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Viewer
Viewpoint Want
to help animals? - CANCEL your newspaper subscription!
For decades, there has been one advertising vehicle used by backyard breeders, puppy mills, puppy brokers, people who think pets are disposable, and idiots too lazy or cheap to have their pets spayed/neutered, for getting their fluffy wares and unwanted critters into the hands of the public: Newspaper Classified Advertising. The public includes those who will repeat the vicious cycle, as well as animal abusers and perverts, "impulse buyers," and those despicable inhuman beings called "bunchers" who collect "free-to-good-home" animals to sell to laboratories, and those who will use former pets as "bait" to train fighting dogs. Of the private sellers of animals, the majority report no income or sales tax on their sales, while the newspapers reap the windfall of advertising that might as well be printed in animal blood. I'm not anti-newspaper, I began my writing career in newspapers and count many in that industry among my friends. Still, after years of asking, I've never received a satisfactory answer to the question: when is every newspaper pet columnist and investigative reporter in the country going to investigate this story? And how many newspaper publishers and editors will have the courage to admit their industry's complicity in animal neglect and cruelty and allow those issues to see some ink? Within the newspaper industry, they'll tell you that it isn't their responsibility to determine if advertisers have the proper licenses, are keeping animals according to acceptable standards of care, and are properly paying their taxes - but that simply begs the question, why not? And why don't the IRS, state and local tax offices, and government at all levels care? Animal welfare organizations and resources everywhere are straining under the burden of an underfunded, understaffed system; millions of animals are being put to death every year in North American shelters; animal advocates everywhere are fighting for reforms and new laws; and one of the greatest mouthpieces of free speech we have - journalists, especially newspapers - are adding to the problems by providing the principal advertising venue for the abusers. When you add in how much their readership does not know about the problems, and how little newspapers and other media report on the issues, it is a lose-lose situation for everyone - even those who hate animals must still bear the costs of a public funded animal welfare and control system. It is time for reporters and newspapers everywhere to jump on the bandwagon. Tell the truth: that most civilized countries do not allow petshop sales of puppies and kittens; that no legitimate, caring breeder will every provide petshops with animals; that nearly all pet shop puppies are ticking timebombs of medical, genetic, and behavioral problems; that in classified advertising language "AKC registered" and "parents on premises" mean next to nothing (respectable breeder/exhibitors don't need ads to sell their pups/kittens, they often have waiting lists years long, produce a limited number of animals, and most sales are by referral), and that "free to a good home" is ALWAYS a bad idea. It is high time newspapers report about every animal welfare resource in their communities, as well as picturing animals for adoption from shelters and humane societies. It is time they informed their readership about responsible pet guardianship and that pets are a lifetime commitment, and that there is a breed rescue for every breed from which animals may be adopted. And until government puts some mechanisms in place to police those who would advertise animals for sale, every newspaper should refuse to accept classified advertising of animals for sale, and decline display advertising from pet shops that sell furred animals. (But don't hold your breath - even the additional USDA inspectors we lobbied for under Clinton may lose their jobs now that the Bush Administration proposes a $1.3 million cut to the USDA budget.) Naturally, the pet shop industry will rant and threaten lawsuits and claim that free speech and free trade have been violated, but probably the best way to bankrupt them is have them be foolish enough to take on the growing animal advocacy movement in court. Newspapers will either have to stop ignoring their responsibilities, or suffer the financial consequences of having animal advocates everywhere canceling their subscriptions. Do your part - pass this on to your local newspaper publisher, managing editor, newsroom, and pet columnist. Further suggest they visit "Free to Good Home?": http://www.parrett.net/animalaid/free.html and "Can We Help You Keep Your Pet?": http://www.wonderpuppy.net/canwehelp/, and publish "How Could You?", available as a Word document from: http://www.crean.com/jimwillis/ And tell
your local TV and radio stations about your campaign - they LOVE to "scoop"
newspapers! Copyright Jim Willis 2002 - Used With Permission Click here for other works by Jim Willis featured on this site Back to Viewer Viewpoint Table of Contents Do
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