a Downey nonprofit to encourage the adoption of shelter animals and discourage the purchase of dogs and cats from "mills."
Malori Gorgone, senior administrative assistant/communications for the Inland Valley Humane Society & SPCA in Pomona, described her organizations' part in the program.
"IVHS has partnered with Pet Connections Inc. by transporting healthy spayed and neutered dogs to local animal shelters and pet stores in hopes of ending puppy mill sales," Gorgone said.
According to the online magazine, The Dog Owner's Guide, a "real puppy mill" is a breeder who produces puppies with no breeding program, with little attention to placement of the puppy in a good home and a place where the health of the animals bred may be poor and their socialization practices weak. Puppies are produced purely for profit.
The online magazine distinguishes puppy mills from a "Hobby Breeder" who is a breed fancier of a certain type of dog. Hobby breeders breed only to enhance the genetic lines of the dogs in which they are interested and makes sure their animals are well socialized, happy and healthy.
"The bottom line is it is such an offensive situation, puppy mills and kitten mills," said Marlene Walsh, executive director with Pet Connections, a non-profit out of Downey. "There are nearly 4 million animals euthanized each year in this country."
Walsh said her organization likes working with the Inland Valley Humane Society because their adoptable animals are well cared for and healthy.
The program aims to address two issues, Walsh said.
Getting pet stores to get healthy animals into homes and bringing adoptable pets to more of the general public's attention.
"A lot of people don't want to go into shelters," she explained. "They like the idea of adopting, but they don't like the shelters. And having them in the stores gives them an alternative where they can look over the inventory of all the wonderful animals available."
The program has been in effect in the greater Los Angeles area for the past six months, Walsh said.
For more information on the Inland Valley Humane Society, visit ivhsspca.org.
Story by Jannise Johnson, Staff Writer, Daily Bulletin
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