mill dogs
Helping the ones that got out! Puppy mill dogs in Ottawa need your help!
Webster’s defines cruel as “disposed to inflict pain or suffering.”
Those who have suffered cruelty at the hands of humans need your help.
Between September 26 and October 1, 2008, almost three hundred dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds (in addition to several cats and a rabbit) were liberated from their abusers thanks to the heroic efforts of the Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA) and Humane Society International/Canada (HSI) in the Montreal area.
These lonely and sick, starving and suffering, broken souls, who have known life only as revenue-generators locked in cramped wire cages above feces-ridden floors, were the lucky ones. Skeletal remains of countless others were found, still locked in cages, inside at least one of the two puppy mills that are now shut down; burned animal remains were also found on the property.
The CSPCA and HSI have been able to mobilize help from other rescues and from large numbers of volunteers who are generously giving of their time and resources to help heal these dogs, physically and emotionally. Not only do their open sores need to mend, they need to learn trust and social skills to overcome their horrendous starts in life and become the wonderful companions we know they can be. Some will need more extensive socialization than others, but all will need dedicated time and effort to make them whole again after the trauma of the exploitation, neglect, and abuse intentionally inflicted on them by profiteers taking advantage of lax anti-cruelty laws.
Among those who have come forward to help are several Ottawa-area rescues: Bullies in Need, Boxer Rescue Ontario, Hopeful Hearts, Ontario Catahoula Rescue, Minpinerie and Westminster Pet Sanctuary.
In spite of the generosity of the volunteers and rescues offering their help, financial resources in animal welfare are always tight. The Montreal CSPCA’s resources are being drained quickly; they desperately need any and all assistance possible in order to help the innocent animals that are now in their care. They need cash donations as well as in-kind donations. New is nice but not necessary. Warm blankets, old comforters, towels, and gently used crates are just some examples of how you can help rebuild the lives of innocent creatures who until late September/early October knew nothing of human kindness. Volunteerism would also be very welcome at local shelters that have taken in some of these dogs (if you want to volunteer, please visit http://ottawapetrescue.com/how-to-become-a-hero.asp).
Please, donate whatever you can. These two historic raids, among the biggest in Quebec in the last decade, are not isolated. More raids on more known mills are expected in the province of Quebec, which has the unfortunate but earned reputation as “the Puppy Mill Capital of North America.” Critter Jungle is offering itself as a drop-off station, so please help with donations of cash and other items. Any and all assistance will be warmly and gratefully welcomed.
On behalf of three hundred dogs, seven cats and one rabbit, thank you.
Donations can be dropped off at Critter Jungle, 1405 Carling ave (Carling and Kirkwood) or you can call 729-7354 and a volunteer can make arrangements to have any donations picked up.
