from Trevor Chin - tmchin@yahoo.com
This was written by a Japanese Chin breeder and
columnist for the AKC Gazette who witnessed in person the following ~~
As I walked up to the front of a big metal barn I first
notice a sign beside the door, "No cameras or video equipment, violators
will be prosecuted." Wearing plastic boots and gloves I entered the barn
and quickly understood why the sign was there. The front half of the
barn was filled with dust covered chairs, the back half looked like a
concentration camp for dogs. There were row upon row of filthy, rusty
wire cages filled with dogs, 300 of them to be auctioned. I first
noticed some powder puff Cresteds that turned out to be Maltese, then I
did see some Cresteds that I thought were some kind of Terriers and so
it went. These dogs did not meet any standard for their breeds. They
were in the poorest of poor condition; splayed, swollen, inflamed feet
from spending their entire lives on wire. Cavalier puppies were sick,
dull coats, shivering little bodies with little legs hanging down
through the wire, it just ripped my heart out. Two large dogs were
covered with mange and had big tattoos on their hips like we see on
cattle on wild west movies.
It gets worse!!! I walked to the very back of the barn
where two men were huddled together, I casually walked by to observe
them micro chipping AKC dogs, on the premises, on a filthy dirty table
in the most unhealthy of all circumstances. I returned to the car and
got my own chair and felt like the lowest form of human being present.
The auction started, dog after dog sold bringing anywhere from $50 to
$500. They had girls working bringing the poor creatures to the auction
block where people would run up and poke, prod, and then pry open their
mouths to check bite, I'm not sure why, they were buying bad bites and
dogs with only one testicle for breeding (inherited condition). The dogs
could not stand on the table, it was apparent that they had never been
on solid surface. Every dog I saw looked as if it had given up all
desire to live and to be truthful with you, death would have been a
blessing for all of them.
They lifted up a huge Chihuahua that was very pregnant
and the auctioneer told how she always whelped 5 to 6 puppies, good
mother and still had a lot of good breedings left in her. I looked at my
sale sheet and she had whelped just six months ago and was 7 1/2 yrs.
old. One Chi male they could not get out of his plastic carrier because
he was biting, the owner came with big heavy leather gloves and tried to
get him out, a rescue person bought him for $43, I believe he was far
beyond rescuing.
Most of the AKC dogs were sold with anywhere from 1 to 4
supplemental transfers, just imagine the life they lead. Now we will get
to the buyers, all the Southwest Mo. puppy mill owners were present. One
of them lives at Miller, Mo. only 8 miles from my home and the other one
lives at Mt. Vernon, Mo. only 10 miles from me, unfortunately this one
now has a so called agent showing her Chin, she has 15 in her back yard
up on wire along with 110 other dogs and 15 different breeds and her
daughter had recently been fired from her job working at this sale barn.
These people represented the scum of the earth, as dirty as the barn
they were in. I wanted to take these people outside and use a pressure
washer on each one. They strutted around proud as punch of themselves
and their accomplishments in the "dog industry".
The auction started at 11:00 am and I stayed for only
two hours after they sold 100 dogs with the other 200 still to sell, it
was 1:00 PM when I left, which meant it would be about 5:00 before the
auction would be over. Now keep in mind that a large portion of these
dogs were brought in the evening before and put in the cages. They were
not offered any food or water because they didn't want them to eliminate
in the cages before the sale.
These poor dogs have no quality of life, no love, and no
attention. They just seem to go back and forth from one puppy mill to
another, there was no one there just looking for a pet. These dogs could
never be pets now, they are simply puppy manufacturing plants. This is
part of what is call the "dog industry," one I assure you we should all
be up in arms about. AKC should have more respect for their Kennel Club
than to turn a blind eye to what is going on every weekend, not only one
but usually two each week end, continuing into June and then starting
again in Sept and running through Dec.
I was introduced to the USDA inspector that waltzed
through the barn and then seemed to disappear. I don't blame her, she
was far too dressed up for the occasion and certainly looked out of
place. The AKC inspector did all she could, she did pull some papers of
some dogs, the new owners won't know until they try to register them but
most of them got though under the wire. Thanks to Laura Rencher
insisting that I get on some Paxil, I made it though without bursting
into tears, instead it made me furious. I have thought of nothing else
since last Sunday. I keep thinking, what can I do to make a difference?
But then, Madeline O'Hare single handedly got prayer removed from
schools so perhaps I can do something. I intend to go to some more such
auctions and I will take pictures even if you do have to bail me out of
jail. I am going to try and get reinforcements to go with me. Perhaps if
we make enough racket, AKC will start to listen. If 'the fancy" isn't
thrilled with my June column in the AKC Gazette just wait until they
read the Sept issue. I welcome any and all advise and suggestions, I'm
determined that together we can make a difference. Betty
P.S. A few of us who are involved with Boston Terrier
rescue have been trying to save some of these puppy mill auction Bostons
whenever we can. We rehabilitate them, spay/neuter, vet them, and find
wonderful homes for them. These dogs CAN be saved and there are some of
us out there who are trying our best! Please help us if you can. For the
Love of ALL Bostons, Roie Griego
Go on to Greyhound
Racing Around the World
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