How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?

"How Much Is That Doggie in the Window"

How much is that doggie in the window,

The one with the waggley tail?

How much is that doggie in the window?

I do hope that doggie's for sale.

I must take a trip to California

And leave my poor sweetheart alone;

If he has a dog, he won't be lonesome,

And the doggie will have a good home.

Repeat Refrain:

I read in the paper there are robbers

With flashlights that shine in the dark;

My love needs a doggie to protect him

And scare them away with one bark.

I don't want a bunny or a kitty,

I don't want a parrot that talks;

I don't want a bowl of little fishies

He can't take a goldfish for walks.

Repeat Refrain:

Words and Music by Bob Merrill

Recorded by Patti Page in, 1953

This catchy little song was recorded back in 1953. Back then it was filled with such innocent lyrics. Today, not so much. How much does that doggie in the window cost? So much more than anyone could have imagined! Puppy mills have evolved across this country resulting in high prices for cute, cuddly puppies in just about every breed imaginable. Those puppies now come with a hefty price paid not by shoppers, but by dogs. Today’s puppy mills are large-scale commercial dog breeding operations where profit is given top priority over the well-being of the dogs.

As I sit here writing this article Kirby is sound asleep stretched out on my comfy bed.  He ate his normal meal of dehydrated all natural dog food around 6:30 p.m..  Over the evening he enjoyed two duck jerky treats and a carob cookie.  He went outside a few times to do his business and enjoy some fresh air.  His green frog is laying near him and several of his toys are still strewn across my living room rug where they were left when we went to bed.  He has a good life.

Puppy mill dogs aren't so lucky.  They live in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions with little to no veterinary care, food, or water. They are usually kept in cages stacked in columns to minimize space with wire flooring which is painful for their paws and bodies. Since cleanup takes time, they are often left to sit or lay in their own feces and urine. Baths and simple grooming are also time consuming chores left undone. These animals never get to feel the sun on their bodies. They never get to experience treats, toys, or exercise. They never get to discover what a hug feels like. They never get the chance to experience love.

The females are bred over and over with little to no recovery time between litters. After a few years they are physically depleted to the point they can no longer reproduce so they are often killed. Do you realize the mom and dad of that adorable puppy in the pet store window will never make it out of the mill alive? Do you realize that the puppies born with major physical problems that make them un-sellable to pet stores are destroyed?

Illness, disease, fearful behavior and lack of socialization with humans and other animals are common characteristics of these puppies. Some of the congenital and hereditary conditions these puppies can have are Epilepsy, heart disease, kidney disease, musculoskeletal disorders such as hip dysplasia and luxating patellas, Endocrine disorders such as diabetes and hyperthyroidism, blood disorders like anemia, deafness, eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma, and progressive retinal atrophy, and respiratory disorders

Then there are the puppies waiting in pet stores who already have Giardia, Parvovirus, Distemper, upper respiratory infections, kennel cough, Pneumonia, mange, fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites such as heartworm, and/or chronic diarrhea.

There are many organizations working to put these puppy mills out of business. Slowly they are winning the war yet there are still so many puppy mills out there to be shut down. So what can individuals do? Don’t buy any puppy from any pet store! If your local pet store sells puppies then don’t shop there – take your money elsewhere and let them know why. Don’t buy a puppy from any place that doesn’t let you see its entire facility and meet the mother dog. This includes websites that sell pets online since there is no way of knowing if such businesses are what they claim. Responsible breeders always want to meet you before selling you one of their puppies so they know it is going to a good home. In fact, the good ones will want you to return the puppy to them should you ever decide you can’t keep it.

So next time you are looking to add a new puppy to your family, remember this slogan: Don’t shop, Adopt! Visit your local shelter, check out great websites like PetFinder, or find a reputable breeder.

And that catchy little song? The lyrics were later changed to this version:

"Do You See That Doggie in the Shelter"

Do you see that doggie in the shelter

the one with the take me home eyes

If you give him your love and attention

he will be your best friend for life

In each town and city across the nation,

there's so many dogs with no home

Hungry with no one to protect them

lost in this world all alone

Repeat chorus

Collies and beagles by the roadside

puppies and dogs in the street

Once they are rescued by a shelter

they'll finally get something to eat

Doggies and kitties who are homeless

with sad eyes and tails hanging down

Let's do what we can to show them kindness

and let them know that they've been found

repeat chorus

Today is the last quarterly awareness day in 2011 for Blog the Change for Animals whose main focus of action right now is to make consumers aware of the puppy mill puppies still being sold at Petland USA.

