Pause for the Paws

Isn't it heartwarming, the unconditional love our furry companions bestow upon us? But what miseries they endure before becoming a part of our bricks, let's see, 'behind the scenes’.

90% of the pet stores are supplied by puppy mills and the retailers believe that these animals are in good shape. Dog breeders registered with the State Animal Welfare board of their States have the allowance but the major lot functions illegally. Animals in the puppy mills are barely treated as living creatures. They live, breathe in their filth, matted fur, sickness whine, and filth, filth . . . everywhere! Some of these cages brush against their body leaving no space for movement.

Female breeding dogs are forcefully bred without adequate time between litters. Hormones are injected to speed up their Estrus cycle commencing from the first heat till they can never reproduce again. Came as a result, the compromised immune system, increased genetic disorders alongside psychological and behavioural issues.

Meet the most unloved and abused German shepherd, ' Victoria '. She was discarded by a dog breeder in Pennsylvania after spending 10 solid years of her life giving birth to about 150 puppies. Signs of terminal illness, degenerative myelopathy, essentially the dog form of ALS- Lou Gherig's disease was noticed in her, hence was abandoned by the breeder. She was 91 pounds put in the crate of a 25-pound dog. This incident stormed the media resulting in the legislation of the 'Victoria's law' that kept puppy mills away from Pennsylvania.

2 million dogs are executed in the puppy mills annually and breeding dogs that no longer serve the purpose are simply culled. Despite the laws and regulations, this persists, reason? It’s us. Most of us prefer the purebreds and our conception of what's cute has permanently deformed dogs. Squashed dog faces, doll-sized …yes, I'm talking about Pugs, Chihuahuas, etc, and now they suffer from breathing and body ailments, thus veterinary bills and, if one can't afford abandonment it is.

Why disturb the ecosystem ? There are shelters flooded with these incredible paws longing to be loved and accepted with open arms. Instead, dogs that are unsuitable to our tropical environment like St. Bernard and Siberian Huskies are being imported by breeders in India, despite being banned. India tops the chart in the number of strays (>30 million). Our Indies live longer and healthier and love just as much!

Puppy mills are the perpetuating fire we pay price tags for. Doggos are blind to your flaws, they just wag love. Take a pause and give some thought to these voiceless paws.