TN - Flea Market Halts Sale of Dogs, Cats After Taint of PuppyMills

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PLEASE FORWARD AND CROSSPOST * SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE AT YOUR LOCAL FLEA MARKET IF ANIMALS ARE BEING SOLD THERE!! "Mary O'Connor-Shaver" <mshaver_0462Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:33:15 -0700 Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~ Some good news to share from TN. Let's hope more owners of these type of flea markets will take their

lead... Mary O'Connor-Shaver Cell: 614-271-8248 Columbus Top Dogs (Shure Pets) http://www.columbustopdogs.com/ http://www.banohiodogauctions.com/ LEGISLATIVE ALERTS: Please visit our Home page for pending legislation impacting the welfare of OH animals - http://www.columbustopdogs.com/ I donate ALL profits from the sale of our premium products and accessories to local animal protection groups! P.S. You

or someone you know has requested you be added to the Columbus Top Dogs email list. If you do not want to receive emails from columbustopdogs.com, please reply and put "remove from list" in subject. Thank you! Flea market halts sale of dogs, cats after taint of 'puppy mills'By Linda Moore Memphis Commercial AppealTuesday, June 24, 2008 No more puppies or kittens will be sold at the Memphis Flea Market, The Big One. Vendors were told last weekend about the new policy, which is already in place at

other flea markets operated by Buffalo, N.Y.-based American Park & Swap. Birds and other small animals still will be sold. Local animal rights advocates call it a victory. But the vendors say they're punishing the good along with the bad. 'Isn't that great?' said Ginger Morgan, president of the Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County. 'I think that most of those animals probably come from puppy mills or they're just not bred very well.' On Saturday, about a dozen vendors were given a written notice from general manager Sandy Hembree. Hembree referred questions to owners American Park & Swap, where officials declined comment, referring to the written notice as their official statement. It said the new policy is based on media reports and discussions with animal welfare groups regarding the 'alleged' improper care of animals outside

of the flea market. There have been no concerns raised about how flea market vendors care for animals, but the company believes 'closer regulation of cat and dog vendors at the flea market would have now been required in light of the off-site concerns.' Earlier this year an alleged puppy mill was raided in North Shelby County. Also, The Oprah Winfrey Show featured puppy mills in an April show, raising awareness. In conjunction with the new policy, the flea market will advise patrons to visit the Humane Society, area shelters or rescue groups for pets. Not all vendors are puppy mill owners, said Donna Facemire, who with her husband, Bud Facemire, owns Wanna Puppy in Mansfield, Mo. It was their first time at The Big One. 'I'm all for shutting down puppy mills, but I don't think

reputable breeders ought to be subject to the same bad publicity,' Facemire said. 'I don't think everybody ought to be punished for a few.' Tim Morris has sold puppies there for 12 years. He and his partner, Jamie Sellers, operate Ponderosa Pups in Pontotoc, Miss., and sell 10-20 puppies a month in Memphis. 'This is an ungodly good business for us,' said Morris, who resents the puppy mill implications. 'If there's a problem with one of our babies, we'll take care of it.' Customer Tina Matthews of Memphis was upset as well. She and a friend have between them bought four dogs from Morris and another vendor. They've all been healthy. 'I don't understand it. I don't think it's fair. These puppies are clean, had their shots and have been wormed,' Matthews said. Regardless, Cindy Sanders, a volunteer at the Memphis Animal Shelter, has for months been pushing the flea market owners to end puppy sales. Sanders said she

was shocked at the number of vendors. She has seen puppies under a tent at the flea market during a cold rain, puppies that looked sick and others that were too young to be weaned. 'I think this is a positive for the flea market,' Sanders said. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/jun/24/all-pupped-out/ Patricia

Breen www.petstorecruelty.org