Pinterest--Don't allow Pins linking to On-Line Breeders and Animal Brokers!
- by: Blanche Norman
- recipient: Pinterest CEO Ben Silbermann
Many of the pictures people pin of dogs on Pinterest lead to reputably bad breeders and on-line options to purchase dogs over the internet. Sites that sell dogs over the internet use brokers who get their "stock from puppy mills." There are internet sites all over the world that still do this and they all offer pictures of dogs that can easily be pinned to Pinterest and will link back to their disreputable business. Why should you care about this . . ?
- Only 26 US states have laws that attempt to protect animals from abuse and neglect at commercial kennels.
- Puppies in mills are found with bleeding or swollen paws, feet falling through the wire cages, severe tooth decay, ear infections, dehydration, and lesions on their eyes, which often lead to blindness.
- Puppy mills will breed a female dog every time she is in heat. For instance, a 5 year old dog could have given birth to 10 litters of puppies. Usually when they reach that age they are no longer able of being used as breeders and are executed.
- Half a million dogs are sold to pet stores from puppy mills each year while there are already seven million dogs in shelters every year, many from people who brought dogs from a pet store without doing homework.
Dear Mr. Silbermann:
Many of the pictures people pin of dogs on Pinterest lead to Internet breeders and on-line options to purchase dogs. Often these pictures lead to breeders who appear reputable but more than 90% of brokers who deal with pet stores and the internet are getting their dogs from puppy mills where breeding dogs are kept alive for constant breeding, living in cages too small for them without exercise, clean water or health care . . . Without ever having a human touch or kind word. Then when they are done breeding around six years old they are executed. The puppies are constantly in-bred and therefore have genetic deformities and illnesses that plague them for a lifetime. They are also weaned too early and many do not survive past eight weeks. The prettiest pictures lie. Just because they show a beautiful little dog lying on a heavenly pillow looking perfectly groomed, does not mean that is what they have. Reputable breeders do not sell dogs over the internet and those with web sites require that you call and arrange a meeting so they can see if you are responsible and know what breed specific questions to ask. Meanwhile people are unknowingly posting pictures that lead to neglectful and abusive backyard breeders and puppy mills without their knowledge. Without their knowledge they are giving free advertising to on-line pet breeders and commercial kennels they know nothing about. Please tell Pinterest that all pictures of animals must be downloaded and pinned without a link to a business (not a shelter) that sells dogs. When people complain about Pinners who have these posts on their boards you must take them down with the same diligence that you remove pins with copyright protection.
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