Commercial dog breeders (also frequently described as ‘puppy mills’) have been in the news a lot lately. Recent changes in Pennsylvania law has made it difficult for breeders to operate, thus forcing many to begin to get out of the business. Opponents, most visibly in the form of activists such as Bill Smith of Main Line Animal Rescue, have made headlines with their sometimes dramatic…
‘Amish puppy mills’ are back in the news with a recent report on ABC. I’m not going to rehash the issue too much here as it has been discussed at length elsewhere on the blog, but simply put up a couple of links to the posts I feel are most relevant. Pups are an emotionally charged subject and typically get a lot of ALL CAPS…
As I expected, some folks were not too excited about my take on 'puppy mills' in yesterday's post, which is fine. I thought I'd explore the issue a little further and have pasted a comment I made on that post here below: I think my main point here is that every Amish breeder is not a 'puppy miller'…just because it's an Amish-raised dog doesn't mean it was treated like garbage. Personally, I…
Amish businesses have thrived in recent years–though there has been some clashing with non-Amish society along the way. ‘Puppy mills’, Amish construction firms, and woodworking shops have all rubbed people the wrong way at times. ‘Puppy mills’ is the term applied to breeding operations that are typically poorly run and with pups and parent dogs in ill health. The term is meant to be a…
Spring is here, and that means plowing and planting time. Most Amish do not use tractors in the field. Some will keep a tractor for around-the-barn tasks, such as filling the silo. Why do the Amish limit tractors? Part of the problem is their similarity to cars. Get comfortable behind the wheel of a tractor, the thinking goes, and it’s a short hop to sitting behind…
I run into Amish dog breeders almost every day here in Lancaster County. On this blog I usually contend that allegations of animal abuse in what are termed ‘puppy mills’ are overblown. I’m still getting a feel for it, and will admit I do feel sorry at times to see dogs kept caged. At the same time I don’t know that I’d go so far…
If you knock on a random door in any of a number of Amish communities across the country, there’s a decent chance the home might contain a set of books called the Family Bible Library. Originally published in 1971, it is a perennial hit among the Amish, who appreciate the vivid illustrations, easy-to-understand text, and solid scriptural reference. For that matter many Amish have Bible…
The Virginia Amish dog breeder whose kennel burnt down in March may just get another crack at his trade, the Roanoke Times reports. Promising a new facility ‘with amenities that exceed U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements for breeding operations’, the unlucky Amishman’s case for a ‘conditional use permit’ was passed on to the final-decision stage Monday by the Bland County planning comission. This despite activists,…
I just Googled ‘amish news’ and it seems the Amish are getting some polarized coverage these days. If they’re not being lauded as an example of how we should all be more forgiving, they are under fire as heartless puppy abusers. What’s the real deal? Besides stating the obvious that we should look at the individual and not the whole, the Amish seem to exhibit…
A sad story out of Virginia: an Amish-owned puppy breeding facility has burned down, with dozens of adults and pups dying in the early-morning blaze. The owner has claimed that his facility was well-run, humane, and that dogs were shown proper care, though the setup apparently violated a local zoning ordinance. AP photo Some feel that the facilities could have been better run, however. In…