Some stories make you want to cry.
In Missouri recently, a Golden Retriever-Labrador mix was found on a highway after her owner threw her from a pickup truck when she was just seven weeks old.
The puppy, named Ritchy (pictured above), is struggling to stay alive - but without the help of two groups and the person who found her and took her to a veterinary clinic, it's doubtful Ritchy would have made it this far.
When I read this, my emotions went from stunned disbelief to anger to sadness. I'm incredulous that someone - anyone - could do something as callous as throw a dog from a vehicle. With shelters and rescue groups readily available to take in strays and unwanted dogs, doing something as thoughtless as tossing a dog on the side of a road is more than wrong. It's unnecessary.
The fact this happened in Missouri isn't unusual. Although the state's agricultural department is pledging to crack down on bad breeders, Missouri is considered the "puppy mill capital" of America. By one estimate, it's home to more than 4,000 shoddy dog-breeding businesses.
Ritchy's immediate care was paid for by a Second Chance grant of $200 awarded by American Humane, but she needs to see a specialist for a worsening bladder problem. American Humane is working with the Coalition for Animal Rescue & Education (CARE) in Missouri to pay for additional medical care.
Let's hope officials in Missouri are able to put unlicensed and unqualified breeders out of business - and that Ritchy, now 11 weeks old, makes a full recovery and finds a good home. Six other puppies thrown from the same truck weren't so lucky.
We're not piling on Linda Brown or her Wolf Den Kennel -- the place where VP-elect Joe Biden bought his German Shepherd puppy recently -- but we wanted to confirm something we read about the kennel having lost its ability to register dogs with the American Kennel Club.
Turns out that's not so, although Brown, who also operates under the name Jolindy's German Shepherds in Chester County, Pa., did lose AKC certification in 2006. She regained it in 2007 and is currently in good standing.
Interestingly, Lisa Peterson, a spokeswoman for the AKC, told us that Brown has not registered any litters with the organization this year - meaning that the Biden dog (or the litter he came from) does not currently have AKC certification.
Peterson said that Brown, whose kennel was cited for several violations this month, lost her right to register dogs in 2006 because three of her litters had false certification, apparently listing incorrect parents. Peterson said this was probably a paperwork error.
All this makes us wonder if Biden really cares whether his puppy is AKC registered. Some dog owners do, some don't. But you'd have to presume that he might want his purebred dog to have the proper papers proving his heritage.
The incoming Vice President is getting pressure from groups who believe he should have adopted a shelter puppy - and that Brown might be a less-than-reputable breeder. They also believe that Biden's boss, Barack Obama, should adopt. An Obama dog would do a lot to promote pet adoption if he picks one from a shelter or rescue group.
