Shop owners, dealers and breeders count on love at first sight
because it prompts people to shell out hundreds of pounds to take
cute puppies home. It should be a happy ending: the dog gets a home
and the seller turns a profit. But there is an unseen, darker side
to the story.
Many puppies come from hellholes called puppy farms, where mother
dogs and "studs" spend their lives producing litter after litter,
like products off an assembly line. And as long as puppies continue
to be churned out for sale, thousands of unwanted dogs – each one a
loving, feeling individual desperately in need of a good home –
will continue to languish in animal shelters.
They will live out their lonely lives confined to kennels, or they
will eventually be killed.
Received:
22 de Abril de 2010
From:
PETA
UK
Subject: An unwanted dog is killed every hour
Dear,
The puppies in some pet shop displays are adorable, wriggling balls
of energy just waiting to jump into customers' arms. Shop owners,
dealers and breeders count on love at first sight because it
prompts people to shell out hundreds of pounds to take cute puppies
home. It should be a happy ending: the dog gets a home and the
seller turns a profit. But there is an unseen, darker side to the
story.
Many puppies come from hellholes called puppy farms, where mother
dogs and "studs" spend their lives producing litter after litter,
like products off an assembly line. And as long as puppies continue
to be churned out for sale, thousands of unwanted dogs – each one a
loving, feeling individual desperately in need of a good home –
will continue to languish in animal shelters. They will live out
their lonely lives confined to kennels, or they will eventually be
killed.
Every time someone buys an animal instead of adopting, an animal in
a shelter loses his or her chance for a home.
You can help end the animal homelessness crisis. Please sign our
pledge today and promise never to buy animals from a breeder,
dealer or pet shop, and encourage all your friends, family members
and colleagues to do the same.
Sharing a home with an animal companion is a big responsibility and
a major commitment of time and money. Dogs can live for 15 years or
more, so before adopting, a potential guardian must think carefully
about the animal's needs in both the short term and the long term.
If you can provide a good home to a dog, then contact your local
animal shelter or rescue group – the reputable ones will help
advise you on the different types of care, costs and exercise
requirements of individual dogs.
If you already have an animal companion or rescue a new one, it is
vital to ensure that your new canine or feline friend is spayed or
neutered immediately.
Making sure that an animal companion is spayed or neutered is the
single most important thing a person can do to save animals from
the suffering and death caused by the animal overpopulation
crisis.
In just six years, a female dog and her offspring can produce up to
67,000 puppies! If you have an animal companion who has not been
spayed or neutered, please set up an appointment as soon as
possible – your local rescue centre or veterinarian will be able to
help you.
When
you adopt an animal from a shelter, you'll be glad that you chose
to save a life instead of supporting a trade that treats animals as
if they were inanimate objects to be bought and
sold.
At PETA, we work tirelessly to keep the plight of homeless animals
in the public spotlight through our high-profile "Adopt, Don't Buy"
campaign and celebrity support – and you can help too.
Please sign our pledge today and help spread the message by
forwarding this e-mail to as many people as you can.
Very truly yours,
Ingrid E Newkirk
Founder
PS It's simple math – there just aren't enough good homes available
for all the animals who already so desperately need one. Please
remember the golden rules of responsible animal guardianship:
always adopt and never buy from a pet shop or breeder, remember
that adoption is a long-term commitment and always spay or neuter
your animal companions immediately or as soon as they are old
enough. Thank you!
By:
People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Foundation—a charitable
company limited by guarantee, with its registered office at Lacon
House, Theobald's Road, London WCIX8RW. Registered in England and
Wales as charity number 1056453, company number 3135903
