Fwd: Our First Newletter

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone! I apologize for the amount of time it has taken for me to puttogether our first newsletter. Many of you signed up for our mailing list overa year ago, so if you need a reminder of what our organization is about, pleasevisit our website at www.petshoppuppies.org. If you no longer wish to be on ourmailing list, you will find instructions within this newsletter.The main thing I want to bring up today is the USDA's release of tens ofthousands of USDA inspection reports on dog breeders in the U.S. In addition,our organization obtained reports of "inventory counts" (the number of breedingdogs each kennel has) for all dog breeders licensed by the USDA. We arethrilled to finally have updated information for pet store customers so they canunderstand the cruelty behind the pet industry, and the suffering that theparents of their puppies must endure.Our organization has researched a total of 10,379 puppies for pet storecustomers. There is more information on our website about our "free puppyreports" and we encourage you to help spread the word about this

service so wecan educate even more people about the dog industry in America.We have three major project goals for this year. The first is to=20replenish ourbrochure supply. Last year we ordered 100,000 puppy mill brochures and I'm downto about 1000 before I'll run out. We offer these free to those working toeducate the public. More information about our brochures can be found on ourwebsite.The next major project is revamping our databases. With over 10,000 reports,and hundreds of thousands of inspection and inventory reports, it is time tolook at finding a more user-friendly format and technology that will allow us toeasily extract the data we collect. I work almost daily with media, humaneorganizations, attorneys, and others -- sharing information we have gatheredabout pet stores, breeders and brokers in the U.S. This is data that can't befound anywhere else, like the most popular

dog breeds sold in pet stores; theprices puppies are sold for; the problems customers encounter after thepurchase; and many other aspects of the industry protected from Freedom ofInformation Act requirements.Lastly, I would like to raise the money for one or two billboards in Missouri(Missouri breeds and/or brokers nearly 1/2 of all pet store puppies sold in theU.S.) to bring even more attention to the services we offer to pet storecustomers. Missouri, as many of you know, is my home state and living here isthe primary reason I became involved in the puppy mill fight. Like many states,we saw a shift in the "political mood" (for lack of a better term) in lastyear's elections and we seem to have strong support for positive change in ourstate. I have mainly focused my efforts on reaching pet store consumers outsideof Missouri, but I think it is time to start doing more work directly inMissouri.

If Missouri can change their "good ole' boy" attitude about the dogindustry, any state can change, but the first step is reaching those that arewilling to work with us.All three of these projects require donations, and most certainly I realize thesacrifices that most of us have been making, and continue to make, during thesetough economic times. I only ask that if you are able to give to our cause,please visit our website for the various options available for donating. We area 501©(3) charity and your donation is tax deductible. If giving financiallyisn't an option right now, I certainly understand. I will soon be adding a newsection to the site with "projects" that you might be able to help with, so keepan eye on the website for updates.I hope everyone is having a safe summer -- staying cool, as I know a heat wavehas struck much of the country. The Midwest is being hit hard, and when I

feellike complaining about the heat and humidity (which I do often), I stop andthink about the hundreds of thousands of dogs in "fur coats" that have no way toescape the torturous conditions they are forced to live in.Sincerely,Kim TownsendPresidentPetShopPuppies, Inc.http://www.PetShopPuppies.org

psp