My Pet World: Movement keeps building to the ban puppy mills
NAVTA executive director and certified veterinary technician Julie Legred, of Bricelyn, MN, worked for 32 years as a tech and agrees that based on her personal experience, dogs from puppy mills are more likely to have medical and/or behavior problems, costing their owners lots of money and anguish.
There are several definitive goals and objectives for Veterinary Professionals Against Puppy Mills. One is to advise perspective owners about choosing a pet before they make a decision, so they don't buy from pet stores or unknown websites. Since veterinary technicians are educators by nature, this role suits them perfectly, says Legred. "Guiding clients in advance might prevent a great deal of heartache later," she notes.
Other ideas include supporting public education (another role suited to technicians) about pet ownership and where to buy pets. Veterinary Professionals Against Puppy Mills also suggests supporting legislation in communities that have not yet banned sales of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores.
"No one wants to close pet stores as small businesses," Rovner says. "Many successful pet stores don't sell dogs or cats; many offer adoptions from local shelters (instead of selling dogs and cats from puppy mills or commercial facilities), which is a now proven successful business model. And we have no argument with responsible breeders. They sell dogs (or cats) at a place perspective owners can visit, and where the breeders can meet with and ask prospective owners questions."
"Puppy mills have been around a while; so many people are just tired of it," says Lohmar. "And so are veterinary professionals. I believe if we stand together these places can be abolished. At least we should try."
"I went into this profession and took an oath to help animals -- and I stand by that," Rovner adds. "I believe my colleagues overwhelmingly agree."
Veterinary technicians also "care, a great deal," says Legred. "And we understand the imperative to help and to do what is right."
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