Act Now!

• Sign and Share the Petition at Change.org

• Write to Petland USA on Facebook and Twitter

• Paste the following across your social media outlets:

Tell @Petland USA to Stop Selling Pets! Sign the Petition: http://chn.ge/qT2HNs #BTC4A  #Change

P.S. October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month!

Leave us a comment to let us know you stopped by then check out these other amazing bloggers who are being the change for animals...
In 2010 a large puppy mill was busted in Mississippi - you can read the firsthand account from HSUS here.

Thanks for reading!

A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, my heart might be getting old or weak, or I don’t understand what you want.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.

10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

Take a moment today to thank GOD for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them. Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience without God's critters. Now please pass this on to other pet owners. We do not have to wait for Heaven, to be surrounded by hope, love, and joyfulness. It is here on earth and has four legs!

~ Author Unknown

Thanks for reading!

Kirby Says Buckle Up!

Kirby absolutely loves to go anywhere in the car.  For him it's an adventure.  It really doesn't matter if it's just to the corner store or a trip involving several hours.  He just wants to GO. 

I learned when he was a puppy just how dangerous a loose dog in a moving car could be.  Whenever he rode with me it was always in my lap.  Sometimes I would hold him up so he could see out the window.  He loved to snuggle up between my neck and the  head rest.  He could feel safe while looking out the windows.  I just thought it was really cute.  Then came the day I learned otherwise.  Driving 75 mph on the interstate Kirby decided he wanted to get in his favorite spot.  The problem was he was now nearly 15 pounds and I nearly lost control of the car.  Fortunately I didn't hit another vehicle and was able to pull off the road.  The next day I ordered a dog car seat.  Now as soon as I grab his leash he all but quivers with excitement because he knows it's a car trip.  Opening the front door of the car he will jump in and immediately go jump in his car seat waiting for us to buckle him up.

This reasonably priced car seat is set up in the backseat which gives him a secure place to curl up and sleep or access to look out the windows.  We have had to replace the latching hooks for the strap going around the headrest due to Kirby's weight gains but this was an easy fix.  The seat comes with an attached lead to attach to his collar.  We went a step further purchasing a harness vest that wraps around his chest.  We felt hooking the lead to the vest may provide a safer way of containing him as opposed to yanking his neck if he were thrown from the car seat in the event of an accident.  Since he has now reached his full size we plan to eventually upgrade to a larger and sturdier car seat that sits directly on the seat so he can stretch out when sleeping.

 

The ASPCA reports there were over 30,000 pet related accidents in 2009.  That's a huge number of accidents that never should have happened.  We buckle ourselves in.  We buckle our children in.  Why would we then let our pets roam freely in a moving car?  Ignorance really isn't a good answer.

According to a recent AAA study, if your pet is riding in the car while you're behind the wheel then you are just as distracted as if you were texting.  In fact, driving with an unrestrained pet in the car is the third worst driving distraction behind talking on the phone and texting.

The study found that 80 percent of drivers admit to bringing their pets along for car rides with less than a quarter keeping them restrained. And two-thirds of the dog owners who were surveyed routinely drive while petting or playing with their pets with one in five allowing their dogs to sit in their lap.  Did you know that if a 10-pound dog is loose in a car and it crashes at 50 miles per hour, that dog can exert 500 pounds of pressure endangering both the pet and anyone in its path.

Legislation is starting to address this problem, but as we all know, that will take time.  We can start now.  Purchase a dog car seat for small dogs or harnesses that attach to the safety belts for larger dogs.  That vacation, or little trip to the corner store, won't be much fun if it ends in a tragedy that could have been avoided.  I know we all have those "if only" moments in our lives.  Lets make this one less event we never have to agonize over.  Kirby says Buckle Up!

Note:  Kirby's car seat is manufactured by Solvit.  He also has stairs by Solvit which he uses to get on and off my bed.  We have been using these products for more than a year and highly recommend them.  I don't know the maker of the vest harness which we purchased at Wal-Mart.  We personally purchased these products for Kirby and are simply sharing our experience and opinion. 

Thanks for reading!