How do we end the abuse?
@CritterKeeper (519)
United States
May 7, 2007 12:22pm CST
I was reading another discussion when I came to a realization. I've worked a lot of sides of the pet industry, pet shops, investigating puppy mills, running a rescue, dog training, pet educator, showing, etc. So I now know firsthand of a lot of the abuses and horrors in the business and how to avoid adding to it.
But that's not enough for me. We have regulatory agencies in place that enforce a minimum standard of care but that still leaves a lot of room for animals to be kept in misery, *surviving* but not happily! I've learned enough to not be part of the problem but I still don't feel like I'm part of the SOLUTION. What more can we do?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@scammerwear (1433)
• Singapore
7 May 07
Form an eco-terrorist cell, trained in 'removing' abusive pet owners and creating 'accidents' in those radioactive aquariums you worked it. Dirty aquariums are slippery. Owners drowning in a gold fish bowl, after they tip, CAN happen...
Failing that, maybe you can go for option two. Form an animal watch to help the enforcers. I'm pretty sure there are one minded people in your area, they just need to be organized. (Please check up all the laws and permits, you don't want to have the good guys put away do you...)
The cat watch in my country scored a few victories this year, putting a number of abusers behind bars. Haven't heard anything on the papers since :)
@scammerwear (1433)
• Singapore
7 May 07
Oh, did I mention writing? A whole bunch of blogs and articles to the local papers, magazines and what have you is too hard too miss. Don't be a one woman army though, get other writers to highlight the problem and MAKE it an issue :)
1 person likes this
@CritterKeeper (519)
• United States
7 May 07
LOL Have I mentioned lately that I love you? Believe me, seeing abusive owners "accidently" going face first into a fish bowl would just tickle me pink! LOL
I'm really interested in these other ideas. I've never heard of an animal watch. Could you tell me more?
2 people like this
@scammerwear (1433)
• Singapore
8 May 07
I love you too (just don't let our partners catch wind of that ya...)
The local cat watch was actually formed by cat lovers to take care of strays. They chip in to get cats err.. reproductively limited so that they don't have be put down (they worked that part out with animal control). The recent cases were about stray abusers, crazy S.O.Bs who tortured and sometimes murder cats. They setup watch groups and hidden cams to gather evidents and pressured enforcers to work.
In your case, since you're targeting the pet industry, members can be organized to quietly gather information on stores and breeders. Create a high profile website (get members to actively promote on their blogs and stuff) to highlight as well as blacklist people. Make enough noise and people sit up and notice.
It's important to work within, and with the law. Paperwork, legal advice, sponsors etc etc. It's hard to sue someone when he's blue from goldfish water...
p.s. Just so you know, my day job is a web designer / developer... Do not abuse this info...
1 person likes this
@PsychoDude (2013)
• Netherlands
7 May 07
Build massive pet stores with a room as big as a supermarket for all the birds to fly in loose, an indoor grass area with flowers and trees for the dogs and cats to run around in in harmony whilst there are bunnies living in their artificial bunny holes along with hamsters and other critters running around.
So, all animal lovers should go working for a couple of those for their cities as well ;). Money just is the main issue though.
@CritterKeeper (519)
• United States
7 May 07
You know, I've often wished I could win the lottery so I could open a truly MASSIVE pet store/pet education center. Only appropriate pets from responsible, ethical breeders would be sold (no large birds, monkeys, wild animals, etc.), all animals would be cared for *properly* in the store, and potential owners would be carefully screened and educated before purchase. I'd show all these other stores how a petshop SHOULD be! LOL
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
8 May 07
Hi Critter, Yes it is dreadful the amount of abuse on animals. We have places that our animals go to when they are hurt by others and if the people are caught there are also very hefty fines for people doing this to them as well. There are also a lot of people that volunteer to help care for these animals.