This weekend, Americans across the country will be celebrating Memorial Day just how it was meant to be celebrated: with barbecue, beer, and a bunch of good friends and relatives. If you’re hosting a BBQ at your house and you plan to have your dog present, follow these tips to make sure your four-legged friend behaves:

1. Keep all human food out of paw’s reach. If you’ve ever turned an eye for a second only to have your plate of freshly cooked burger patties disappear into a furry stomach, then you know how important it is to keep dogs far away from any human food. Keep all food elevated, and if your dog is large or a jumper, consider setting up the food buffet style inside so that your dog can stay outside with the crowd and you won’t have to worry. Not only will this keep your guests from going hungry, it wil also ensure your pup doesn’t have access to potentially dangerous things like cooked bones or toxic ingredients.

2. Have a yummy distraction ready. Our dogs’ sense of smell is so good that they basically see with their noses, and barbecues paint quite the delicious picture. Avoid the temptation to give your dog lots of food off the table (that will only teach bad manners), and instead whip up some easy frozen treats just for him. Here are some cool treat ideas to get you started. Per usual, always have lots of fresh water available too.

3. Know when enough is enough. Your dog will likely love all the attention and pets, but pay attention to any signs that  he is getting tired or antsy. If you notice that it looks like he needs a break, let him chill out inside for awhile. You’ll be able to focus more on your guests, and your dog will get the nap he probably needed to take two hours ago.

Have more tips for a stress-free barbecue? Share in the comments!

By Tatiana Garrett

I can say from experience that single people looking for love spend significant amounts of time considering the traits that they would like to see in their ideal mate. Daydreaming, paired with the fact that I teach people about how to care for pets, made me realize that there is a lot in common between people that would be ideal to date and people that make great pet parents. For example:

Empathy. True love is based on a solid foundation of friendship and mutual respect. Loving another person or a pet means that you are able to put yourself in the shoes (or paws) of your loved one, understand their feelings, and at times are even willing to put their needs ahead of your own. It’s okay to be late to the impromptu happy hour because going home to walk your best friend takes priority. When this trait translates into romance, you’re happy to do things that make your partner happy––even if the activities aren’t your personal favorites.

Unconditional Love. Responsible pet parents adopt a furry friend for life. If he destroys your favorite pair of shoes and pees on the $500 rug, frustration doesn’t make real love go away. Human relationships require the same patience and understanding. Every lasting relationship requires work, and those willing to invest reap the best rewards.

Healthy Living. We all like to be around the person that is the life of the party, but at the end of the day, relationships last when they leave you with more than a hangover. True friends and responsible pet parents want to see their loved ones healthy and happy. A long reflective walk in the park with your special friend can be better than any crazy party. You and your pup may both want to scarf down cheeseburgers, but love means wanting to see the ones you care about live a long and happy life so cheers to the dating partners and pet parents that make healthy choices for their loved ones.

Values. Every person has different emotional needs––some require activity partners while others place a stronger value on affection and intimacy. Regardless of individual differences, meaningful bonds are built on priorities that have a little depth. A “neat freak” will ultimately accept that a little hair on your clothes isn’t a deal breaker when you live with a companion animal. In dating, you can learn to find someone’s quirks endearing because you are so smitten with the overall bond you share. If you want someone that values companionship over looks, look to someone that adopted a pet over someone that paid a breeder because they would spare no expense simply to have a pet that looked just so.

Non-Violent. When talking about healthy relationships, this trait should be priority number one. Violence is never okay. In relationships, everyone should value themselves enough to have zero tolerance for abuse. When it comes to pets, the same rule applies. Only use positive reinforcement (rewards for good behavior). That is the only training technique that actually develops the human-animal bond. Any form of punishment only teaches fear and punishment avoidance. It is much better to have a pet that looks to you with excitement and can’t wait to make you happy, than a pet that will do whatever it needs to in order to not get punished.

