*** In September 2008, Ms. Lepalme had 157 dogs removed from her care by the Montreal SPCA on the grounds of animal cruelty. All 157 dogs took residence in one house where they were packed in crates, dog runs and wire cages. They were found extremely malnourished, dehydrated, over bred, infested with worms, untreated open wounds on their bodies and some were even found dead on site.

We have started this petition because Carole Lapalme, the puppy mill owner, will be back in criminal court December 17th, 2008 in Montreal and is pleading not guilty to animal cruelty. Carole Lepalme is requesting that the dogs be returned to her. Something has to be done to stop these dogs from being put back under the care of this person. Quebec is known as the animal cruelty capital of North America, and is the home of over 2000 puppy mills. You can make a difference, do not let these helpless animals return to a desolate life without care, food, space, companionship or freedom.

Go Here To Sign The Petition

I am pleased to announce that some new animal cruelty legislation passed in the Ontario legislature a few weeks ago (Bill 50, the Provincial Animal Welfare Act) which ensures that people who abuse animals will face jail, stiffer fines and a lifetime ban on animal ownership.

Facts About Bill 50:

- Had not changed for almost 90 years
- Now makes it a provincial offence to cause distress to an animal
- Now carries more severe penalties, which include jail terms, and fines up to $60,000.
- Now allows Ontario SPCA agents inspection rights at facilities where animals are kept for sale, exhibit, entertainment or hire.
- Now allows humane societies and SPCAs to apply for custody of an animal victim while a cruelty case is in the courts, preventing the return of an animal to an owner if cause for its safety is an issue.

People who inflict pain and suffering on animals now may get a punishment that fits closer with their crime. Ontario has gone from having some of the worst animal protection laws to some of the strictist around. Congratulations to the provincial government of Ontario and its people for making this happen. Each year, the OHS responds to over 1,500 emergency calls regarding animal abuse, neglect and cruelty. Only about one per cent of the investigations lead to charges under the Criminal Code of Canada, or the OSPCA Act. Loopholes in the previous outdated legislation made it incredibly difficult to prove intent in cases of animal abuse, and even more difficult to prosecute those cases. The new legislation will offer animal rescue agents more flexibility in seeking justice for animal victims.

Although the OHS is legally mandated to enforce federal and provincial animal cruelty provisions, it does not receive any government funding, or funding from any animal welfare group to perform this essential work. They take care of 11,000 animals each and every year and their resources are stretched to the limit. They rely on donors to pay for our entire animal rescue operation. Bill 50 is a good first step, but now they need the funding to ensure this protection can actually happen.

As retailers are worried about the worst fourth quarter in generations the pet products industry are finding themselves seemingly exempt from much of the gloom of American business. Business is up for companies that sell everything from organic dog treats to couture-inspired pet toys. Many pet owners are as dedicated to their animals as parents are to children and are willing to sacrifice on themselves before trimming back on their four-legged friends. It seems the pet industry is definitely more resilient than most categories tied to discretionary spending, however not recession proof. The American Pet Products Association estimates Americans will spend $43.4 billion this year on their pets. That’s 26 percent higher than what U.S. consumers spent in 2004. Some parts of the pet food industry, particularly gourmet and organic pet food, will likely be even more insulated than the sellers of pet carriers, clothing and outdoor gear because many pet owners, who upgraded their kibble after contaminated pet food killed or sickened thousands of animals last year, are leery of switching back and possibly causing digestive problems for their pets.

According to industry statistics, nearly one out of every three U.S. households has a pet. Here’s a breakdown of the $43.4 billion the American Pet Products Association estimates pet owners will spend this year.
- Food: $16.9 billion.
- Veterinary care: $10.9 billion.
- Supplies, toys and over-the-counter medicine: $10.3 billion.
- Pet services (Grooming, boarding, etc.): $3.2 billion.
- Live animal purchases: $2.1 billion.

There is clear evidence that Petland obtaines puppies from puppy mills. During investigations of puppie mills two of Petland’s “private breeders.” were visited. During the investigation of the breeders, it was found that the dogs were never let out of their cages which caused neurotic behavior due to long confinement. The dogs were flithy, had maggot-infested food, timid dogs housed together with aggressive dogs, untreated wounds, broken bones, mange, open sores, and rotted teeth–conditions causing the dogs tremendous pain and long-term suffering. A former truck driver for a Petland breeder was told by her boss to throw a live puppy into a trash burner because he was sick. Many of the dogs purchased at Petland contain many health problems. This is not surprising, as puppy mills are also known for breeding animals with genetic defects as well as breeding dogs as often as possible, causing the mother to wear out and die young after producing many litters of sickly puppies.

Don’t be fooled by any papers that may come with a Petland puppy from a Kennel Club, as the papers usualy only say that the two parent dogs were of the same breed, and this is usually only confirmed by the breeder’s word. Parent dogs can be toothless, lame, undernourished, have serious genetic defects, and still have their litters of puppies registered.

All this abuse is made worse by the fact that it is completely unnecessary. Petland sells animals for one reason only–profit. In the US year after year, a conservative estimate of 3 million dogs and 4 million cats are killed in U.S. animal shelters due to lack of homes. It’s estimated that a quarter of the dogs killed in shelters are purebreds. The vast majority of the animals killed in shelters are healthy, friendly, and young.

While our local shelters and rescue groups struggle valiantly to rescue homeless animals, spending their energy and money to save innocent lives, Petland’s contribution is to pump mass-produced animals into our community, as well as similar communities all over the country.

MYTH: My pet will get fat and lazy.

