Longmont Humane Society

Volunteer Program Orientation Information

Welcome to the Longmont Humane Society Volunteer program. Volunteers are an extremely important part of our shelter. Your service is valuable to us and the animals in our care. Without volunteers, many of our present programs would not exist. Please feel free to contact a Volunteer Coordinator if you have any questions or concerns at volunteers@longmonthumane.org or 303-772-1232, ext. 243

The Longmont Humane Society

Our Mission: The mission of the Longmont Humane Society is;

Caring, serving and educating to save the lives of companion animals.

Our Vision: Our highly knowledgeable, specially trained staff provides a thriving safe haven for companion animals with strong community support. Our Operating Principles:

Everything we do will be guided by our Mission Statement and Vision Statements.

We will seek out opportunities to enrich the lives of people in our community by promoting companionship with animals.

Every effort will be made to reunite stray animals with their companions or to place them in appropriate homes.

There will be no limits on an animal’s length of stay.

When euthanasia is unavoidable, it will always be performed in a humane way.

Staff and volunteers will be trained to provide the highest standards of animal welfare.

LHS will always strive to have adequate resources and facilities to accomplish our mission.

40 Years: A History of Longmont Humane Society On November 22, 1972, the Longmont Branch of the Boulder County Humane Society officially

became the Longmont Humane Society. The shelter occupied a small patch of land at the edge of town, and most of the building itself had previously been a turkey shed. The challenges were enormous. From the beginning, LHS confronted difficult issues in the community, from pet overpopulation to cruelty and neglect. And, in those days, LHS required adopted females to be spayed, but only strongly recommended that males be neutered. A new dome-shaped shelter opened in February 1985, ushering LHS into a new era, and was recognized by AHA’s Standards of Excellence program, one of the few shelters to receive the honor. In the 1990’s, LHS grew in every way, serving more people and animals every year. Volunteer numbers leaped past 200, and the shelter opened a spay-neuter clinic, hiring contract vets to perform surgeries on adopted animals. In 1995, the shelter took over management of the clinic, with the help of funds from the Animal Assistance Foundation. Today, all animals must be spayed or neutered before going home, and there is a veterinarian on staff. But as the community continued to grow, the famous dome that had served LHS began to experience its own overcrowding problems. Luckily, in February 2008, LHS-animals, people- computers and all-migrated from the old dome into the 43,000 square-foot expansion that would anchor the new Longmont Humane Society Allen Center. Work continued, and in August 2008, the newly renovated dome completed the 58,000 square-foot shelter. LHS had come a long way since 1972. More than 4,000 animals come through the doors every year, and around 3,000 find loving, permanent homes with the help of more than 60 staff, including a Training & Behavior team who work specifically with the dogs-and some 600 volunteers. Another 1,400 pets are reunited with their families, and others are transferred to rescue agencies. The shelter veterinary staff performs nearly 1,500 spay or neuter surgeries per year; and Well Pet Clinic, which was opened in 2010 and is located onsite at Longmont Humane Society offers low-cost spay-neuter procedures, vaccinations and many other low cost care to the public. While staff, volunteers, even facilities, have come and gone, the mission to care, serve, and educate to improve the lives of companion animals remains, and will remain, the focus of the Longmont Humane Society. After more than 40 years of service to the people and animals of the community, we are moving boldly into the next era.

HOW TO FIND A LOST PET START LOOKING RIGHT AWAY! The sooner you start your search, the more likely you are to find your pet. CALL ALL THE SHELTERS IN YOUR GENERAL AREA. Lost animals can wander great distances. Your lost pet may be housed in a private or municipal shelter, far from where he was lost. (See phone list on reverse side.) VISIT AS MANY SHELTERS AS POSSIBLE. Your description of your animal may differ from the description established by shelter staff. LEAVE A LOST REPORT AT THE SHELTERS if you do not find your pet, and check “Found” reports. “Found” reports are taken over the phone from people who are sheltering lost animals in their homes. RETURN TO THE SHELTERS AT LEAST EVERY TWO DAYS to look for your pet and to check “Found” reports. If you cannot return to the shelters in person, you may check the “Found” reports over the phone. (Please let the shelters know if you find your pet so they can pull your “lost” report.) CHECK WITH PEOPLE WHO KNOW YOUR PET AND NEIGHBORHOOD (newspaper deliverers, neighborhood children, mail carriers, etc.) Ask them to watch for the animal. POST NOTICES THROUGHOUT THE AREA, with a photo of your pet, complete description, your name, and phone numbers (preferably with an answering machine) where you can be reached. Post these signs on trees, light poles, at grocery stores, at school, etc. Indicating a reward on your signs may encourage people to be more observant.

