cause and effect format
Last Name 1
Student's Name
Professor Westrick
ENG 1101
29 April 2019
Professor Westrick
ENG 1101
29 April 2019
Heroically Arguing for a Cause
Dogs are man’s best friend and they should be treated like family, and most of the time they are. However, animal shelters are overrun, and the strain on dog rescue organizations is at a breaking point, yet there are still hundreds of dog breeders within Georgia that exist, and more being licensed annually. There are laws set in place for over-breeding dogs, but it has not been regulated as it should, causing over populated puppy mills with deplorable living conditions, that in turn cause major health and emotional problems for rescue dogs. Humans are the voice for animals, and as animal rights lawyer Gary Francione stated, “animals have a right to have their interest and well being protected, even if it would benefit us to do otherwise” (Bekoff 71).
According to the Georgia Department of Agriculture, there is a special unit called the “Animal Protection Inspectors” and their mission is to enforce law and inspect breeders, their licenses, and facilities. Sadly, Georgia only has 19 inspectors and 4 field supervisors to maintain 159 counties (Ga Dept. of Agri). There is no doubt that there is a problem of over-breeding due to the lack of enforcement officials, and the department is relying heavily on local sheriff and animal control officers to help. In addition, obtaining a breeder license is easy and inexpensive. The state needs to enforce stronger background and vetting for those desiring to obtain licensing. As of today, as long as one pays the license fee, shows that there is sanitary shelter with ventilation, food and water, you can be a breeder (Ga Dept. of Agri). The unfortunate thing is what is being described as “shelter” and “ventilation” is very broad. Placing dogs in crates, outside, with a roof over their head is sadly what is often referred to as “sanitary shelter and ventilation.”
While over-breeding is cause for concern due to the lack of inspection, it often leads to inhumane breeding. Many people and organizations support dog specific breeding for service animals intended for medical and emotional support. According to Canine Partners for Life, their puppies come from in-house breeding programs. “Breeding in-house helps insure that specific traits and qualities that CPL want in their service dogs are carried on” (CPL). In addition to service animals, people that are pro dog breeding believe that this practice is necessary for breed preservation. According to Rep. Rick Jasperse (R-Jasper), “It’s about the free market and for Georgia’s consumers to have the ability to choose what they want to buy” (Padgett).
While the free market is necessary for the economy, as Dr. Gloria Dorsey of the Atlanta Humane Society quoted, “When profit is primary motivation of the supply and sale of dogs, animals suffer” (Padgett). This has been proven time and again. While many believe in the free market, this breeding style has led to over bred-dogs (dogs that are bred more than once in a 12-month cycle), and over populated puppy mills. Within the last 6 months, there have been numerous violations around Georgia. For instance, as numerous media and news outlets reported, 44 dogs and puppies were living outside with no food or water in Lamar County, and another in South Georgia, with over 700 dogs rescued. In both cases, crates containing dogs were stacked on top of each other, with multiple dogs in each. They lacked proper food and water, had little to no shelter, and complete lack of medical care. As a result of improper medical care, many dogs were never spayed or neutered, leading to inbreeding, and resulting in over breeding. Many were shoved into crates too small for their bodies, and as a result, many did not know how to stand up straight once freed. Others whom were put into crates with other dogs, had never laid flat to sleep due to the lack of space. Many of them even had severe eye and skin infections. This could have been avoided if proper and timely inspections had been done.
With the amount of puppy mill rescues recently, it has put a tremendous strain financially on rescue and shelter organizations, as well as finding fosters and shelters for them. With so many in shelters, the state should re-focus their efforts, instead of issuing additional licenses to breeders, create more legislation to protect these pups. An idea, more cities need to pass legislation like Atlanta has, banning the sale of dogs from puppy mills within pet stores, thus discouraging the operation of puppy and kitten mills (Padgett). Providing more information to consumers about adopting out of their local animal shelter, verses seeking a pet from a breeder or pet store, would in turn lessen the demand for full-bred dogs. This would amount to less dogs being rescued from puppy mills, and more adoption from shelters, taking financial strain off of the organizations so that they can more properly care for the pets they already have within their facilities.
Georgia has a problem with overrun puppy mills, that is leading to inhumane and unsanitary conditions for dogs. With a lack of enforcement due to the small number of people employed within this division of the Georgia Department of Agriculture that enforce these laws, this problem will only worsen in the future. With this being the case, the state needs to enforce stricter background checks and inspections that will help alleviate the problem. With more education on pet adoption through animal shelters, public knowledge on the emotional and medical effects puppy mills have on dogs, Georgia, and the surrounding communities could make a difference in the number of dog’s in county shelters and in turn, lessen the demand for puppy mills. In closing, Professor Tom Regan stated that, “animals are not things, but living organisms that are worthy of compassion and respect” (Bekoff 72).
