A LETTER TO
THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB
 

Please copy this letter, print it out and send it to the American Kennel Club.
Give copies to all your friends to sign and send as well, or send this page
to all your friends via e-mail or ICQ. Please help!

     Messrs. David C. Merriam and Alfred L. Cheaure
     American Kennel Club
     51 Madison Ave.
     New York, NY 10010

     Dear Mr. Cheaure and Mr. Merriam:

     There is a national disgrace in this country that your organization supports
     and sustains. It is a huge, shameless industry of greed known as the puppy
     mills.

     From reports of first hand experience I know that at best the mill breeding
     dogs are confined in small pens walking on wires and enduring pain and
     suffering throughout their lives.

     Their nutrition is so poor that their teeth fall out, their gums rot with
     infection, and often their salivary glands swell into painful lumps. They suffer
     from all types of afflictions - bulging hernias, tumors, infected anal glands,
     urinary tract infections, ear mites, itching, and painful skin disorders.

     The bare bones cost cutting greed of the mills restrict expenses for nutrition
     and health care. How much money the dogs can produce in their brief lives is
     the only concern of the mills.

     The females fare far worse of course since they are bred every season and
     bear litter after litter of puppies, often in excruciating pain due to general poor
     health and lack of exercise. Many die giving birth or suffer multiple caesarians.
     When their bodies have given out and they can no longer produce, it is time
     to kill them.

     Litters of sickly, suffering, often genetically defective puppies are sold in bulk
     to brokers who transport them without mercy to distant stores, or soon after
     their arrival in homes.

     These are AKC Registered puppies. It is in the name that tells the public that
     they are purebred dogs and establishes their price tags. This registration is
     the role you play in this tragic, shameful business, and it is a critical role for
     all the other players - the greedy mills, ruthless brokers, and unscrupulous pet
     store owners.

     You have the power to stop this monstrous cruelty, and it is inconceivable
     that you do not have the integrity to do so. The registration of litters from
     mass producing, substandard breeders is grossly inconsistent with any mission
     statement of furthering the interests of purebred dogs. It defiles your name
     and trashes your paperwork.

     I insist that you establish and enforce requirements and limitations for
     dog-breeding establishments, that you restrict the use of your name to
     ethical, humane breeders, that you restore moral health to your organization.

     For all dogs now suffering in their cages, begging, hoping, crying in pain and
     desperation, I write this. I want you to think of them also, day and night.
 
 
 

     SIGNED_____________________________  DATE  _____ /_____ /_____