Every puppy mill story is a nightmare, but the details of this one are particularly sordid. In the February 1 edition of DVM Newsmagazine, editor Rachael Whitcomb describes an outbreak of canine distemper virus resulting in euthanasia of more than 1000 dogs. Now here’s the kicker— the dogs were all from the same kennel! How I wish I’d read this incorrectly, but no. From the article:
More than 1000 dogs were euthanized as a last resort to thwart a canine distemper virus (CDV) outbreak at a USDA-licensed Kansas kennel, reports Dr. Bill Brown, Kansas’ Livestock Commissioner.
Am I supposed to feel better because the U.S. Department of Agriculture was “riding shotgun”? No, in fact their involvement makes the situation all the more deplorable. Canine distemper is completely preventable. How did the lethal combination of overcrowded, unclean conditions and inadequate vaccinations — the only way canine distemper can run rampant – manage to slip under the USDA radar?
Apparently quarantine (isolation of affected dogs) had been tried, but was ineffective, primarily because of the sheer numbers of dogs. From the Kansas Animal Health Department:
Quarantine in place was not an option due to the inability of the facility to continue to feed, water and care for the dogs, as well as the continued circulation of virus throughout the facility. The large number of dogs housed at the kennel made testing unfeasible. [...] Since officials could not determine whether or not each dog was free from infection, officials made the decision to euthanize the animals.
Apparently, the decision to euthanize so many dogs was difficult. (no kidding!). Again, from the Kansas Livestock Commissioner:
This difficult decision was the last choice of the department and the breeder, but in the end, all believe it was the only humane way to accomplish both objectives to prevent the spread of disease and protect the dogs from prolonged suffering.
The irony of Dr. Brown’s statement sticks in my craw. How in the world does the word “humane” apply to the existence of a puppy mill housing more than a thousand dogs? Isn’t “prolonged suffering” an apt description for the lives of dogs kept solely for the purpose of producing puppies for profit in overcrowded conditions? With more than a thousand dogs to care for, I’m dubious that any of this “livestock” had access to basic amenities such as sufficient space to turn and stretch freely, adequate nutrition, clean water, appropriate veterinary care, adequate rest between heat cycles, or, God forbid, some human kindness.
The poor dogs in this story are puppy mill victims, plain and simple. I hope you will join in the effort to prevent future similar stories from happening. If you are a teacher, educate your students about puppy mills. Teach them about responsible ways to adopt a dog. And by all means, boycott puppy mills and encourage others to do the same. This means never ever purchasing a puppy from a pet store or from an on-line source (site and sight unseen). Let’s turn our outrage into productive efforts to eradicate puppy mills.
Photo credit: TammyB, PuppyMill Awareness Day
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