CHECK WITH VETERINARY CLINICS and leave notices there as well. If your pet is injured, someone may take him to a vet for treatment. PLACE A ‘LOST’ AD in the major daily newspaper (Longmont Daily Times-Call 776-2244) and other area newspapers. CHECK THE ‘FOUND’ ADS in the newspaper every day. Follow up on any descriptions that sound even a little like your pet, even if the wrong sex is given. Most people aren’t familiar with animal characteristics. DON’T GIVE UP HOPE! Some animals are found after months of searching.

AREA ANIMAL SHELTERS

Call the facility before you visit to determine the hours of operation

Longmont Humane Society 303/772-1232

Humane Society of Boulder Valley (Boulder County Humane Society

303/442-4030

Humane Society of Larimer County (Ft. Collins) 970/226-3647

Humane Society of Weld County (Greely) 970/506-9550

Denver Dumb Friends League 303/751-9688

Adams County 303/288-3294

Cat Care Society 303/239-9690

City of Aurora 303/340-2296

City and County of Denver 303/698-0076

City of Englewood 303/781-4418

City of Northglenn 303/451-8326

City of Thornton 303/450-9331

City of Westminster 303/430-2400

Jefferson Animal Shelter 303/278-7575

Every Creature Counts 303/823-5941

TO PREVENT YOUR PET FROM GETTING LOST Keep current identification, city license (if within city limits), and rabies tag on your pet at ALL times. Proper identification is a pet’s “ticket home” should he ever become lost. Tag information should be updated whenever you move or change telephone numbers. Be able to identify your pet if he becomes lost. Take a photograph of your pet and note distinguishing marks, age, sex and breed. Keep this information on file. Always walk your dog on a leash. Do not let him roam alone. Keep your cat inside at all times. All cats, even those who never go outside, should wear a collar with current identification. Some cat owners believe a collar can injure a cat, but a breakaway collar lets a cat escape if the collar becomes snagged. Have your pet spayed or neutered. Animals who are not spayed/neutered may stray from home because they are distracted by sexual instincts. (Most of the stray dogs and cats hit by cars are un-neutered males.) Spaying and neutering will eliminate this urge to wander. IF YOU FIND YOUR PET, PLEASE NOTIFY ANY SHELTERS WHERE YOU FILED A LOST REPORT.

Longmont Humane Society Volunteer Program

Orientation Information

Welcome to the Longmont Humane Society volunteer program. Volunteers are an extremely important part of our shelter. Your service, no matter how large or small the job, is valuable to us – and to the animals in our care. Without volunteers, many of our present programs would not exist. Our goal at LHS is to provide love and humane treatment for all the animals that come to the shelter. We know that anyone who volunteers at LHS has a deep love for animals, and we appreciate your bringing that spirit to your work here. In order for paid and volunteer staff to function together as an effective team, we request the volunteers adhere to all our policies and procedures. Thank you for your interest in Longmont Humane Society. We hope that your experience will be enjoyable. Please feel free to call our Volunteer Department at (303) 772-1232 x243, if you have any questions or concerns. You may also email: volunteers@longmonthumane.org

GUIDELINES AND POLICIES

Responsibilities and Dedication All animals at LHS are to be treated kindly and professionally. Any rough handling is strictly forbidden. Volunteers are expected to support the mission of the Longmont Humane Society, both in and outside the Shelter.

Standards of Conduct All volunteers are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner with the Staff, other Volunteers, and the Public. Interaction with the public is fine, but please familiarize yourself with the animal’s kennel card so that you can communicate the correct information. Refer anyone who shows an interest in an animal to the front desk.

Safety Although all Volunteers work here at their own risk and are required to sign a release form, certain guidelines have been established to insure the safest situation possible. For your own safety:

Work only with animals in the adoption areas. All other areas are strictly off limits

IMMEDIATELY REPORT ANY BITE/scratch to a staff member and identify the animal and the circumstances.

