Oprah, Rendell, and Puppy Mills...Your Opinion, Please?

Question

So, Gov Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania has been proposing for years to shut down or else fiercely regulate the heinous puppy mills his otherwise great state is so tragically known for, and Oprah took up the cause, as many of you know. A vote taken in the house AFTER Ms. Winfrey's program fell short by only 6, but this was an introductory vote. Watch this video (you may need to double click to get it to play) :

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6173054

Tell me, what kind of influence do you think Oprah had on the lawmakers' votes? Do you think she carries the same kind of weight with the congress as she does with the average citizen, and if so, should we encourage her to take a bigger role in shaping the destiny of this...industry?

This bill is actually fairly lenient to the puppy mills so I am hoping Oprah does choose to get involved again to make it more restrictive. If you didn't catch it the first time around, watch the end of the video again where the reporter quotes a member of the Professional Dog Breeders Association and says "I hope this doesn't cause quality breeders to get out of the industry." What kind of fool thinks puppy-farms are QUALITY???

Anyway, do you think Oprah should do more, and how should she help?

Thanks- all opinions appreciated.

Answer 1

I think Oprah needs to ask every dog lover in Pennsylvania to call their own legislators. And keep writing and calling until the bill pases. State legislators tend to be very resistant to what they see as outside forces. That means that letters from out of state are generally ignored.  

Each of us can post this to all the dog lists we are members of asking any members in Pennsylvania to call and write.

Answer 2

there is only so much she can do it takes more then just one persons action but i guess millions do what her show and she does have alot of money and pwer.   well i think puppy mills are horrible. and cruel.  it turns my stomache everytime i thinkabout it.

check out www.stoppuppymills.com

Answer 3

Well, I'll comment, but it won't actually answer your question ;-)

I'm glad Oprah did the show on puppy mills, as it put the spotlight on them - at least for a while.  However, I'm old enough to remember past issues that have been in the public eye for a while, and then faded.  Remember dolphin-free tuna?  Don't see that on labels any more.  Save the whales?  Haven't seen that on a t-shirt in years.  The gorillas (in or out of the mist?).  Nope - not on the radar anymore.

Yes - those 3 I mentioned, people do still care about them.  But those issues don't make the headlines anymore, and I think puppy mills are the newest "fad" for people to be concerned with.  And it will not last.

Why do we as a society (and I'm including Canada in with the US on this one) need celebrities like Oprah to tell us what we should be concerned with?  Why do we not choose to educate ourselves, instead of waiting for issues to be rung through the Hollywood pulp mill for our consumption?

What do I think?  I think there may be a slight crack down on puppy mills.  

What do I hope?  I hope those crack downs last.

What will happen?  Until we stop being lemmings, puppy mills will last - only a stop in consumer demand will cause puppy mills to cease.

Add: I have an issue with any legislature that requires prodding from anyone to pass a valid piece of legislation.  However, if it takes Oprah's involvement, so be it.  But think about this: if someone pushes the legislature to pass a bill we agree with, we are happy.  If someone pushes the legislature to pass a bill we *don't* agree with, we call that person a lobbyist.  What is the difference?

Add #2 - can I borrow a shirt? ;-)  My "BannedAid" one is dirty.

Answer 4

Puppy mills are the ultimate in animal abuse and cruelty.  EVERYONE should get involved to have them shut down everywhere!

Answer 5

I saw that episode of Oprah, and even though I know how abused and unhealthy these dogs are, I was still shocked.  I think by Oprah bringing this topic forward it made a lot of the general public aware of the situation and, as such, they began to lobby their local and federal governments.  I also think it made many people aware that most pet stores carry puppy mill puppies and it made them rethink purchasing animals from there.  Other shows, like SPCA Houston and Phoenix, are also bringing this topic to the masses and I believe that the more people become exposed to the horrors of these breeders the less likely it will be for these places to be able to sell their "merchandise".  I know Oprah is a huge animal lover, and she will likely air more episodes of this kind and/or discuss the legislation that is being placed and will make a plea to either the government or to the public to make harsher laws.

Answer 6

My problem is that Oprah says she "adopted" her dogs from a breeder. You don't "adopt" from a breeder and the place her goldens came from looked like a byb on the verge of a puppy mill to me -frowns-

Also HSUS a organization much like PeTA seemed to have a heavy influence in the information, while I would love puppy mills to be shut down i wish she would do a little more research into where her OWN dogs are coming from and how to do better studies and present information better so bleeding hearts don't go throwing money at crackpot AR organizations like PeTA and HSUS.