrise Kennel. Veterinary checks were also ordered at least once in 2022, twice in 2021, and twice in 2020. Naomi King/Lucky Acres Kennel, Lititz: During a January inspection, dog wardens gave King a citation after finding unsanitary conditions for the third year in a row. She had already received a verbal and written warning at their previous visit in November 2024. At both visits, wardens found accumulations of excreta, and accumulations of hair, dirt and debris. King had also been found with similar issues in summer 2023, when wardens found food and/or water that was contaminated with feces, not just once, but at two visits in a row, as well accumulations of excreta, debris and hair in the dogs' enclosures and in other areas. Lavina Riehl/Springville Kennel, Kinzers: Springville Kennel has had recurring violations at its state inspections since at least 2019. In September 2024, the dog warden found 'water bowls to be contaminated with dead flies,' primary enclosures with hay/shavings that were 'saturated with feces and urine,' and accumulations of excreta, dirt and hair throughout the kennel. Lydia Stoltzfus/Oak Tree Kennel, Dry Run: Stoltzfus was issued a citation in spring 2024 after the dog warden found four violations related to issues such as a strong smell and 'an accumulation of dirt, feces and urine of many primary enclosures where dogs were being housed.' However, when the dog warden returned weeks later, several issues remained, and Stoltzfus received a warning for concerns related to unsanitary conditions. The issues were not determined to be corrected until a third inspection in July 2024. Mary and Benuel Stoltzfus/Mountain Top Kennel, Stevens: During a February inspection, Mountain Top Kennel received a state citation due to matted dogs. Iit was the fourth citation in as many years. Last December, an inspection had resulted in a citation due to an overdue veterinary examination and other issues. The kennel also had had at least two prior warnings from the state. Issues noted in 2023 included dogs who had been reportedly hidden on other properties that had not been inspected, and the warden noted that 'when questioning the kennel owner about the dogs he owns he repeatedly made false statements about how many dogs he owned and their locations.'
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hundreds of animals rescued after officials discover shocking conditions at farm: 'We can do great change'
The Ohio Wildlife Center has partnered with the Humane Society of the United States to save foxes, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and coyotes found living in deplorable circumstances on a fur farm near Cleveland, reported WSYX. The center's work is part of a growing movement to end the inhumane treatment of wildlife kept for fur production. Many of the rescued animals were discovered in filthy wire-bottom cages with poor protection from harsh weather. Others suffered from missing limbs after being caught in traps on the property. Returning to the wild isn't possible for these animals after their traumatic experiences. Instead, the center focuses on rehabilitation to place them in sanctuaries or educational facilities where they can live out their lives in proper care. The rehabilitation team has already seen promising results. A gray fox has become the first animal from this rescue ready for permanent placement. He will remain at the center as an educational ambassador. This rescue effort addresses fur farming's often-hidden cruelty and gives these animals a chance at a better life. Rehabilitating them educates the public about wildlife conservation and the ethical treatment of animals. The rescue benefits the animals and enriches the local community through educational programs. The gray fox will help visitors learn about this native species and develop a greater appreciation for wildlife conservation. "When all of us as rehabbers work together, we can do great change and support cases just like this," said David Donahue, development and communications manager at the Ohio Wildlife Center, per WSYX. Community members got involved through the center's WildNite event on April 3, which featured a silent auction where participants could bid to name the gray fox. According to Donahue, more animals from this rescue will find permanent homes within the next month. "To see some of them get the chance to be placed is super-amazing," Donahue continued, according to WSYX. "And to know where there are so many other animals that needed placement, we're starting to see a lot of these animals move toward placement." Should the U.S. government ban all products tested on animals? Absolutely No way Only certain kinds of products Let each state decide Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Missouri tops Horrible Hundred list of puppy mills in the U.S.
