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The HSUS led a fast and furious crack-down on puppy mills in recent months. ©The HSUS |
If you read the funny papers, you're familiar with Patrick McDonnell’s wildly popular MUTTS comic. MUTTS depicts the antics of a group of pets and often highlights animal welfare issues. This Sunday’s MUTTS strip will feature an animal rescue by “Scotlund.”
So who is this Scotlund?
As happens, Scotlund Haisley is a real-life animal rescuer and senior director of Emergency Services for The Humane Society of the United States.
The strip begins with a sad, scraggly little dog lamenting the miserable life she leads as a puppy mill breeding mother. She describes the awful conditions she is forced to endure. Then to the rescue: Scotlund. He frees the dog from life in a cage.
As often happens in McDonnell’s penetrating strip, his point is drawn straight from the actual plight of animals. McDonnell knows the score. He has the inside view as a member of the Board of Directors for The HSUS.
Pulling Animals From Lives of Misery
When it comes to puppy mills, Haisley has led The HSUS' Animal Rescue Team on a furious crack-down on cruelty in multiple states. During his 18-month tenure, more than 4,000 dogs have been rescued from puppy mills, and 13 of these canine factory farms have been shut down. Watch the slideshow»
This unprecedented strike against the cruelty of this industry is part of a multi-pronged effort by The HSUS. Undercover investigations have helped shine a spotlight on the mistreatment of animals in puppy mills.
We are also seeking legislative, legal, and regulatory reforms that will reduce suffering, as well as campaigning for marketplace solutions and providing the public with the information they need to shop humanely for pets.
“There is no better reward than pulling these animals from a life of misery—the only life they have ever known—and making them the promise that they will suffer no more,” said Haisley. “The HSUS is on a mission to not only to stop the cruelty of these facilities, but to educate the public about the puppy mill industry.”
Don't Shop; Adopt
Unsuspecting consumers often fuel the problem when they buy puppies from pet stores, over the Internet, and through newspaper classified advertisements. The HSUS encourages people to adopt pets from shelters and rescue groups. If you are purchasing a dog, it is crucial to visit the breeder’s facility and meet the puppy’s parents.
Visit our Stop Puppy Mills campaign website to find out what you can do.
