Articles
CTV " ON ASSIGNMENT "
CTV did a piece on puppy mills recently. The three members of the panel who were invited: Louis McCann, ex SPCA inspector, now general director of PIJAC, an association representing the $4 billion/yr animal industry in Canada and board member of Anima-Québec; Joan Clark, ex-member of SPCA board and board member of Anima-Québec and Pierre Barnotti, ex-member of Anima-Québec board and general director of the Montreal SPCA.
We are telling you this so you have a good idea who those clowns are, their interconnections and the fact that they have known about puppy mills in Quebec for years and years and did nothing to protect those dogs. They have no excuse. So, how do you expect them to do something about it NOW.
Here's the transcript of that program "Puppies for profit" which aired August 27, 2006:
Puppies for Profit - Part 1
MAHATMA GHANDI ONCE SAID "THE GREATNESS OF A NATION CAN BE JUDGED BY THE WAY ITS ANIMALS ARE TREATED." BUT IF THAT IS SO, THEN WE HERE IN QUEBEC, HAVE FAILED. THE PROVINCE CAN'T SHAKE ITS REPUTATION AS THE PUPPY MILL CAPITAL OF CANADA. TONIGHT MUTSUMI TAKAHASHI WILL BE JOINED BY PANELISTS TO DISCUSS WHY THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND WHETHER ANYTHING CAN BE DONE. BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE SITUATION AS IT STANDS NOW AND WHAT IS BEING DONE TO OUR ANIMALS.
[PUPPY MILLS]
[Reporter=Annie DeMelt]
(s/up dogs barking) Come on now, come on now.
IN FIFTEEN YEARS WITH THE SPCA, LINDA ROBERTSON HAS NEVER SEEN HER ANIMAL SHELTER THIS CROWDED.
(s/up) You like these cookies, eh...
THE MONTEREGIE'S SPCA NOW HAS ABOUT TWO HUNDRED DOGS OF ALL BREEDS. ROBERTSON BELIEVES MOST ARE THE PRODUCT OF PUPPY MILLS.
[Linda Robertson / Director, SPCA Montérégie]
People who purchase animals in pet stores don't know where they come from. They don't know the suffering that's attached with these animals.
[Hidden Camera]
(s/up) barking
THESE CUTE LITTLE PUPPIES AT A SHORE SHORE BREEDER ARE JUST A FEW DAYS OLD. SOON, THEY'LL BE READY TO BE SOLD.
THEY MAY BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND A GOOD HOME, BUT CHANCES ARE THE DOGS YOU HEAR BARKING NEVER WILL.
SADLY, THIS IS TYPICAL.
SHACKS FULL OF DOGS, SOMETIMES HUNDREDS OF THEM; THEIR SOLE PURPOSE: TO BREED, IN LESS THAN HUMANE CONDITIONS.
[Robertson] I would say it's out of control. Anyone can open overnight. There's no requirements how these animals are kept, how they're fed, how many they can keep in one location. Many of these animals never see the light of day. It's a real bad situation.
THE SAME BREEDER SENT THIS DOG TO THE VET.
BUT IT WASN'T TO TREAT TO THE WOUNDS ALL OVER HER BODY.
IT WAS TO PUT HER DOWN BECAUSE SHE CAN'T HAVE PUPPIES ANYMORE. INSTEAD THE VET SAVED THE DOG AND TOOK THIS VIDEO.
[Robertson] They're in this business for the money and the least expense with the most revenue is their goal, and they're not going to consider the animals at all.
(s/up) Stop puppy mills!
FOR YEARS, ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN PUSHING QUEBEC TO DO SOMETHING - ANYTHING.
IN RESPONSE, IT CREATED ANIMA-QUEBEC IN MAY OF 2002.
ITS MANDATE IS TO KEEP KENNELS ON A TIGHT LEASH.
HOWEVER IT TOOK THREE YEARS FOR ANIMA-QUEBEC TO BEGIN INSPECTIONS, AND AFTER 200 OF THEM, IT'S ONLY CARRIED OUT THIS ONE SEIZURE.
[Robertson] You'll only start seeing any changes when all these places are registered.
LINDA ROBERTSON BELIEVES THAT IS THE ONLY SOLUTION: FORCE BREEDERS TO REGISTER AND PAY A FEE THAT WOULD GO TO HIRE MORE INSPECTORS AND REIGN IN ABUSIVE BREEDERS.
[Robertson] Until you have a grip on where they are, who they are, what are they doing, you're going to turn around in circles.
[PANEL 1]
Moderator: Mutsumi Takahashi
Panelists:
Pierre Barnoti - Executive Director, Montreal SPCA
Joan Clark - ANIMA-Quebec
Louis McCann - Executive Director, Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC)
Mutsumi: Joining us now in studio are Pierre Barnoti. He is the Executive Director of the Montreal SPCA. Joan Clark of ANIMA-Quebec. It's a group created by Quebec's Ministry of Agriculture. And Louis McCann. He is the Executive Director of PIJAC, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council. Thank you very much for joining us.
McCann: Thank you.
Mutsumi: It was said in that report that Quebec is known as the puppy mill capital of Canada. Now Mr. Barnoti, you end up cleaning up the messes usually as a result of these puppy mills. Why is the situation as it is? Why is Quebec the puppy mill capital of Canada?
Barnoti: It's very simple and the other nine provinces, every province has created a norm and standard for breeding, some harsher, some easier, so on and so forth. Here in Quebec, we were the last one to pass an Animal Welfare act that was passed in 2004 and let me state clearly that the only recommendation of that Animal Welfare act of Quebec is give them fresh water, food according to genetic need, and a habitat that's acceptable. So in other words, we still haven't got here in Quebec norms and standard for the industry, for the pet industry. Breeders breed any way they want and if an inspector walks in, that has the power to walk in, walks in and if the breeder turns around and says, "Fine. Pass me on the norms and standards that I would have to apply." Well, sadly there is still none.
