Let’s Make Puppy Mills Illegal!
Puppy mills are not illegal, but they should be. I watched Oprah yesterday, it was a very painful but important show about the Puppy Mill Industry. There are as many as 10,000 puppy mills operating in the United States. It’s a disgrace.
Lisa Ling joined Bill Smith, founder of Main Line Animal Rescue, as they toured several puppy mills with undercover cameras. They rescued as many dogs as they could, but there were hundreds left behind.
I had not heard of Main Line Animal Rescue until yesterday. I’m in awe of the work they have done. Bill has fostered relationships with hundreds of breeders across Pennsylvania in order to save dogs’ lives. He has managed to convince these breeders to call him before killing their unwanted dogs. They rescue and then rehabilitate these animals so that they can have a second chance for a better life. MLAR has rescued over 7,000 animals to date, 5,000 have been from puppy mills. Bill Smith is truly a saint, it’s not surprising that he won the ASPCA Lifetime Achievement Award in November 2007. Bill Smith is my new hero.
Bill Smith with rescue Charlotte below
photo by Michael Bryant/Inquirer Staff Photographer
