It is an undisputed fact that SOME of the Amish, including those in Lancaster, PA are indisputably guilty of "puppy milling", or the overbreeding of dogs in abhorrent conditions for the sake of profit. They regard the dogs and their babies as crops, not sentient animals. Don't be so sure it doesn't happen here in WPa. After all, we have mink farmers, an emu ranch (slaughtered for their meat, of course) and even had the stomach-turning proposal of an canned hunting elk ranch recently. Folks, please do your part in condemning this heartless abuse and exploitation. I'm not saying to drop what you're doing and picket, but at the very least, stop and think about what these poor animals suffer, and recognize that in the 21st century, there are plenty of other ways to make a living, get a meal, or enjoy entertainment without torturing animals. Speak up wherever you can to condemn this backwards way of life.

Don't forget that pet stores are the primary customer of the puppy mills, which is ridiculous considering how many millions of perfectly healthy, good-tempered dogs, inclduing purebreds and puppies, are put to death for no other reason than they don't have a home. Please don't dismiss the shelter dog as undesirable. While some shelter dogs display high anxiety, it's usually because of the extremeley stressful environments they are in, and sometimes due to abuse or neglect in their past. Dogs are the most forgiving animals one can imagine, and they deserve a chance in a decent home long enough to normalize before being judged "unadoptable". The only dogs that are born with a defect that can't be overcome are the unfortunate victims of folks like the breeders, who pair littermates for breeding or over-mate a female, so that they are born with genetic anomalies. In short, nature makes perfect creatures, only man's interference disturbs that. Please don't patronize puppy mills, breeders or pet stores before trying to rescue a dog from a shelter. I know Butlerites are mostly good people who want to do the right thing, it's just a matter of getting the information out there. Thanks Butler!