Have a current tetanus vaccination.

Ask questions if you’re unsure about anything.

Care and Use of Equipment Please treat all property with consideration and care. Wasted supplies are costly, and broken equipment may be difficult to replace.

Clothing Wear comfortable clothing that you don’t mind getting wet or dirty along with your Volunteer t-shirt. Please don’t wear shorts. Long pants are preferred. No sandals or “Crocs”-closed-toe shoes only (preferably with rubber soles). For Dog TLC shifts, please dress appropriately during inclement weather.

Supervision All Volunteers are directly supervised by LHS Staff. Any problems should be brought to the attention of the supervising Staff member in that area, as well as the Volunteer Coordinators.

Scheduling Dog TLC and Feline Friends programs ask for a three month, two hour a week, same-day shift commitment. .

Holidays and Shelter Closings The Shelter will be closed to the public on the following holidays: Thanksgiving Eve (1/2 day), Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve (1/2), and Christmas Day. Volunteers will not be required to fulfill their regular TLC shifts, but there may be requests for volunteer assistance. In the event of inclement weather (such as blizzards), all volunteers will be contacted by phone on that day as to whether or not they need to come in for their shifts. Emails will be sent for “next day” closings. If you need to contact someone to offer assistance on these days, please phone the Volunteer Coordinators office.

Friends of Volunteers Volunteers may not bring friends to assist them with their duties. If friends are interested in volunteering, they should contact the Volunteer Coordinator or TLC Volunteer Coordinator. Volunteers may give family and friends tours of the adoption and other public places (not the service areas) during open Shelter hours (when not volunteering).

Clock-In All Volunteers must clock-in at the Volunteer Check-in office and pick up their nametag to wear while volunteering. Dog TLC volunteers will need to check out a keycard to reenter building after walks. It is important that volunteers clock-in and clock-out after a shift so that hours are accurately tallied for referrals, grants, etc.

Bulletin Board Please check the bulletin board in Volunteer Check-in office for any upcoming events, policy changes, or other information. Questions, ideas, or suggestions can be left for the TLC Volunteer Coordinator in the Check-in office.

Miscellaneous Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the building nor while walking a dog outside. The use of Ipods, MP3’s, and the like, should not hinder Volunteer safety. Hearing is important in the shelter areas. If earphones/plugs are used, they must be out/off when in the building, and only one earphone/plug can be used outside while walking a dog. As a member of the LHS Volunteer Program, you have committed yourself to an important cause. The Longmont Humane Society thanks you for your dedication. If there is anything we can do to make your experience here more enjoyable or fulfilling, please let us know.

GUIDELINES FOR ADULT DOG TLC VOLUNTEERS WITH CHILD 8+ ACCOMPANYING ADULT

The adult is the primary volunteer in a leadership position in this program.

The adult volunteer must remain with the junior volunteer at all times while at the shelter.

There may be no more than two junior volunteers per adult volunteer.

When handling dogs, only one dog per adult volunteer is permitted.

The adult volunteer is expected to choose a dog appropriate for interaction with a child by reading the child rating on the kennel card. This information is found in the “Due to the history…” sentence and must include the wording “…is appropriate for CHILDREN OF ANY AGE.” These must be ONLY dogs that are available for adoption.

It is important to remind the junior volunteer that the dog may be unaccustomed to children and volunteers are asked not to hug, wrestle, tease or chase animals in the play yard.

The adult volunteer is responsible for safely walking the dog from its kennel to the outdoors. The adult is the one who leashes up the dog, and the child must remain outside the kennel at this point. Junior volunteers may interact freely with the dog when outside in the play yard. When the dog is on leash, the adult volunteer must always be the handler. A Junior volunteer may attach a second leash to the dog, but the adult’s leash is the primary one.

Junior volunteers do not need to attend the required training courses with the adult volunteer but are invited to do so if they wish. Junior volunteers do need to have a purple volunteer t-shirt at a cost of $10.00.

The adult volunteer, for the junior volunteer, must fill out a release form and separate application before the youth may attend the shift.

