Amish Puppy Mills
You know my dear Champ who passed away was rescued from a puppy mill that was raided and closed due to deplorable conditions. The problem with puppy mill puppies is that they are not healthy. And as in Champ's case, it was a long illness that took years to manifest. So when he passed, puppy mills did more damage than just giving the world a sick dog, they broke my heart. I swear I'll do anything I can to stop puppy mills.
With that, I read this very interesting article about the Amish moving west to avoid population crowds. God bless, them, I'd do the same. But, they also have been known to run puppy mills. In fact, in my surreptitious investigations into where the puppies come from at pet stores what I do is stop in the pet store and ask to see the breeders papers for a particular dog. Well, in every of the 3 cases the breeder happened to be in Pennsylvania. I find this a bit suspect. Anyway, it just goes to say, pet stores sell puppy mill puppies. Papers are easy to create. Hearts are hard to fix. Here is the article from the Colorado Gazette:
Leave puppy mills behind
I read the article, "Amish escaping crowds, prices are heading west," in the June 7 Gazette. There is nothing wrong with people wanting to relocate and escape the crowds.
But I wonder if there isn't an alternative motive than just moving out to the country.
I volunteer at the National Mill Dog Rescue in Falcon. I am betting that the general population is not aware that a large portion of the dogs we rescue come from puppy mills run by the Amish. The Amish have hundreds of these poor mistreated animals in their large barns, locked in very small cages 24/7. When we get these dogs, they have never had their feet touch the ground, they do not know how to walk nor do they have any idea what grass is. Their sole purpose in life is to breed, produce puppies and then, if we don't get them first, they are drowned.
They keep the females in the dark 24/7 because they will come into another heat cycle and produce another litter of puppies. They come to us with health issues because of a lack of veterinary care. National Mill Dog Rescue spays/neuters them, gives them their vaccinations, cleans their teeth or pulls those that need pulling so they don't get an infection.
If this is why the Amish are moving here, the public needs to be made aware. Do not support the puppy mills by purchasing dogs from the pet stores. We need to keep our vigilance up and stop this inhumane treatment. Animals are not throw away, they are for life. All they ask for is love and they give back loyalty.
Anne Morton, Colorado Springs
Growth breeds problems
For decades our mayors and City Councils have knelt at the altar of development, hand-in-hand with the developers moving to greater population for Colorado Springs and the county. What has been the result for us? Ever growing crime, taxation, traffic congestion, stress on the operating budgets of the city, misguided priorities such as the push to keep the USOC in town, water shortages and cuts in bus service which have hurt many people who cannot drive.
As a lifetime resident, I have to ask why? Colorado Springs had a viable economy at 50,000 population; 100,000; 200,000. What have we gained, other than a less desirable place to live?
Chuck Lindell, Colorado Springs