Since the traits for dating partners and pet parents are so similar perhaps there is a deeper correlation. If you’re single and looking for someone patient, compassionate, and open to giving unconditional love, visit a dog park, dog-friendly event (“Yappy Hours” are fun!), or go to events that support your local animal shelter as you’re likely to meet some eligible pet parents. Bear in mind that in order to receive love in a healthy relationship, you must be willing and able to give it as well. Consider adopting a pet to build your own skills of empathy and compassion.

Here are some other articles I’ve written on the subject:

Dating with Pets: Embrace your Wild Side

Pets Rock! Bret Michaels Talks to Tatiana About Dating with Pets 

Tatiana Garrett grew up with Borzoi, a rescued Standard Poodle, cats, hamsters, parrots, rabbits, guinea pigs, and an iguana… just to name a few pets. She began her professional career with animals in 1995 at Brookfield Zoo. She has studied wild dolphins in Australia and rescued wildlife in Florida, but people are truly at the heart of her work. If it walks, hops, or slithers, Tatiana cares about it. She currently oversees the Humane Education programs at The Anti-Cruelty Society and hosts “Chicago Tails“ on Watch312.com.

As part of its seventh annual Puppy Mill Action Week earlier this month, The Humane Society of the United States released “A Horrible Hundred,” a report listing 100 puppy mills. The HSUS is calling on authorities to more closely monitor these and the thousands of other facilities across the country, and is also urging state legislators to pass stronger laws to protect dogs in puppy mills. The puppy mills were selected based on the conditions documented in publicly available inspection reports and on evidence obtained during HSUS research and investigations.

“Every year, millions of puppies are born in horrific puppy mills and sold to unsuspecting families,” said Melanie Kahn, senior director of The HSUS’s Puppy Mills Campaign. “We urge consumers to do serious homework before buying a puppy, and we ask lawmakers, law enforcement officials and the pet industry representatives to support laws that will crack down on this cruelty.”

The HSUS asks supporters to spread the word about the realities of puppy mills by sharing this video (watch video below),  pledging not to buy a puppy mill dog from a pet store or Internet site and by always considering adoption from a shelter or rescue or purchasing only from a responsible breeder they have met in person.

The HSUS is not charging that these are the worst 100 mills in the nation, but these are operations with deficiencies and inadequate attention to animal welfare. They are indicative of the puppy mill culture that has become widespread and causes immense suffering for dogs.

Some states require pet stores to post the names of the breeders in a visible location, such as on the dogs’ cages, so consumers have additional information about where the puppies came from, and other large-scale commercial dog breeders sell directly to consumers over the Internet.

The HSUS found that:

• Most of the 100 facilities have been cited repeatedly by federal or state inspectors for violations such as injured and sick dogs who had not been treated by a veterinarian, animals left in the freezing cold or blistering heat without protection, filthy conditions, and, in some cases, operators who performed surgeries on dogs without a veterinary license or shot and killed unwanted dogs.

• States with the highest numbers of puppy mills on this list include Missouri (24), Ohio (15), Kansas (11), Iowa, (8), and Indiana and New York (6 each).

• More than half of the puppy mills listed had more than 100 dogs and puppies on the premises according to their most recent state or federal inspection reports. At least 30 of the facilities had more than 200 dogs and puppies, and one (Clearwater Kennel in Minnesota) had more than 1,100.

• The report covers puppy mills in 20 different states, but puppies from these breeders are shipped to pet stores and Internet buyers across the country so consumers never see the real conditions in which they were born and raised.

• Many of the facilities in the report claim to be affiliated with the American Kennel Club. The AKC increasingly lobbies against laws that would require puppy mills to be more uniformly licensed and inspected.

• The HSUS urges the USDA to swiftly finalize a rule to require all large-scale commercial puppy sellers to be uniformly licensed and inspected, including those that sell directly to consumers over the Internet. Additionally, the USDA needs to streamline its procedures for reporting problem operators to law enforcement and preventing operators from re-starting under a new name or license number.

See the list by state here.

Read the full report here.