GUIDELINES FOR ADULT FELINE FRIENDS VOLUNTEERS WITH CHILD 8+ ACCOMPANYING ADULT

The adult is the primary volunteer in a leadership position in this program.

The adult volunteer must remain with the junior volunteer at all times while at the shelter.

There may be no more than two junior volunteers per adult volunteer.

The adult volunteer is expected to choose a cat appropriate for interaction with a child by reading the child rating on the kennel card. This information is found in the “Due to the history…” sentence and must include the wording “…is appropriate for younger children.”

Remind the junior volunteer that the cat may be unaccustomed to children and volunteers are asked not to refrain from handling a cat that moves away or hisses.

The adult volunteer is responsible for safely escorting/carrying the cat from its kennel to the visitation room and back. Junior volunteers may interact freely with a cat when in a visitation room.

Junior volunteers do not need to attend the required training courses with the adult volunteer but are invited to do so if they wish. Junior volunteers do need to have a purple volunteer t-shirt at a cost of $10.00.

The adult volunteer, for the junior volunteer, must fill out a release form and separate application before the youth may attend the shift.

LONGMONT HUMANE SOCIETY Adult Volunteer Opportunities

Administrative Assistant: Assist administrative staff with data entry and other clerical tasks, or special projects. Hours are arranged with the administrative staff members as needed.

Animal Care Assistant (Kennel): Assist kennel staff with cleaning and restocking kennel areas and feeding animals available for adoption. Hours available are seven days a week, 7:30 – 10:30 am and 4-6 pm.

Feline Friends:

Overall in this position you will give love and attention to our cats at LHS. Hours generally are 7 days a week between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. You will need to attend a 1.5 hour Feline Friends training session before interacting with the cats.

At the FF training, you will sign up for one weekly 2 hour shift between the hours of 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. We will expect a minimum commitment of 3 months for this Volunteer Opportunity.

Dog TLC:

Overall in this position you will walk, and socialize our dogs on the adoption floor at LHS. Hours generally are 7 days a week between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. You will need to attend a 3.5 hour Dog TLC training session before interacting with the dogs.

At the TLC training, you will sign up for one weekly 2 hour shift between the hours of 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. We will expect a minimum commitment of 3 months for this Volunteer Opportunity.

Small Paws:

Overall in this position you will give love and attention to our rabbits, rats, and guinea pigs at LHS. Hours generally are 7 days a week between 11:30 am and 5:30 pm. You will need to attend a 1.5 hour Small Paws training session before interacting with the rabbits, rats, and guinea pigs.

At the SP training, you will sign up for one weekly 1.5 hour shift between the hours of 11:30 am and 5:30 pm. We will expect a minimum commitment of 3 months for this Volunteer Opportunity.

T.E.A.M.: Provide midday enrichment treats to dogs on the adoption floor. In special situations, volunteer may be asked to pass out midday treats to dogs in behavior or dome area as cleared by behavior staff. No visits with dogs are allowed unless volunteer is trained in Dog TLC. You will need to attend a 1 hour training session. You will sign up for one weekly 2 hour shift from 1-3 p.m., and two volunteers maximum will be scheduled at a time. Donation Pick-up: Pick up and deliver to LHS various donations of food and other items. Also, we have donation cans set up at local businesses, and Volunteers collect the money from the cans on a monthly basis.

Outreach Committee: Throughout the year, LHS has booths at local events and festivals. We need Volunteers to be our ambassadors; to answer questions about LHS, promote our adoptable animals.

Foster Care: Provide temporary home care for animals that are injured or too young to be adopted. LHS will provide all food and medical supplies. Animals are then placed in adoptive homes by LHS staff.

Ask Me Volunteer: Assist the front desk staff by greeting visitors and answering basic questions about LHS. Ask Me Volunteers provide a valuable service by minimizing wait times for clients and helping front desk staff provide an efficient and timely response to all inquiries. If you like a fast paced environment and to multi-task, we have a place for you with this opportunity.

Maintenance Assistant: Assist with gardening, landscaping, painting, carpentry, plumbing and electrical projects at the LHS facility.

Pet Grooming: Assist the Kennel Supervisor and Groomers with the grooming of animals in our adoption kennels. This position is basically bathing and brushing the animals; TLC Training is a pre-requisite.

