Puppy Auctions

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

After reading the story on Roadside selling and poor Smokey, I wanted to start this discussion because it has been troubling me for awhile, and I wanted to see what everyone else's thoughts are.

A while back there was an article in our local Cincinnati paper about a TV reporter that went with a Dayton area rescue organization to a Dog Auction up in Northern Ohio (insert Amish Puppy Mills here).  The rescue purchased several puppies at the auction and the reporter even took one of the puppies.  I am just having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that this would be considered appropriate.  The were saying that they were taking the sick ones or the ones no one else wanted, but still, they were supporting these puppy mills by purchasing puppies from them.  It was a rescue whose puppies I always looked at on Petfinder when I would be searching for Doodles, but now I just skip right over them.  Am I missing something here ..... is this ok?

[F, Calla & Luca]

Too true and the last sentence is so funny! I once was taught that you don't have to memorize the phone book, you just have to know the alphabet. And it is true that when faced with a puppy that it's never the puppy's fault.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No, it's never the puppy's fault, and nobody is saying that it's the puppy's fault. The puppy is one of the victims. But buying that puppy helps ensure that there will be thousands more victims, including the puppy's mother.
It's a really easy choice to just not go into the store.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I agree.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

When you think about the Amish puppy mills, their auctions and their road side stands you really have to think about the Amish society as a whole. Research the abuse among the Amish and the genetic disorders (such as hemophelia) that they pass along to their own children because of their "in-breeding" and other unreported actions. Truly how can you expect to them to have any regard for the quality of life for their dogs and livestock? The only way to stop it is for the government and law makers to wake up and see what is going on.

What I have never understood and its sort of off the subject, but (a lot of) Amish society does not follow the same tax laws as "normal" citizens. Why doesn't the government step in and see the industry they have among their puppy mills and livestock mills alone that they the government should be taxing? IF the government did that how could they possilby turn a blind eye to the abuse that is going on? Wouldn't that be a way to stop it?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

That is an interesting thought, Denise; one I was unaware of. I guess the government is afraid of being "politically incorrect" in persecuting a religion! Heaven forbid that we all pay our fair share on income.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And it's millions of dollars. Millions. With our economy the way it is, schools without funds for basic materials, these people are raking in millions and paying no taxes whatsoever.
From the article:

In particular, assiduous Amish in communities around Holmes, Tuscarawas, and Coshocton counties have embraced the puppy trade. The region has become a highly profitable hotbed for a loosely regulated, untaxed cash business that rakes in millions of dollars each year.
The three counties combined boast 1,200 kennel licenses; Holmes — considered the capital of the trade — has 400 licensed breeders among a total population of around 40,000 people. In comparison, Cuyahoga County has around two dozen licensed breeders.

Let's say one kennel has 100 breeding dogs; not at all unusual, esepcially since they keep 3 or 4 in one cage. Very little overhead, the buildings are unheated, no A/C, no electricity at all, the dogs get the poorest quality food in amounts that just barely keep them alive & no vet care. 100 small breeding dogs, each dog producing two litters a year, which is 200 litters, each litter containing 5-6 puppies, conservatively, each puppy produced selling for $300-600. Times 1200 kennels, in just this little three county area. You do the math.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

AND why doesn't IRS see this???????

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No paper trail. The pet stores at least charge sales tax. That's probably why the latest thing is roadside puppy stands.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Boggles the mind!

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

The Amish don't pay taxes...or utility bills come to think of it. They are a religious group and considered tax exempt. BTW- I ghost wrote a book about 3 years ago for a young man who left Amish life. The abuse goes beyond animals. It is a male dominated society and women and children are also considered "property" and are treated as such.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

BTW--http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=55644242409

[Leslie and Halas]

Just requested to join.