FACTS:

• Puppy mills are mass-breeding facilities that churn out puppies for the pet trade with an emphasis on profit over welfare. Breeding dogs in puppy mills have no real quality of life, often living continually in small wire cages with little or no personal attention, exercise or veterinary care.
• In recent years The HSUS has assisted in rescuing nearly 10,000 dogs from more than 50 different puppy mills across the country churning out more than 2 million puppies per year for the pet trade.
• While The HSUS stands ready to assist law enforcement with closing down illegal puppy mills whenever feasible, there remain an estimated 10,000 puppy mills across the United States, and many of them are legal.

By Jen Lutz-Paolella

Most cat parents can to relate to that dreaded day they face with their feline friend—you know, the day you bring your cat to the vet. The night before, you begin detailing your strategy. You plot and stress over every step. As your eyes begin rolling into the back of your head, you wonder if it’s really necessary. The trigger which sent my cat into a hasty retreat was the sound of the carrier door hinges creaking from the porch. In an instant he was blending into the carpet, and crawling more quickly to hide under the bed than he would towards a pound of catnip.  A flashlight revealed his location far back against the wall, and the rest was far from a picnic.

After several trials, we now have an annual 10-step plan for cat-in-carrier success that even the U.S. Secretary of Defense would endorse. Perhaps these common challenges which cat parents face are factors that contribute to the latest reports on cat guardianship and the frequency of their veterinary visits. According to the “2012 AVMA U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographic Source Book,” a staggering 44.9% of cat parents did not take their cat to the veterinarian once in 2011. This statistic causes experts to wonder: Why the decline?

Ensuring that your cat visits the veterinarian at least once a year is very important for optimal health and life expectancy. The AVMA reported that the number one reason that cats were not brought to the veterinarian for the entire year was because “the cat did not get sick or injured” (53%). Here are some important things to consider:

• Cats instinctively hide their symptoms of pain: Even though your cat is a domestic pet, the rules from the wild kingdom still dominate: Cats that exhibit signs of pain are seen as more vulnerable to predators. Although your cat appears to be fine at home, an annual exam with your veterinarian will provide reassurance that physical and emotional health are ideal.
• Physical exams don’t tell us everything: Diagnostic testing once a year can provide very useful information about your cat’s biological health. Cats are very susceptible to urinary tract, dental, and renal disease, especially as they age. Monitoring these values to detect early stage conditions will greatly help.

The other reasons that caregivers did not take their cat to the vet in a 12-month-period were the following:

Financial concern: 21.5%

Cat did not need vaccines: 17.3%

Too hard to transport: 3.2%

Other: 4.1%

The good news is that the majority of cat parents say they value their cat as being “members of the family” as opposed to “property.” Our pets are our family; surely it’s worth it to endure the all-too-often inconveniences of getting our cat into a carrier and making the journey.

By ensuring that your cat sees your veterinarian a minimum of once a year, you are offering the best health care possible, saving yourself from more costly visits during the later years, and most importantly, adding to the years that you and your cat family member are able to spend together.

Jennifer Lutz-Paolella is a freelance medical writer with extensive experience in the veterinary industry including: consulting, education, marketing, and sales. She is an advocate for animal health and welfare, and lives in Chicago with her husband Tony and their cat Ti.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), each year more than 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs. One in five require medical attention (and of this group, roughly half are children).

No dogs are born aggressive biters, but poor training, lack of socialization, neglect, abuse, and other negative factors can turn them into one. In honor of National Dog Bite Prevention Week (May 19-25), Foothills Animal Shelter has shared these tips for making sure your dogs and children are safe and well-behaved:

1. Socialization in many different scenarios is beneficial for future interactions with people and your pet (in the park, with men/women/kids, with other animals, on a walk, etc.).

2. Taking your dog or puppy to a professional trainer is an excellent way to help socialize your canine around other people and animals. Additionally, they will learn what is expected of them and how to behave.

3. Be sure to have your pet current on their rabies vaccination (it’s the law and it protects your pet from possible wildlife interactions).

4. If your dog doesn’t do well in social settings, don’t place him/her in those situations. Use common sense and know your pet’s limitations.

5. Proper supervision with pets and kids is extremely important to remember. At minimum, a good rule of thumb is to keep any child under the age of 10 supervised with pets.

