If you buy a puppy, you are responsible for the imprisonment and killing of the mother dog.

Adopt an adult dog. Adult dogs are the new puppies!

–Lanzie Horton received a 12-year jail sentence that was suspended.
–Also suspended were $2,250 of the 14 $2,500 fines for animal cruelty and $450 of the 25 $500 fines for animal neglect. (So he paid less than $5,000 in fines.)
–He received the mandatory $25 fine for failure to obtain a dog license,
–And he is topay the (to-be-determined) cost of veterinary services provided for the approximately 700 dogs taken from his property.
–Horton also was sentenced to probation.

What a scam!!!

Animal Welfare organizations that arrange for scam puppy mill busts (in this case the Virginia Partnership for Animal Welfare and Support (VA PAWS) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) are fully aware that many of the owners of the dog farms they bust are not breaking any serious laws and that there will be no serious legal repercussions for the owners of the dog farms.

Why do they do it?

Because, these organizations want your money, that's why! They create huge media circuses and the donations pour in!! Donations go directly to the salaries of the organization's executives and to their media campaigns.

They also bust places where they are guaranteed to get healthy dogs, because "rescue organizations" in NYC like North Shore Animal League America (NSALA) make quick tax free cash by selling these "rescued" pure-bred puppies for $300 each. This is known as "flipping dogs".

The President of NSALA alone earns more than $325,000 a year. NSALA even imports puppy mill puppies from China for resale. And because organizations like NSALA are registered as not-for-profits, they pay no sales taxes. (Charity watchdog, Charity Navigator, a group that uses an organization's tax filings to rate them, gives NSALA a zero rating for efficiency. The $$$ is not going to any dogs.)

You asked why HSUS and VAPaws would go after Mr. Horton when he did not seem to be abusing his dogs, instead of going after commercial breeders who do break the law. I don't know why they went after Mr. Horton unless they knew that he lacked his USDA license and felt that he would be an easy target. They probably often choose the easiest targets — easy for one reason or another — not necessarily the worst offenders.

As you've already figured out, many of these organizations are very media savvy. You can't always believe what they say or their campaigns.

Here's a link to a good editorial about the situation with breeders in Virginia and the current HSUS crusade there: http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/141217

Don't regulate pet breeders out of business
Walt Hutchens

Hutchens, who lives near Lexington, is retired and breeds whippet dogs.

To understand Wayne Pacelle's blast at the breeding of dogs in Virginia ("Humane Society rips Va. pet mills," Nov. 2 news story), you need to know who the Humane Society of the United States is.

The editorial gives a good view of things in Virginia now, from the breeder's perspective.

Carlotta

It's true that dogs raised in commercial kennels are usually not well-socialized. When people tell you there is a difference between dogs raised commercially and dogs raised by hobby breeders in their homes, they aren't kidding. This is one of the reasons why you usually get a better pet when you buy from a hobby breeder who can give puppies lots of personal attention.

You asked about rescue organizations buying dogs. Here's a link to a prominent story a few months ago: http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/136114

Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Amish-run kennel sells dogs; animals in New York
An "undercover" operation effectively shuts down Bland County's Dogwood Kennels, at least for now.
By Donna Alvis-Banks

Best Friends Animal Society got a lot of mileage out of the response to those dogs even though Mr. Schmucker, like Mr. Horton, had broken no laws. I have no idea what they paid for the dogs and I could only guess what people paid to "adopt" the dogs. But I would be willing to bet that most of the services the dogs required, such as transportation and vet care, were either donated for free or at a very reduced rate. I would also think that people gave generously for the dogs' care. In cases like this, when a rescue actually buys dogs wholesale from a commercial breeder, then takes money for them from "adopters," isn't that the same as selling dogs at a pet store?

There are some very good rescue organizations who don't have the kind of agendas you're talking about. Most of the ones I know about are connected to breed rescue, but I'm sure there are some good ones who do mixed breed rescue, too. Maybe it's just the very large organizations who become caught up in politics and money. I know it's usually a good idea to donate to your local shelter or pound if you want to help. That way you know exactly where the money is needed and where it's going to be used.

If you or anyone else are interested in these issues you may want to join the Petlaw Yahoo group. I think it's listed in the Yahoo directory.

Carlotta

My response:
When dogs are transported in vehicles for the first times in their lives they become motion sick and vomit. They also go to the bathroom. If you adopted a dog that reeked of urnine and stool and was in very poor condition from a rescue agency, you should report that agency. They are not doing their job–obviously they did not want to waste their time and energy in cleaning up the dog and treating it medically.

Now I am responding to this:
"She is approximately 1 year old. From her behavior she had never been socialized. Never been walked. Never been taught to eliminate outside."

My Response:
Unfortunately, the above is NOT against the law. It is perfectly legal to keep a dog in a cage for 24 hours a day either. Many household pets are chained outside for their entire lives.

We need LAWS to protect dogs. And until we get laws–enforceable against breeders and dog owners–nothing will change.

Now I am responding to this:
I don't believe that Mr. Horton is the reputable breeder he claims to be. There are too many discrepancies bewteen what Mr. Horton claims and what the Humane Society claims and what the state authorities did in removing the dogs.

Mr. Horton is not being charged, because he broke no laws. The Humane Society, wants your money, either through adoption fees, through donations or through good will. When a rescue organization says something, you must look at that organization. "Charity Navigator" online is just such a tool–it rates charitable organizations.

Just as there are large commercial dog breeding operations, there are also large rescue groups with very sophisticated management who make very, very large salaries and do a lot of professional marketing. Very little of the money donated actually goes towards the upkeep of the dogs–it goes to the lavish fundraisers and salaries of the management.

This is very sad. I have only recently learned this. Many people in the dog rescue business are no more "reputable" than are some of the breeders.

I read the article you posted from the Galax (VA) Gazette, "Hillsville breeder gives up pups".

I adopted one of the Shih Tzus that Mr. Horton surrendered. I did so through the Baltimore Maryland SPCA. The condition of the dog I adopted was very poor. The SPCA had cut the worst of the mats of hair off. Even so I had to shave her before I could bath her. She reeked of urine and stool.

She is approximately 1 year old. From her behavior she had never been socialized. Never been walked. Never been taught to eliminate outside.

I don't believe that Mr. Horton is the reputable breeder he claims to be. There are too many discrepancies bewteen what Mr. Horton claims and what the Humane Society claims and what the state authorities did in removing the dogs.

SoBoYo

Where can I find information regarding rescue organizations buying dogs? I am very interested in learning more about this.

I am just realizing that some animal rescue organizations are very media saavy and that those in charge have very large incomes.

I visited Horton's Pups last week. The place was spotless. Not spotless like someone had just cleaned it up, but spotless like all the grounds including his own personal house had always been spotless. The houses the dogs were kept in were clean and air tight with climate control.

Why would HSUS and Virgina PAWS go after a large commercial dog breeder who was not abusing his animals (by legal standards) when there are those that do?

I am confused.

He has not been charged with a crime.

To coerce him into signing away his property with threats is against the law so the fact that he signed away those dogs is not important.

Either the State must charge him or someone must pay him. He may have been part of a deal between the State of Virginia and the Rescue organizations who wanted the big publicity that such a bust (which took place during National Animal Rescue Week — or whatever it is called) would bring.

I believe that Junior Horton is a sophisticated businessman.

I do not think Junior Horton is simple at all. Right now I am in West Virginia about 200 miles north of Hillsville, Virginia. I am visiting relatives. This is Appalachia here. Median household income–all working parties in the household is $20,000. If Junior Horton owned 1,000 dogs, then he certainly was and probably still is a Big Man on Campus around these parts.