Missouri, Puppy Mill Capital, Is Home to 3 Busts in 2 Weeks

I live in St. Louis. And you know what, Missouri? I am damn tired of the constant flow of e-mail alerts about the latest puppy mill busts in Missouri. I am tired of the devastating puppy mill images. And I am equally tired of the "largest rescue ever" headlines about diseased, injured, and abused dogs, cats, chickens, horses, goats, and more. I am tired of the state I live in being one of the least animal-friendly states in the nation. What is it going to take to change this? I really don't know.

-Read on after the jump for more, including the details and videos from the three recent MO busts-

But for starters, Missourians (and others), stop buying your dogs and cats from breeders and pet stores. Because you know what else I'm tired of? People who wring their hands and cry out about how horrible it is and how bad they feel for the rescued dogs when they receive these e-mails or see the news stories but who then turn around and buy animals from breeders. Want to help the rescued dogs? Going in and adopting a rescued dog (whether rescued from a puppy mill bust, from the streets, from an abusive home, or from any other situation) will do a lot more good than shaking your head, writing the rescuing group a $20 check to make yourself feel better, and then continuing to purchase purebred dogs yourself. I mean, write the check if you can, but don't stop there.

It doesn't matter if people think they're getting a dog from a "responsible" breeder (dare I risk the ire of all the breeders out there yet again by repeating that there's no such thing?). If you have a choice between purchasing a dog from a breeder like she's a custom-made vehicle or piece of furniture that has to be just the right size, color, and brand and rescuing a dog from a shelter, maybe even one of the many dogs who end up in shelters after these rescues, and you choose to purchase, you're part of the problem. Shaking your head and verbally condemning the puppy mills doesn't change that. Maybe you think I'm being a little harsh. Maybe you think this is too much tough love. But read on and then tell that to these dogs.

Two weeks, three rescues

From Best Friends Animal Society, which has come to Missouri at the request of Missouri Department of Agriculture to help with one of the rescues (see the end of this post for videos from days 1, 2, and 3 of this rescue):

• "Trial By Fire: Dogs Rescued From Missouri Breeding Facility"
  If the condition of the dogs weren't proof enough of what a classy guy one of these breeders is, there's this: "On February 24, when Missouri officials appeared on the premise of River Valley Puppies Kennels to remove approximately 200 dogs, the owner of the facility set fire to his house, the kennel where the dogs are kept and began shooting at anyone who attempted to enter the house—including firefighters."
• February 28 update ("Day One Complete for River Valley Rescue," on Facebook, with details on some specific dogs)
• River Valley Rescue: Wrangling

From the Humane Society of Missouri, on the other two recent rescues:

• Humane Society of Missouri rescued 209 animals from substandard puppy mill in Southwest Missouri
• Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force rescues more than 90 dogs from substandard puppy mill in Greene County

Best Friends videos
River Valley rescue, day 1
River Valley rescue, day 2
River Valley rescue, day 3