6. Teach your child not to go up to strange dogs. If your child is with you and you see a dog, you can teach them to always ask the guardian of a dog if they may be petted. There are some circumstances that it’s simply not wise, no matter what an guardian says (in a stressful environment, if a dog seems anxious, etc.).

For more information on dog bite statistics and prevention, visit the AVMA website.

Related:

Pet Trusts, Pet Law, Dog Bites, and Power of Attorney for Pets

Dog Park Etiquette and Safety

Positive Training Principles and Tips

Related:

Puppy vs. Giggle Ball (Video)

How to Exercise with Your Cats (Video)

The Best Part of a Mailman’s Day (Video)

By Tatiana Garrett

Violence is a virus, and animals are the Penicillin.

It’s nothing new to look at the violence epidemic in the same way that public health experts look at virus transmissions. We know the problem spreads like a cold—one violent occurrence triggering another until we see a rash explode across the face of a city. Why can’t the cure be looked at in the same light? How do we unlock the empathy and compassion within us all so it can spread like wildfire?

I believe wholeheartedly that pets can unleash the human potential to cure violence. To be humane is to be compassionate. You don’t even have to have a pet to garner these lessons.

I’ve gone into Cook County Juvenile Detention with dogs and seen incarcerated youth open up by identifying with an animal that had been abused. After some gentle petting and gazing into the eyes of a trusting and non-judgmental dog, imprisoned youth have opened up and engaged in discussions about wrongful abuse of power and the importance of helping children and animals that do not have the power to stand up for themselves. I’ve listened to the young men glean inspiration and talk about hope for their futures and things they want to do differently when they get out.

Animals touch the human spirit and unlock some pretty great things. You don’t have to take my word for it: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention even has an entire page on the health benefits of pet guardianship. Studies have shown that petting the soft fur of a cat (or dog) lowers your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and increases the chemicals in your brain that make you happy. Having a furry face to come home to that will give you unconditional love also makes you less lonely. In particular, dogs need to be taken for walks and walking is good for human health. Dogs increase opportunities for socialization and exercise. Not to quote Legally Blonde, but “Exercise releases endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot [people].” Yes, correlation is not causation and people can have pets and still be jerks, but the message is that in general, pets help spread empathy and compassion.

If pets can truly be a catalyst to unlocking compassion—thereby acting as a violence vaccine—what can we do with this knowledge to work against violence?

• Spread Positive Stories – The media is full of tales of violence. Make a conscience effort to spread positive stories (like this one) more than you share the negative ones. Media outlets can easily see which stories are viewed the most, and if there is more of a demand for “feel good” stories that herald good deeds more positive tales may make headlines.
• Encourage Youth – There are lots of young people out there that aren’t dealing drugs and being bullies. Whether it’s your kids, nieces, nephews, or a teen in your neighborhood, offer words of encouragement and praise the good deeds that children do. The Anti-Cruelty Society offers an anti-violence after school program for Chicago high school kids. Refer teens to programs like that or support a program yourself by being a mentor, volunteer, or donor.
• Adopt a Pet –If you adopt a dog, consider working your way up to Canine Good Citizen certification and then volunteering to bring the positive effects of pet contact to those that cannot have a pet (hospitals, hospice care, incarcerated youth, and more).
• Be Nice! – Empathy can spread just as quickly as violence so choose to infect others with kindness. I’m not endorsing the insurance company, but Liberty Mutual created a couple commercials that show some simple ways kindness can be infectious.

In what other ways do animals teach compassion? Share in the comments!

Tatiana Garrett grew up with Borzoi, a rescued Standard Poodle, cats, hamsters, parrots, rabbits, guinea pigs, and an iguana… just to name a few pets. She began her professional career with animals in 1995 at Brookfield Zoo. She has studied wild dolphins in Australia and rescued wildlife in Florida, but people are truly at the heart of her work. If it walks, hops, or slithers, Tatiana cares about it. She currently oversees the Humane Education programs at The Anti-Cruelty Society and hosts “Chicago Tails“ on Watch312.com.

