Complacency and the puppy mill factor

It is hard for those of us in the animal welfare community to understand why politics prevails over the simple act of doing the right thing.

I am the medical coordinator of Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids, a nonprofit tasked with medically caring for discarded pets. Animals are failed in a variety of ways, but none more than those residing in puppy mills. When we say puppy mills, we are not talking about reputable breeders, but rather the huge factory farms that mass produce pups. The pups always are adorable. It is the parents of these little ones that live in a shop of horror.

We have many of these dogs in our medical system right now. Most rescues and shelters deal with the aftermath of this inhumanity on a daily basis.

Oscar was released from a mill after he no longer was useful. His muzzle was amputated after living with a massive infection and fracture for years.

Freya, a female Corgi, is recovering from severe skin infections and fractures in her jaw. Several teeth were knocked out.

The list is endless but their lives are of value and worth saving. Thousands of these dogs are suffering endless inhumanity. The dogs of Worth County are just a sample of what has been going on. Acceptable? No!

The Cedar Rapids City Council needs to do the right thing. Ban the sale of puppies that are produced by mills. Stop this abuse. Let your humane heart lead the way.

Jan Erceg

Solon