Photographer/Videographer: Assist by taking photos and/or videos of special events/LHS activities.

Special Events: Assist at special events throughout the year (i.e. Dog washes, Homeward Bound, Walk/Run for Animals and more).

Thrift Store: Work in the LHS Thrift Store sorting and pricing donated items and moving items out to sell. Store hours are Monday through Friday – 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday – 10 am to 4 pm. Volunteer hours are arranged through the Thrift Store Manager. The Thrift Store is one of the major ongoing fundraisers for LHS operations. Shelter Clinic: Assist with animals before and after surgery, cleaning and repacking instruments and helping with other tasks in the LHS Spay/Neuter Clinic. Preferred prerequisite for this opportunity is completion of TLC training. ADVANCED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

These are positions that require LHS Volunteer experience before applying:

Canine Coach: This is an extension of the Dog TLC program. Volunteers work with shelter dogs to train in order to improve their “adoptability”. You must complete at least 16 hours of EV (Experienced Volunteer) work before you can apply for the Canine Coach program. Obedience training techniques will be taught by shelter staff and a weekly time commitment is necessary.

LONGMONT HUMANE SOCIETY Youth Volunteer Opportunities

Please check our website on the youth volunteer page for more information about teen orientation and trainings: www.longmonthumane.org TLC VOLUNTEERS Ages 14+ Enjoy a great deal of contact with dogs awaiting adoption while working to maintain their health and well-being. Basic Duties: Providing hands-on socialization with the adoptable dogs while helping to maintain a clean and safe environment for our animals. Time Commitment: Two-hour shift once weekly with a three month minimum commitment. FELINE FRIENDS VOLUNTEERS Ages 13+ Feline Friends Volunteers work with our cats currently awaiting adoption as well as our cats recovering from illness. Basic Duties: Visit with, socialize, pet and love our cats. Time Commitment: Two-hour shift once weekly with a three month minimum commitment. JUNIOR ANIMAL CARE ASSISTANT Age 13+ JACA volunteers help by giving enrichment to the dogs on our adoption floor. Basic Duties: JACA volunteers support the kennel staff by working on the Dog Adoption floor and doing such services as filling dog water bowls, folding laundry, filling kongs, scooping poop, filling treat bags. JACA volunteers may also visit with the dogs inside their kennels, brushing and loving them. Time Commitment: Once a week for a 90-minute shift with a three month minimum commitment. SMALL PAWS VOLUNTEERS Age 13+ Small Paws Volunteers help socialize rabbits, guinea pigs and rats. Basic Duties: Small Paws volunteers visit with the small mammals: rabbits, rats and guinea pigs. Time Commitment: Once a week for a 90-minute shift with a three month minimum commitment. Ages 8-12: We know there are many students in this age group who would love to spend time here working with the animals, and although we do not have the supervision to offer this as independent volunteer work, we can suggest that an adult, over the age of 18, work as the primary volunteer and the child can accompany the adult during their volunteer time. Call 303/772-1232 ext 278 for more info.

CONTACT: Brooke Etnyre TLC Volunteer Coordinator 303-772-1232 ext. 278 brooke@longmonthumane.org

Wish List

Please drop off items at the front desk in the main lobby - during regular office hours

Kennel Supplies Canned cat & kitten food (Science Diet, Pro Plan, Authority, Iams, Purina Kitten & Cat Chows preferred) Canned dog & puppy food (Science Diet, Pro Plan, Purina Dog Chow, Pedigree preferred) Rabbit food and grass hay Small Mammal food (gerbils, hamster and the like) Dog Biscuits (Milk Bone brand or what have you) Non-clumping clay cat litter Blankets, towels & washcloths Bird food & toys Dog & Cat toys Leashes ( 5’ - 6’ ) Slip leads Laundry baskets Plastic litter boxes Can openers

Foster Care Towels and small blankets Baby Food (chicken or turkey) Kitchen or postal scales (weighs 2 pounds or less) Thermometers (rectal)

Wish List Please drop off items at the front desk in the main lobby - during regular office hours

Cleaning Supplies Scrub brushes (all sizes) Laundry detergent Dishwasher detergent Spray bottles Bleach Glass cleaner Hand sanitizer Toilet paper Industrial mops Dust mops Brooms & dustpans Paper towels Clorox Wipes Trash cans (large & small) Lawn and Leaf bags (56 gallon +) Tall Kitchen Trash Bags