According to the Georgia Department of Agriculture, there is a special unit called the “Animal Protection Inspectors” and their mission is to enforce law and inspect breeders, their licenses, and facilities. Sadly, Georgia only has 19 inspectors and 4 field supervisors to maintain 159 counties (Ga Dept. of Agri). There is no doubt that there is a problem of over-breeding due to the lack of enforcement officials, and the department is relying heavily on local sheriff and animal control officers to help. In addition, obtaining a breeder license is easy and inexpensive. The state needs to enforce stronger background and vetting for those desiring to obtain licensing. As of today, as long as one pays the license fee, shows that there is sanitary shelter with ventilation, food and water, you can be a breeder (Ga Dept. of Agri). The unfortunate thing is what is being described as “shelter” and “ventilation” is very broad. Placing dogs in crates, outside, with a roof over their head is sadly what is often referred to as “sanitary shelter and ventilation.”
While over-breeding is cause for concern due to the lack of inspection, it often leads to inhumane breeding. Many people and organizations support dog specific breeding for service animals intended for medical and emotional support. According to Canine Partners for Life, their puppies come from in-house breeding programs. “Breeding in-house helps insure that specific traits and qualities that CPL want in their service dogs are carried on” (CPL). In addition to service animals, people that are pro dog breeding believe that this practice is necessary for breed preservation. According to Rep. Rick Jasperse (R-Jasper), “It’s about the free market and for Georgia’s consumers to have the ability to choose what they want to buy” (Padgett).
While the free market is necessary for the economy, as Dr. Gloria Dorsey of the Atlanta Humane Society quoted, “When profit is primary motivation of the supply and sale of dogs, animals suffer” (Padgett). This has been proven time and again. While many believe in the free market, this breeding style has led to over bred-dogs (dogs that are bred more than once in a 12-month cycle), and over populated puppy mills. Within the last 6 months, there have been numerous violations around Georgia. For instance, as numerous media and news outlets reported, 44 dogs and puppies were living outside with no food or water in Lamar County, and another in South Georgia, with over 700 dogs rescued. In both cases, crates containing dogs were stacked on top of each other, with multiple dogs in each. They lacked proper food and water, had little to no shelter, and complete lack of medical care. As a result of improper medical care, many dogs were never spayed or neutered, leading to inbreeding, and resulting in over breeding. Many were shoved into crates too small for their bodies, and as a result, many did not know how to stand up straight once freed. Others whom were put into crates with other dogs, had never laid flat to sleep due to the lack of space. Many of them even had severe eye and skin infections. This could have been avoided if proper and timely inspections had been done.
With the amount of puppy mill rescues recently, it has put a tremendous strain financially on rescue and shelter organizations, as well as finding fosters and shelters for them. With so many in shelters, the state should re-focus their efforts, instead of issuing additional licenses to breeders, create more legislation to protect these pups. An idea, more cities need to pass legislation like Atlanta has, banning the sale of dogs from puppy mills within pet stores, thus discouraging the operation of puppy and kitten mills (Padgett). Providing more information to consumers about adopting out of their local animal shelter, verses seeking a pet from a breeder or pet store, would in turn lessen the demand for full-bred dogs. This would amount to less dogs being rescued from puppy mills, and more adoption from shelters, taking financial strain off of the organizations so that they can more properly care for the pets they already have within their facilities.
Georgia has a problem with overrun puppy mills, that is leading to inhumane and unsanitary conditions for dogs. With a lack of enforcement due to the small number of people employed within this division of the Georgia Department of Agriculture that enforce these laws, this problem will only worsen in the future. With this being the case, the state needs to enforce stricter background checks and inspections that will help alleviate the problem. With more education on pet adoption through animal shelters, public knowledge on the emotional and medical effects puppy mills have on dogs, Georgia, and the surrounding communities could make a difference in the number of dog’s in county shelters and in turn, lessen the demand for puppy mills. In closing, Professor Tom Regan stated that, “animals are not things, but living organisms that are worthy of compassion and respect” (Bekoff 72).
Works Cited
“Animal Protection FAQS.” Georgia Department of Agriculture, 2019, agr.georgia.gov/animal-protection-faqs.aspx.
Bekoff, Marc. Animals Matter: A biologist Explains Why We Should Treat Animals with Compassion and Respect. Boston, Shambhala Publications, Inc, 2007. Print, pp 71-71.
“Canine Partners for Life.” K94life, 2019, k94life.org/programs/servicedog/
Padgett, Lauren. “Bill to ban puppy, and kitten mills up for consideration in Atlanta.” 13WMAZ News, October 17, 2019, www.13wmaz.com/article/news/local/georgia/bill-to-ban-puppy-kitten-mills-up-for-consideration-in-atlanta/93-605354294.
Bekoff, Marc. Animals Matter: A biologist Explains Why We Should Treat Animals with Compassion and Respect. Boston, Shambhala Publications, Inc, 2007. Print, pp 71-71.
“Canine Partners for Life.” K94life, 2019, k94life.org/programs/servicedog/
Padgett, Lauren. “Bill to ban puppy, and kitten mills up for consideration in Atlanta.” 13WMAZ News, October 17, 2019, www.13wmaz.com/article/news/local/georgia/bill-to-ban-puppy-kitten-mills-up-for-consideration-in-atlanta/93-605354294.