By Darlene Duggan

Gone are the days where a shelter is simply a clearinghouse for homeless and stray animals. Today, shelters have become complex, multi-faceted organizations that boast impressive live release rates, quality husbandry and animal care, and services for the community beyond animal relinquishments and adoptions. One of the most important roles shelters play is in preventing animals from entering the sheltering system in the first place. And, in my opinion, this may be one of the most important jobs.

As any passionate shelter staffer will tell you, the goal of our jobs is to put ourselves out of business. That is to say, the day there are no homeless pets will be the pinnacle of our careers. So, what are the ways that shelters are trying to prevent relinquishment? Here are a few:

Behavior and Training Classes: One common reason for surrender to a shelter is behavior problems. To combat this statistic head on, many humane societies have added comprehensive behavior and training classes for the community. Regardless of whether they adopt a shelter animal or not, people can head to their local shelter for Dog Training 101 and beyond. In addition, most shelters and rescues also offer in-house behavior and training plans for shelter animals to begin their education and make them more desirable for adoption. Think of it as a “jump-start” program for pets!

Behavior Hotlines: Some shelters with behaviorists on staff are opening behavior help desks where anyone can call and receive free behavior advice. Check out the program offered by the Capital Area Humane Society for a good example.

Surrender Counseling and Scheduled Intakes: Many shelters (even open-door shelters) are scheduling intakes to ensure adequate time to get information from caregivers. These scheduled sessions also serve as an opportunity to discuss alternative options for the person and their pet.

• Financial difficulties? Shelters can point the client to low cost veterinary options or even pet food pantries.
• Behavior issues? Shelters can recommend training classes, behavior hotlines, or other behavior resources.
• Housing crisis? There may be temporary care facilities able and willing to take the pet.

The HSUS’s Pets for Life program bridges the gap between communities and resources available to care for their pets. These types of programs are popping up locally too. In my Chicago community, Pets are Like Family is stepping in to provide services for pets and families to avoid pet relinquishment. Shelters are stepping in to help make pet guardians aware of their options before deciding to relinquish their pets.

Lost/Found Listings: While there are many online resources dedicated to posting lost and found animals, shelters post lost/found listings as well. Some shelter management software makes this task very simple and listings are linked to stray intakes. When the unfortunate situation of losing a pet does arise, it’s a real service to the community when shelters manage these lost and found reports and also reduce the shelter intake by doing so.

Pet Food Pantries: Many shelters will offer pet food pantries to the public. They will either specifically accept donations for the food pantry or will give away any donations they are not able to use for the shelter animals. Most groups have requirements for participation: recent job loss, household income falls below poverty levels, or fixed-income seniors to ensure the food is going to those who truly need it.

Pet Friendly Housing Lists: Some shelters will maintain a listing of pet-friendly housing (both rentals and purchases) options available in their area. Some realtors have taken the lead and created organizations specifically for this issue (such as the Pet Realty Network and Realtors to the Rescue). These third party realty groups are additional resources shelters can use to advise clients before relinquishment as well.

More often, we are seeing shelters getting ahead of the homeless pet problem in their community by participating in preventing relinquishment. Here’s to the day when we are all out of a job!

Darlene Duggan worked for many years behind the scenes at The Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago overseeing volunteer programs, problem solving shelter issues, and laboring tirelessly for the welfare of animals. Her bi-weekly column, The Shelter Voice, explores the complex concepts surrounding animal rescue and welfare usually reserved for discussions amongst those at the very front lines of the industry. 

Related:

10 Things Every Shelter Volunteer Should Know

The Shelter Voice: Length of Stay

A Returned Adoption is not a Failure

By Kathy Mordini

Who’s looking out for the dogs in Iowa’s puppy mills

Debra Pratt’s puppy mill, one of Iowa’s most notorious, was finally shut down as of the last weekend in April. The dogs were auctioned off at the facility in New Sharon, Iowa. As the last of the dogs left the facility, animal advocates in the Midwest have been left with more questions than answers.