Special Requests

Stepstools Rechargeable batteries Working Radios/CD players White copier paper (letter, legal, ledger) Postage stamps Red pens Vis a Vis black markers

No Kill versus Open Admission Shelters

Almost every day at Longmont Humane Society, people ask us the question, “Are you a ‘no kill’ shelter?” The short answer is no. But there’s a lot more to this complex question. Many members of the public have heard and sometimes repeat this misunderstood term, but often do not know much more than that. The roots of the “no kill” movement go back more than a half century. But the term came into wider use in the early 1990s. More “no kill” shelters began to crop up, drawing understandable support from a public that heard the term. After all, it sounded good. But the truth is, “no kill” doesn’t really mean “no euthanasia.” Virtually all “no kill” facilities have limited space, and practice selective admission. This means that when the “no kill” facility is full or someone brings in a severely ill, temperamentally unsound, or otherwise “unadoptable” animal, the shelter simply says, “sorry, we’re full” or “we are not accepting animals at this time” and people are turned away. Where, then, can such people turn? Thankfully, even animals turned away by “no kill” facilities are accepted by shelters like Longmont Humane Society, which has an “open admission” policy. We are concerned about the welfare of every animal we receive, and view each one as an individual; we do not discriminate by age, or breed or physical appearances. We have no limit on the amount of time any animal may stay at Longmont Humane Society, and as long as the animal is healthy and temperamentally sound, he or she will be given every opportunity to find a new, forever home. Euthanasia is always a last resort. But sometimes, if the animal is severely ill or injured, or poses a potential danger to the community due to behavioral problems, it is the most humane and safe choice to make. Currently, about 95 percent of adoptable animals at LHS find new homes, and some are transferred to other rescue agencies where they have a chance in a new venue. That 95% live release rate is far above the industry standard. The “no kill” movement should be lauded for drawing attention to the tragedy of pet overpopulation. It has played a valuable role in advocating better humane standards at many shelters and tax-supported facilities, which frequently euthanized stray and abandoned animals without ever giving them a chance to find a new home. But, sad as it is, we are not yet a “no kill” nation. Progress has been made because of the work of progressive shelters like LHS and the good work of the “no kill” movement. Where just 10 years ago as many as 17 million unwanted animals were euthanized every year in the United States, today that number has decreased to an estimated 3 to 4 million. We all hope to become a “no kill nation.” But in the meantime, open-admission shelters like LHS provide shelter to every animal in need, and save hundreds of thousands of animals every year; they often are the last lifeline for pets and people in need. And when people who don’t fully understand “no kill” language

divert their resources and support away from open-admission shelters, they often are unknowingly contributing to higher euthanasia rates. The long-term solution to the problem of pet overpopulation and unwanted animals – as acknowledged by both “no kill” and open-admission proponents – is the reduction of unwanted animals through effective, affordable spay and neuter services, like those offered by Well Pet Clinic, the low-cost clinic opened by LHS in January 2009. In addition, humane organizations must continue to educate the public on the responsibilities of having a pet and the importance of making a lifelong commitment to all companion animals. Some parts of this article were adapted from “No Kill: What It Really Means,” by Janelle Dixon, President/Interim CEO of the Animal Humane Society.

Get the Facts on Puppy Mills

Puppy mills are breeding facilities that produce purebred puppies in large numbers. The

puppies are sold either directly to the public via the Internet, newspaper ads, at the mill

itself, or are sold to brokers and pet shops across the country. Puppy mills have long

concerned The Humane Society of the United States.

The documented problems of puppy mills include overbreeding, inbreeding, minimal veterinary care,

poor quality of food and shelter, lack of socialization with humans, overcrowded cages, and the killing of

unwanted animals. To the unwitting consumer, this situation frequently means buying a puppy facing an

array of immediate veterinary problems or harboring genetically borne diseases that do not appear until

years later. In 1994, Time magazine estimated that as many as 25% of purebred dogs were afflicted with

serious genetic problems.

Sadly, some dogs are forced to live in puppy mills for their entire lives. They are kept there for one reason

only: to produce more puppies. Repeatedly bred, many of these brood bitches are killed once their

reproductive capacity wanes.