FACT: The truth is that most pets get fat and lazy because their owners feed them too much and don’t give them enough exercise.

MYTH: It’s better to have one litter first.

FACT: Medical evidence indicates just the opposite. In fact, the evidence shows that females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier. Many veterinarians now sterilize dogs and cats as young as eight weeks of age. Check with your veterinarian about the appropriate time for these procedures.

MYTH: My children should experience the miracle of birth.

FACT: Even if children are able to see a pet give birth—which is unlikely, since it usually occurs at night and in seclusion—the lesson they will really learn is that animals can be created and discarded as it suits adults. Instead, it should be explained to children that the real miracle is life and that preventing the birth of some pets can save the lives of others.

MYTH: But my pet is a purebred.

FACT: So is at least one out of every four pets brought to animal shelters around the country. There are just too many dogs and cats—mixed breed and purebred.

MYTH: I want my dog to be protective.

FACT: Spaying or neutering does not affect a dog’s natural instinct to protect home and family. A dog’s personality is formed more by genetics and environment than by sex hormones.

MYTH: I don’t want my male dog or cat to feel like less of a male.

FACT: Pets don’t have any concept of sexual identity or ego. Neutering will not change a pet’s basic personality. He doesn’t suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered.

MYTH: But my dog (or cat) is so special, I want a puppy (or kitten) just like her.

FACT: A dog or cat may be a great pet, but that doesn’t mean her offspring will be a carbon copy. Professional animal breeders who follow generations of bloodlines can’t guarantee they will get just what they want out of a particular litter. A pet owner’s chances are even slimmer. In fact, an entire litter of puppies or kittens might receive all of a pet’s (and her mate’s) worst characteristics.

MYTH: It’s too expensive to have my pet spayed or neutered.

FACT: The cost of spaying or neutering depends on the sex, size, and age of the pet, your veterinarian’s fees, and a number of other variables. But whatever the actual price, spay or neuter surgery is a one-time cost—a relatively small cost when compared to all the benefits. It’s a bargain compared to the cost of having a litter and ensuring the health of the mother and litter; two months of pregnancy and another two months until the litter is weaned can add up to significant veterinary bills and food costs if complications develop. Most importantly, it’s a very small price to pay for the health of your pet and the prevention of the births of more unwanted pets.

MYTH: I’ll find good homes for all the puppies and kittens.

FACT: You may find homes for all of your pet’s litter. But each home you find means one less home for the dogs and cats in shelters who need good homes. Also, in less than one year’s time, each of your pet’s offspring may have his or her own litter, adding even more animals to the population. The problem of pet overpopulation is created and perpetuated one litter at a time.

1. Cats were domesticated in Egypt in 3000 B.C. They were used as vermin hunters to protect corn supplies.

2. Tortoise shell cats are always female

3. Cats hearing is much more sensitive then humans and even dogs, however totally white male cats with blue eyes are often deaf.

4. Cats can jump up to seven time their tail length. Watch Mutegi Jump 7 Feet. Of course this might be true for the tubby variety of cats.

5. A cats tail is used to maintain balance.

6. Cat night vision is 6 times better then humans.

7. There are more cats in the US then dogs.

8. A domestic cat can run at 30mph.

9. In multi-cat households, cats of opposite sex usually get along better. Please however remember to spay or neuter them, don’t want them getting along too well.

I came across a really cool program called “Puppies Behind Bars” which places puppies in prisons to be trained as service dogs by the inmates. The inmates are choosen carefully, so that the dogs are only placed with inmates who will care for, love and spend the time to train the dogs. This program not only provides service dogs for the disabled, but it transforms the inmates lives. Dogs as we all know really can bring out the best in people by bringing out the loving and caring sides of even the most hardened people. I really hope this program expands, I beleive it is only in few prisons in and around the New York area. These dogs while being trained themselves are teaching their trainers compassion, caring, and accomplishment and really help to rehibilitate these inmates so that they can one day be contributing members of society.

I have never understood the joys of hunting, but I accept that some people will do it. But I think Aerial Hunting takes ridiculous unfairness, and hunter lazyness to a new level. Basically lazy hunters who rather not track their prey (something that might require some skill), or walk through the woods (too much effort) go up in a plane, and shoot wild animals from the air, who have absolutly no way to escape. I would hope this is not a practice that is accepted among reputable hunters. Anyways if there was not enough reasons to think Sarah Palin is an idiot, here is another.

There are very few things that make my blood boil and torturing of an animal is most certainly one of them. In Alberta a young man, Daniel Haskett, 20, killed and brutally tortured a dog when he was 17.

The man put a plastic bag over the dogs head and dragged her behind a vehicle and hit her over the head with a shovel. The dog with her muzzle and all four legs duct-taped, was found so severely injured that a vet had to euthanize her.

His lawyer called this a “poorly thought-out euthanasia attempt”. The Crown asked for Haskett to be sentenced to three to five months and banned from owning a pet for two years. The max sentence was six months in jail or $2,000 fine.

This trial is a joke, and Canada needs to overhaul its animal cruelty laws and recognize that tortured animals are not merely damaged property and this crime should be treated with the severity it deserves. It should also be recognized that people like Haskett clearly enjoy brutally torturing and killing living beings, and having this type of person on the streets I believe is a danger to society. There is much evidence that states most serial killers begin by with this type of act before they go onto bigger prey like human beings.

Here is just a funny little website with pictures of cats and silly captions with each. I thought all the cat lovers out there might have a bit of a laugh at a few of them.

www.lolcats.com