Letter: Boycott puppy mill industry, pet shops

Thursday, July 20, 2000 | 9:11 a.m.

I am still haunted by the graphic footage of dogs living in absolutely horrible conditions, cramped in small wire cages for their entire lives.

When breeding is no longer possible, they are sold at auctions, sold to labs or shot to death.

Forget strengthening laws intended to regulate puppy mills. These laws are rarely enforced.

Each year puppy mills and pet stores are breeding and selling the hundreds of thousands of puppies and kittens simply for profit.

At the same time, millions of dogs and cats are killed annually in our nation's shelters for want of a good home. It doesn't take a genius to realize that something is very wrong here.

Any solution? I have done my part by never again buying a dog or cat, puppy or kitten from a pet store.

I have even gone further and set up my own rescue group to help save as many animals as my finances allow. I will not support puppy mills nor pet shop industries, which contribute to so much animal suffering and death.

I urge your readers to save a life and adopt their next dog or cat, puppy or kitten from a local shelter, humane society or animal rescue group.

ED MINGHELLI