The auction itself, which was held at the puppy mill instead of an offsite location, was disorganized and fraught with confusion. However, it was what rescuers saw at Pratt’s mill that was even more disturbing. From the animal debris on the property to the condition of the kennels, the sights, sounds, and smells were jarring to even the most experiences rescuers.

“There were tufts of fur and bones peeking out of the top soil, sporadically littered across the farm,” says Amy Heinz of A Heinz 57 Pet Rescue and Transport. Her group had been at an Amish auction the previous day and thought they had seen the worst then. “There were little dog bodies left like garbage to decompose and disappear as if their lives had no meaning.”

“This was one of the worst we’d seen,” since Molly Marino of the Chicago English Bulldog Rescue. Her organization saved 23 dogs through the auction. “The ammonia stench was so bad the experienced rescuers were vomiting and had to leave the kennel. The dogs were stinky, covered in sores, full of skin infections, ear infections, tail infections, and eye ulcers.”

“There were so many; hundreds of dogs living in such horrific conditions,” added Heinz. “My mind was almost paralyzed trying to comprehend, or justify, or make any kind of sense as to how this could possibly be allowed in the State of Iowa, by the USDA, and just the simple laws of humanity and our innate sense of right and wrong.”

Growing concerns

Problems at the Pratt mill were not new. The USDA had found repeated violations during inspections going back several years that have been documented on the USDA’s Animal and Plant inspection site (APHIS). As far back as three years ago, the operation had been sited for poor ventilation, lack of proper care for the dogs, and veterinary issues. Although certain problems had started to escalate according to USDA reports, the mill continued to operate.

Then in late March, there was another inspection. Instead of just one inspector, three came to the property. That inspection resulted in a 19-page report highlighted by an unheard of 25 violations from one inspection. Those violations provided detailed information on health issues for the dogs that had been ignored, severe matting, poor kennel conditions, lack of veterinary care, and more–all clear violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

It appears that that inspection may have been the end of the road for Debra Pratt’s puppy mill business.  The auction was held the end of April.

Removal of dogs from the mill

“We think it was a deal between her and the USDA—a quick thing that she had to get out—no one talked about the terms between the two,” says Nancy Harvey of the Iowa Voters for Companion Animals. She was there to observe and help pull and transport dogs for other rescues. “We do know that there were rescues that came in and pulled at least 100 dogs out of her place in early March, well before the auction.”

Many of those dogs also had serious health issues and authorities were contacted at that time. Although Harvey was shocked by what she saw on sight, she wasn’t surprised. Her organization was very familiar with Debra Pratt’s puppy mill and the continued bad reports.

“Our organization has a wall of shame for really horrible puppy mill people,” says Harvey. “Inspectors will take pictures of the dogs that are suffering and not doing well. One of her dogs was featured on the wall of shame. We knew that her puppy mill definitely stood out as very bad, with horrible inspections over and over.”

Who’s watching the mill?

As a USDA licensed breeding operation, Pratt’s puppy mill was subject to USDA inspections, which could have resulted in that organization pulling her license. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) does inspections at state-licensed facilities, but not those licensed by the USDA unless a formal complaint is filed. IDALS issues USDA licensees an operating permit, but has no regular oversight of them. Sometimes local humane organizations or law enforcement step up and investigate, closing facilities down.

“There are no checks and balances and no one is watching the USDA,” says Harvey. “We have tried to get local law enforcement to take action on this business and others based on the reports. We need more for probable cause to get a warrant for the sheriff to be allowed on the property. There often isn’t enough time or a good way for us to get that documentation.”

A couple of other things stand in the way of local enforcement. Iowa has a strict “Ag Gag” bill. Under this law, anyone who gains employment in an agricultural facility under false pretenses and records what is going on without permission of the farmer is guilty of a criminal offense. If you’re caught and convicted, you face serious misdemeanor charges greater than anyone accused of animal abuse will face.

Who foots the bill?

Another issue is costs as well. These dogs were auctioned off and the operator made money. However, if law enforcement officials had stepped in and closed the operation down, the local community may have footed the bill to house and vet the animals and connect them with rescue. Farmers in Iowa face fines when livestock is found in this condition, the same should hold true for companion animal operations.

