800 Awareness Day attendees say "We won't give up."

The message was clear at Intercourse Community park in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania yesterday: dog lovers will not give up until puppy mills are a thing of the past. The jam-packed, fifth annual Puppy Mill Awareness Day was busy beginning Friday evening, where advocates mingled at a "meet and greet." Representatives from many active anti-puppy mill organizations met and talked, which set the stage for the following day; The Big Day.

Forty rescue groups and organizations attended this year's PMAD, plus hundreds of individuals there to learn more about puppy mills and what they can do to help stop them. Tourists enjoying the Amish goods in quaint Lancaster County that day got quite a surprise when hundreds of people (and dogs) marched through Intercourse with their signs and t-shirts, repeating "no more puppy mills!" There was a clear consensus among advocates-tourists needed to know that the Amish people in the area are known for producing more than beautiful quilts and furniture: they "grow" puppies too.

Legislation was the buzz around the event, with a big push for every Pennsylvania attendee to call their Senator (again, if need be!) to ask for their support of HB 2525, with no amendments.

The event also coincided with the just-introduced federal legislation, H.R. 6949, the Puppy Uniform Protection Statue, or PUPS. This is a bill that every single person in the United Stated can, and should get behind. And if the crowd in Pennsylvania was any indicator, then the bill is going to have strong support from all of us who care about dogs and want to see puppy mills stopped.

In addition to the many great booths, rescue groups, and the protest walk through the tourist-packed town, several speakers gave inspiring, informative presentations, including:

Chris Derose of Last Chance for Animals

"The Guys" of Rescue Ink

Deborah Howard of Companion Animal Protection Society

Jana Kohl, author of A Rare Breed of Love

Annemarie Lucas of the ASPCA and Animal Precinct

Stephanie Shain of the Humane Society of the United States

But the real stars of the day were the dogs. Many brought dogs for adoption, or their own rescued pets-some from puppy mills. Forty puppies in the midst of a transport with Pilots 'n Paws made a guest appearance before heading on to the rescue groups waiting for them. Everyone got a puppy fix, coupled with the satisfaction of knowing that all the puppies on the transport will be found appropriate homes, instead of being sold for hundreds, or thousands of dollars in a pet store.

One dog surrendered
One chocolate Lab was surrendered by a breeder, quietly. The Awareness Day website clearly stated that breeders were welcome to surrender their castoff dogs at the event, and no questions would be asked. Due to that offer, one dog is now out of a commercial kennel and safe in rescue.
Shore Hearts Golden Retriever Rescue offered to take in the terrified chocolate Lab.

One look at the dog's petrified face is a clear reminder of why we all made the trip to Pennsylvania for the day. Her only experience in life until yesterday was to sit in a cage, get pregnant, and have puppies for her owners to sell to pet stores. Unsuspecting families then buy an adorable puppy, and have no idea what they've done.

One of the event's main organizers, Carol Araneo-Mayer put it best when she gave this opinion: "Buying a puppy from a pet store is like buying candy from a child molester."

With that, we'll close, letting breeders out there know that true animal lovers throughout the country are fired up, and will not stop fighting until it's no longer acceptable to keep a dog in a cage for years at a time, or to churn out puppies by the thousands.

To see the news coverage of Puppy Mill Awareness Day, go to Lancaster Online.

Stay tuned for news from people around the country who participated in Puppy Mill Awareness Day...

How you can help
1.) If you live in Pennsylvanaia, help the thousands of puppy mill dogs in your state by calling, faxing and e-mailing your Senator, today. To learn how, click here.

2.) Every person in the country can do something about puppy mills by contacting your elected federal representatives. Click here to learn how.

3.) Continue to spread the word every day about puppy mills, pet stores and puppy-selling websites. To download the guide, "Nine things you can do to help stop puppy mills," click here.

By Kelli Ohrtman: Best Friends Animal Society
Main photo: Volunteers and mascot, Bean at the Best Friends booth.
Photos by Clay Myers