For the 13th year in a row, Missouri is the top state with kennels and puppy mills listed in the Humane World for Animals' (formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States) Horrible Hundred. Watch the full video above as Ozarks First's Bailey Strohl and Parker Padgett break down the breeders from our area and show photos of the conditions dogs are shown to be living in. The report, released annually, details what they call '100 problem puppy mills and puppy sellers in the United States.' Of the 26 on the report in Missouri, nearly 20 of them are in the OzarksFirst viewing area. The report includes kennels in Dora, West Plains, Stockton, Niangua, Wasola, El Dorado Springs, Springfield, Mount Vernon, Cabool, Bolivar, Pleasant Hope, Sturgeon and more. In the report, Humane World for Animals also lists how many times a specific kennel has been on the list, including photos and copies of inspections. You can find the report in its entirety at this link: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Brooklyn pet store owner accused of kidnapping NYC pigeons, selling them as live shooting targets
An alleged pigeon pirate is ruffling feathers in the concrete jungle. A longtime Brooklyn pet store owner is coming under fire after allegations resurfaced that he kidnaps pigeons from public parks and illegally sells them to hunters to be used as live shooting targets, The Post has learned – but his brother claims activists have pigeonholed the wrong guy. Michael Scott, co-owner of Broadway Pigeon & Pet Supplies in Bushwick, has been accused of purloining pigeons for decades, according to animal rights activist Tina Piña, who claims her own Brooklyn pigeon flock was ransacked by the store owner this month. 'My beloved flock was netted a week ago, and I know that it happens – but when it happens to you, it's different,' said Piña, whose flock roosts regularly at Maria Hernandez Park in Bushwick and who organized a 60-person rally outside the pet store Saturday. About 15 to 20 of her beloved birds, which she has cared for for a decade, were captured by a man at the park in the early morning hours of April 1, a witness told Piña — who goes by 'Mother Pigeon' on Instagram. The same individual reportedly netted more pigeons in the days following – and Piña claims Scott is behind the bird-brained scheme. Pigeon trapping on public property is illegal and considered animal abuse, according to NYC's 311 portal. A request for comment from Scott, 56, was not immediately returned, but his brother Joey Scott, who co-owns Broadway Pigeon & Pet Supplies, claims the duo have never caught pigeons from the street, and instead sell off unwanted pigeons from their inherited rooftop coop without asking many questions. 'Dog trainers call me from different states, they want to come take birds,' he said, adding that he's also sold white pigeons for funerals and weddings from the generations of birds they inherited from their grandfather in 1971. 'Some people come [buy birds] to do voodoo sacrifices, I'm sure,' he added. 'I don't ask what they do with them, but they kill them and they train dogs with them … if I have my own pigeons and they're mine and nobody else's and I breed them, I'm allowed to do what I want with them.' The Scott brothers previously came under fire in July 2008 after an attorney admitted the store sold birds to a pigeon broker in charge of an invitation-only pigeon shooting tournament in Pennsylvania, where such contests called flyer shooting are still legal, The Post previously reported. 'The Humane Society of the United States believes that some of the pigeons who end up as living targets in the circuit of live pigeon shoots in Pennsylvania come from the brokers at Broadway Pigeons in New York City,' a rep for the nonprofit told The Post at the time. Though Piña said the paper trail for illegal out-of-state pigeon sales is difficult to pin down, it's not surprising that her flock was ransacked just ahead of contest season. 'It's timing … They collect the pigeons right before the weekend of the shoot, and then the pigeons are all gone,' Piña said. In a 2018 report expressing support for a Pennsylvania law that would make pigeon shoots illegal, the New York City Bar Association concluded that many of the pigeons used for the Pennsylvania target practice are illegally trapped in New York City and transported across state lines. More than two dozen pigeon shoots took place in 2016, according to the report, in which thousands of pigeons were shot. Some of the birds 'suffered a slow and painful death, were denied veterinary care, and in some cases, had their heads torn off and bodies smashed by children hired to collect their bodies,' according to the report. 'Netting' has been a phenomenon for decades in the city, Piña contends, with 311 reports dating back to at least 2010. Piña claims netting has taken place across the city's parks including Father Demo Square in the West Village, Tompkins Square Park in the East Village and Washington Square Park – and even on street corners, according to an Instagram video posted by activist group Pigeons4Miles, which claims to depict Michael Scott 'or possibly one of his friends' in the act. But Joey called fowl play on the allegation. He said the man in the video isn't his brother or affiliated with Pigeons on Broadway at all, and the store is being framed by bird lovers. 'It's not him, it's a Spanish guy with a black beard [in the video],' Joey said. 'The guys that do it, they've been caught by the cops,' he said. 'But the cops make them release the birds, that's it. They don't do nothing.' John Di Leonardo, executive director of animal rights group Humane Long Island, told The Post the issue of pigeon trapping and netting is long overdue for an enforcement overhaul. 'The authorities need to investigate this, and [Michael Scott] needs to be arrested for the violation of state and local laws,' Di Leonardo told The Post. 'Laws are only as good as their enforcement, and we need the NYPD to take animal cruelty seriously and arrest this guy. It's been decades.' 'The city knows, the animal cruelty unit of New York City knows who is doing it,' Piña added. 'They have license plate numbers, they have reports – they have decided this is something they don't want to deal with.' Piña has since decided she will be taking the issue to social media and on the ground demonstrations and protests all summer – 'until this stops.' 'It feels like a lost cause because the propaganda against pigeons is so strong,' she said. 'They're incredible creatures, and they give us life to the city … New Yorkers don't have rivers and streams and forests to walk amongst — we have pigeons that bring us back to nature.'