“In a perfect world, the USDA would have shut her down, and organizations like the Humane Society of the United States or APSCA would set up kennels and shelter to help with the rescue operation. They would help with vetting and expenses” says Harvey.

“What happened here was that the mill operator auctioned the dogs off and may have made money on the situation. The rescues bid to rescue the dogs and now are paying veterinary bills to get the dogs back to normal. It’s just wrong.”

Disarray and confusion at the mill

Victor.

Everyone I spoke with has talked about all the confusion at this auction. Usually dogs are numbered and tagged and there is some paperwork for a health certificate that would at least have records of vaccinations. That wasn’t the case here.

“There was mass confusion on site at the auction,” says Harvey. “Dogs were not tagged or document and Pratt was sitting in a tent giving vaccinations. They finally called in a veterinarian to the site. It was the most disorganized auction I’ve ever seen.”

There are also questions that came up during the day as well. Heinz’s rescue had bid on a small dog that they named Victor. He looked rag-tag, but fine when they bid on him. By the time the rescue claimed him after the auction, his face was bloody and his jaw was broken to the point it couldn’t close. They’ve set up a Facebook page to keep Victor’s story in the public eye. Donations are also needed.

“The other thing that has us very concerned is that we don’t think all the dogs have been removed from the property,” says Harvey. “There was an old mobile home with moms and newborn or very young puppies. Those dogs didn’t go up for auction. We’ve been working to find out what happened.”

Other dogs that didn’t drive up the price ended up being sold for $10 or so. Harvey pulled a couple of Chihuahuas and has passed them to a friends rescue. In the meantime, the rescues that won dogs at auction are getting them spay/neutered and getting other medical issues handled by veterinarians. Then, the socialization begins since many of these dogs have not had a kind human touch.

Documenting cruelty

The rescues that have pulled the dogs have been closely documenting abuse and other issues. Most are more than willing to work with investigators if charges are pursued. Heinz and another rescuer met with Charles Stream the new county attorney in the area in the days after the auction to follow up on the remaining dogs.

He called the manager of the Oskaloosa Shelter and asked her to drop everything and head to the property with the sheriff. Unfortunately, they didn’t go until the next day. By the time she went the following day, Pratt wasn’t answering her door and there had been ample time to remove any remaining dogs.

According to several people interviewed for this report, requests were made to IDALS and several other prominent animal welfare organizations—state, regional and national—to send representatives to this auction to oversee how the animals were handled. The hope was also that they would document any violations, health issues, and/or public safety concerns.

According to USDA records, Iowa has the second most licensed puppy mills after Missouri. As far as animal welfare laws are concerned, Iowa ranks 48 out of 50 states. Illinois ranks in the top five.

To learn more about the groups working to make a change in Iowa, check Iowa Friends of Companion Animals (IFCA) and Iowa Voters for Companion Animals. IFCA investigates and works on educating the public and lawmakers about puppy mills and the Voters organization works on new legislation for Iowa.

Chicago’s fight against puppy mills

In Chicago, The Puppy Mill Project continues to educate consumers about the connection between puppy mills and pet stores and Internet pet sales. The organization is working to tighten laws and has worked with several pet stores to stop selling puppies and move to an adoption model.

The organization’s annual Mother’s in the Mills benefit this Saturday at John Barleycorn’s at 149 West Kinzie in Chicago. The Puppy Mill Project holds their benefit on Mother’s Day weekend each year to remember the mother dogs left behind in the mills. This year’s event will honor Sonja Raymond and her family, owners of Chicago’s oldest pet store Collar & Leash. The store stopped selling puppies and kittens on April 1 and now hosts adoption events.

Kathy Mordini is an animal lover who has counted rescue pets as a member of her family since she was a child. As a writer, she is passionate about advocating for homeless pets and the rescues that give these pets a second chance. She also volunteers for The Puppy Mill Project. Read her pet rescue columns on the Examiner and her pet care columns on Doggy Woof.