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Puppy Mills

Puppy mills are a horrible reality for many dogs, there is a significant market for puppies in pet stores and large scale breeding operations are a profitable means of producing the product. Puppies are sold in pet stores and via websites and online ads, such as Kijiji. Typical puppy mill operations house dogs in small cages, provide little food and water, no health care, exercise or affection as the dogs pump out litter after litter. When a dog is no longer profitable, she is killed or left to die. 

Due to lax regulations and poor enforcement, Quebec is a haven for puppy mills, and the province contains more puppy mills than any other jurisdiction in North America. In the Fall of 2008, three major busts, the largest in Canada's history, freed hundreds of dogs from this fate. While some of the puppy mill operators are still going through the legal system, it is evident that the punishment for their crime against these dogs is completely unfitting. Visit http://www.notocruelty.com/ for more information on the efforts in eliminating puppy mills in Quebec. 

Journey was one of the dogs rescued in September of 2008 from a puppy mill bust in Rawdon, Quebec. The physical toll on her body after years and years of breeding is evident. She has such a sweet soul and is loving and affectionate and trusting of humans even after years of abuse. Journey weighed just 63 pounds when she arrived in rescue (the breed standard is approximately 110 pounds). Today she has gained 30 pounds, and is learning how to be a dog for the first time.

Wishbone is a mixed breed adopted by Luc, owner of Garson Pet Food Express. Wishbone was found emaciated and parasite-infested, extremely underweight, and had patches of fur missing. Yet he still had the spirit to trust those who wanted to help him. Today he is gaining weight, full of energy, and his fur is soft and shiny. He has settled in beautifully with his new sister, Maybe, and is living the good life greeting customers at the store.

Also luck enough to find a home here in Sudbury is Tessa, a blue merle great dane owned by Claude and Luc, Skiplyn Kennels Students. A picture will be provided shortly.

Several of the dogs rescued from this set of puppy mill busts are still in rescue, surviving in foster homes on the generosity of donations. Virtually all of the dogs have had health problems that require ongoing veterinary attention and the vet bills amount to a cost in thousands of dollars. If you are wanting to donate to this cause you can contact Tammy for more information or contact one of the rescues that is continuing to foster dogs from the mill busts directly.

Rawdon Puppy Mill: Journey's Origin

More than 110 dogs Rescued from a Puppy Mill in Rawdon September 26th 2008 - Humane Society International and the Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals joined forces this morning to raid a puppy mill in Rawdon, Quebec. More than 100 dogs living in deplorable conditions were found at the property, and taken promptly to the CSPCA shelter.

“This is one of, if not the largest, puppy mill raid conducted in Quebec in more than 10 years,” said Alanna Devine, acting executive director at the CSPCA. “The Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is proud to partner with Humane Society International for this groundbreaking puppy mill raid. I hope that this will open the eyes of Canadians to the cruelty of the puppy mill industry and the gravity of this problem in the Province of Quebec. This demonstrates why we are known as the ‘puppy mill capital of North America’.”

HSI and CSPCA rescuers were able to save 110 dogs, seven cats and one rabbit from this overrun breeding facility. The dogs, ranging from Boston Terriers to Dogues de Bordeaux, were living in piles of their own feces, and many were suffering from obvious medical conditions such as open sores and severe skin conditions. Skeletal remains were found still locked in cages inside the home, and a pile of burned animal remains was found in the rear of the property.

“The conditions at this puppy mill were by far the worst Humane Society International has ever seen,” said Rebecca Aldworth, director of animal programs for HSI Canada. “These animals were living in tiny wire cages stacked on top of one another with little or no access to food or water. Ninety percent of the dogs we rescued were severely emaciated, and many needed immediate medical attention. It is criminal that the CSPCA does not have the power to enforce provincial animal welfare legislation; in absence of this, puppy mills will continue to thrive in Quebec.”

HSI and CSPCA set up an emergency shelter to house the dogs rescued from the squalid cages where they had been doomed to spend their lives. All of the dogs will be checked by a veterinarian and given any necessary medical care before being settled in at the CSPCA shelter.

Humane Society International will have broadcast-quality video and photos available from this operation for viewing and download by news media outlets at http://video.hsus.org.


Media Contact:
Jordan Crump, HSI: 301-548-7793
Alanna Devine, CSPCA: 514-735-2711 ext.2245