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| Lorianne LaMarca |
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LaMarca with her Brussels Griffin, Charlemagne. |
By Kathleen Summers
During Puppy Mill Action Week, hundreds of new animal advocates were born.
Dog lovers took time out of their busy schedules to write to their representatives, contact local media, and educate others about the dangers of buying a puppy online or from a pet store.
As this week of action week draws to a close, here are stories of just a few of the animal lovers we salute.
Political Action
When Lorianne LaMarca's Brussels Griffin, Charlemagne, died of multiple health problems resulting from his puppy mill past, she took action in his name.
First Lorianne started an online petition demanding a law against puppy mills. Then she traveled from her home in New York to Washington, D.C., to present her concerns directly to her representatives. Most recently this consumer-turned-advocate has been working with New York State Assemblyman Greg Ball on a bill that would address part of the puppy mill problem.
Adopt; Don't Shop
When Holley Pridmore's toy poodle came down with deadly Parvovirus a day after his purchase from a national pet store chain, the store tried to convince Holly to simply exchange her sick puppy for a healthy one.
Instead, Holley took Riley to an emergency veterinarian to receive round-the-clock intensive care, and he survived. Vowing never again to support the puppy mill industry, Holley began to volunteer with her local animal shelter and foster homeless dogs.
Next week Holley will hold a peaceful demonstration near the pet store where she bought Riley, urging people to "adopt, not shop."
Spreading the Word
When Karron Curtis heard that a puppy mill was applying for a special exception permit in her Nebraska hometown, she decided to bring the matter to the City. She shared her research on puppy mills—as well as HSUS educational materials on the subject—with council officials.
Along with other advocates, Karron convinced the Council that being associated with a puppy mill was not in the best interest of their city, and the kennel’s special exception permit was denied.
Join the Cause
These advocates all started out as ordinary pet lovers who became impassioned to help stop puppy mills in their own individual ways. Along with celebrities like Jennifer Love Hewitt, Nathan Lane, Patricia Arquette and Kelly Ripa, they helped raise awareness about an issue affecting countless dogs, and their efforts are appreciated.
Though Puppy Mill Action Week has ended, it’s never too late to spread the word about puppy mills. Take action today by visiting our Stop Puppy Mills website.
Kathleen Summers is the Puppy Mills Program Assistant in the Companion Animals section of The HSUS.
