I usually hear about these things sooner, but this is the first I recall hearing about it. Link found on a pet group I belong to.

Hundreds of Heartbroken Puppy Buyers Seek To Join Petland Class Action Lawsuit

I don’t normally link to the HSUS site these days, as I’ve heard a lot of garbage about them being in bed with PETA, but I can’t help but be on board with informing people where those poor puppies come from.

Please join us in boycotting PetLand stores. Frankly, I don’t think we’ll ever eliminate commerical breeders, but there has to be a better way to regulate the commercial breeding industry, and consumers should NOT be lied to about where their animals come from.

When purchasing an animal, remember that when it comes to commercial breeders, AKC papers don’t mean anything. A kennel name on a certificate doesn’t mean anything about the nature of the kennel. Commercial breeders have kennel names, and they register their dogs by sending in a piece of paper to the AKC. NO ONE AT THE AKC EVER SEES THOSE DOGS. If you want good, healthy puppies, you need to get them from a reputable breeder, not the local PetLand.

A woman posted to one of the yahoo groups I belong to that a certain local establishment refused to serve her because she had her guide dog with her. The manager of that establishment apparently did not know about, and did not want to hear about, the Americans With Disabilities Act. He refused her service. When she left and decided to go to a local McDonald’s, the manager THERE gave her a hard time too, but relented.

I am constantly surprised when I hear about places large and small where the staff is apparently ignorant that disabled people with service dogs are allowed to bring their dogs in with them ANYWHERE THEY GO.

Let me repeat that. Service dogs are allowed to go anywhere their owners are allowed to go in public, including privately owned businesses that serve the public.

If you are a manager, franchise owner, or work in any public industry, please be aware that if you bar a disabled person from bringing their service dog into your place of business, you can be fined or even sued, as you just broke the law.

Some examples of places that service dogs are allowed:

• The grocery store
• Fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s or Burger King
• Fancy pants restaurants such as Tre La La
• The library
• Public transportation, such as buses, cabs, and trains
• Wal-Mart, Target, and Macy’s
• Hospitals and medical offices
• Movie theaters

If you frequent a business and you see a person with their service dog, you do not get to complain about, harass, or in any way interfere with the person or the dog. Don’t be an ass and complain that there is a dog in the restaurant. Your allergies or dislike of dogs are less important than someone being able to function safely in public.

If you work in retail or the food industry, or know anyone who does, please help get the word out about service dogs. Share this post liberally!

See also:
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SERVICE ANIMALS IN PLACES OF BUSINESS
ADA Business BRIEF: Service Animals
ADA Handout pdf print version
Laws By State – states are allowed to have tougher laws than the federal version.

I came across this article on MSNBC about the Indianapolis animal shelter’s new policy on pit bulls – they are no longer going to just kill them for no reason!

Animal Control adopts new pit bull policy 

From the article:

“Doug Ray says stray pit bulls that come in will be adopted out if they’re not aggressive. That wasn’t the case until Ray got on scene January 12th.”

Not everyone is happy, of course. Some people insist on being prejudiced against dogs that haven’t done a single thing wrong. I’m tempted to compare it to racism, honestly.

“”I’m not saying that they’re all bad. No, they’re not. But you never know how that dog is going to react with a family,” said Gilbert.

Ray says that’s true for any dog, not just pit bulls.”

As the owner of a Rottweiler that I raised to be a stable, obedient, and friendly dog, I want to thank Doug Ray. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Dangerous dogs come in all flavors and sizes. The meanest dog in my neighborhood is a Lab! 

Please support Doug Ray in his efforts to educate people that it isn’t that ALL pit bulls (or any other breed) that are “bad”.

Let’s stop blaming dogs and start blaming the people who own dangerous dogs, shall we? A large, powerful dog of any breed, in the wrong hands, can become a deadly danger to a community. Let’s punish the wrong hands, not the dogs. BLAME THE DEED, AND THE OWNER, NOT THE BREED.

No BSL

Totally reminds me of my dog, Ripley. She’s a Hoover, too.

Just a little tidbit to share: in an online community I belong to, someone posted a link to a relatively new site. Looks cute. I had a good laugh, so I thought I’d share.

upside down dog

http://upsidedowndogs.com/

Enjoy!