Thousands of these breeding operations currently exist in the United States, many of them despite

repeated violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The United States Department of

Agriculture (USDA) is charged with enforcing the AWA; however, with 96 inspectors nationwide who

oversee not only the thousands of puppy mills, but also zoos, circuses, laboratories, and animals

transported via commercial airlines, they are an agency stretched thin.

The HSUS, along with other animal-protection groups, has successfully lobbied for increased funding for

AWA enforcement. Although all 50 states have anti-cruelty laws that should prevent neglect and

mistreatment of dogs in puppy mills, such laws are seldom enforced.

The Pet Store Link

The HSUS strongly opposes the sale, through pet shops and similar outlets, of puppies and dogs from

massbreeding establishments. Puppy-mill dogs are the “inventory” of these retail operations. Statistics

from the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) indicate that approximately 3,500 to 3,700 of the

11,500 to 12,000 U.S. pet stores sell cats and dogs. PIJAC also estimates that pet stores sell 300,000 to

400,000 puppies every year. The HSUS estimates the number to be 500,000.

The Retail Pet Store Exemption Problem

The USDA has never required dealers who sell their animals directly to the public to apply for licenses,

regardless of the size of the operation. The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) excludes retail pet stores from its

minimum humane care and handling requirements, and it is the USDA’s position that these dealers are

retail pet stores. However, many think that a person breeding animals on his own premises and selling

them directly to consumers is not a retail pet store.

Each year American consumers purchase dogs from unregulated dealers who sell animals from their

premises. Many of the animals are sold through newspaper advertisements and via the Internet, which

means the purchaser can’t see the conditions in which the dogs live. A number of investigative reports,

however, have revealed that these facilities can be horrific. Thirty-five years ago, Congress passed the

AWA to, in part, ensure that breeders provide humane treatment to animals in their care. AWA

requirements include adequate housing, ample food and water, reasonable handling, basic disease

prevention, decent sanitation, and sufficient ventilation.

On May 11, 2000, a coalition of animal protection organizations and individuals filed a lawsuit charging

the USDA with failing to halt cruel and inhumane practices at breeding facilities. The plaintiffs outlined

the USDA’s illegal actions in exempting pet dealers who were not retail stores from compliance with the

humane treatment standards mandated by the AWA. The complaint also described how the USDA’s lack

of appropriate application of the AWA can lead to the injury, illness, and death of untold numbers of

animals.

On July 31, 2001, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the language and history

of the AWA clearly show that an individual who sells dogs and cats from his or her own premises is not a

retail pet store. Thus, the court found that USDA’s exclusion of all commercial dealers who sell dogs and

cats directly to the public is in violation of Congress’ express intent under the AWA. The USDA is

appealing that decision.

What You Can Do

To close down puppy mills and ensure the safety and humane treatment of animals trapped in commercial

kennels, you can:

Contact the USDA to register your concern that they do not regulate breeders who sell directly to

the public. Ask them to drop their appeal of the court decision that clearly requires the agency to

abide by the Animal Welfare Act mandate. Letters should be sent to:

The Honorable Ann M. Veneman

Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture

14th and Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20259

Encourage state and federal officials to stop the mass production and exportation of sick and

traumatized dogs. In addition to passing new laws, legislators can demand that existing laws be

enforced.

Urge other people not to buy from pet stores, over the Internet, or from newspaper ads.

Write letters to the editor about puppy mills and pet stores. Explain the mills’ inhumane treatment

of puppies and their contribution to pet overpopulation.

Visit a local pet store to determine where it obtains its puppies. Don’t be misled by claims that its

dogs were not bred in puppy mills. Insist on seeing breed registry papers or the interstate health

certificate for each puppy. The papers will list the breeder’s and/or wholesaler’s name and

address.

Contact your member of the U.S. House of Representatives and your two U.S. Senators, asking

them to urge the USDA to strictly enforce the Animal Welfare Act and to support efforts to

increase funding for USDA/Animal Care.

Reprinted from the HSUS web site (www.hsus.com)

Distributed by: Animal Rights Coalition P.O. Box 8750 Mpls., MN 55408

612-822-6161 / www.animalrightscoaltion.com