Mutsumi: You know, Ms. Clark, you drafted P-42, that's the bill that Annie was talking about, the bill that is supposed to be regulating and keeping an eye on these things.
Clark: I supported it and instigated it. It was actually drafted by two lawyers from the department of justice. May I reply to something Mr. Barnoti just said?
Mutsumi: Sure.
Clark: He said that there were no regulations, no norms and standards. There is in fact what they call in French, the GPGR - "Guide de pratique généralement reconnu", guide of standards generally recognized which ANIMA-Quebec has prepared after consultation with many organizations and which are available and are given to breeders and often, they ask for them and it's something that the inspectors rely upon when they visit. So there are, there are standards and they are as rigorous as can be. I should say that, I think it was Linda Robertson who mentioned that there should be a registration of breeders and I totally agree.
Barnoti: One hundred percent.
Clark: Yes. So that now, we just have to kind of figure out where the breeders are and go and see them. But there should be a registration.
Mutsumi: But all fine and well. But this is still going on? We still keep seeing these puppy mills. I mean what is this bill doing to stop this?
Clark: Well, the bill is doing.I mean you can't change the world overnight. Under this new bill, this new amendments to P-42, inspectors mandated by the Minister of Agriculture and hired by ANIMA-Quebec have the right to go anywhere they believe there are animals except a private home, anywhere at reasonable times and see what's going on. Now they've had two inspectors. The government has given them $ 150,000 a year, over three, for each of three years and they have got some other private funds and the foundation of which I am president is also raising funds. The whole key to my mind is getting more inspectors which means money to pay for them.
Mutsumi: Mr. McCann, I want to get to you. In that report, they said that these puppy mills are created because they're selling these puppies to the pet stores and is it possible that if you somehow get at the pet store level, the puppy mills would be stopped if the puppy mills had no pet stores to sell to? Then, wouldn't it be right that there would be no more puppy mills?
McCann: No, it wouldn't. By all means, nobody wants to see the scenes that we've seen in our industry and our association is in support of the new law and also in support of registration but the misconception that puppy mill dogs all end up in pet stores unfortunately, clouds the issue. You only have to look at the newspaper ads and the classifieds and there's a lot of these operations that don't sell directly to stores. I don't want to shift the responsibility away from pet stores.
There are some excellent pet stores out there. Unfortunately, there's some unscrupulous ones. That's where I come in and I try to work and improve the standards in the industry.
Mutsumi: And we're going to take a quick break now. And coming up, we will be looking at the pet shops and are they the source of the problem?
We'll look at that when On Assignment returns.
Puppies for Profit - Part 2
[PET SHOPS INTRO]
[Talent=Mutsumi Takahashi]
If you were to buy a dog, where would you go? Would you go to a breeder? Would you go to the SPCA? Or would you go to a pet store?
The puppies are cute in the pet store window but do you know where they might be coming from?
[PET SHOPS]
[Reporter=Annie DeMelt]
(s/up kisses dog)
IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY ANYONE WOULD WANT TO BRING 'CHARLY' HOME.
[Jean-Manuel Fereira/Charly's Owner]
He was so cute when he was small and everything. So you know, Julie - she likes the dog. We took 24 hours to think about it. We went back the next day and we bought it.
THAT WAS MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, AT THIS PET STORE IN ST-LEONARD. JEAN-MANUEL FEREIRA AND JULIE HEBERT PAID ALMOST THIRTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR WHAT THEY WERE TOLD WAS A HEALTHY YORKSHIRE TERRIER.
[Fereira] He told us it was guarantee he was in health. He was examined by the veterinarian. He says "you have no problem, not at all." And we find four days later, he have a problem.
CHARLY HAD A HOLE IN HIS HEART AMONG OTHER CONGENITAL PROBLEMS. SO FAR, HIS OWNERS HAVE SPENT SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS TO KEEP HIM ALIVE.
THE OWNER OF ANIMALERIE YOGI WOULD NOT SPEAK TO US ON CAMERA. HE TOLD US THE POLICY HERE IS THAT BUYERS HAVE SEVEN DAYS TO EXCHANGE A SICK ANIMAL FOR A HEALTHY ONE.
HE ALSO TOLD US HE CAN'T GUARANTEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ANIMAL ONCE HE RETURNS IT TO THE BREEDER.
WE WANTED TO FIND OUT, BUT TURNS OUT TRACKING DOWN THE BREEDER IS NO EASY FEAT. THE STORE WOULDN'T GIVE THESE CUSTOMERS ANY INFORMATION.
[Fereira] Well, the paper is missing here the address and the name of the owners, okay. We told them "why we don't have them?" They told us "we don't give them because we don't want anybody to go buy directly to them.
THE PET SHOP ALSO DID NOT GIVE US THE NAME OF THE BREEDER.
JULIE AND JEAN MANUEL ARE WORRIED SOME PET SHOPS MAY BE SELLING SICK DOGS FROM PUPPY MILLS.
[Fereira] They're cheating people, they don't tell you the truth. You pay very expensive because it's supposed to be a pure one, it's supposed to be healthy and in the end, it's not that.
IN FACT, IT CAN BE QUITE DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE BUYING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO A DOG'S PEDIGREE.
BY LAW, PET SHOPS CAN SELL A DOG AS A 'PUREBRED' ONLY IF IT HAS REGISTRATION PAPERS.
WE WENT TO SEVERAL SHOPS. AS SOON AS WE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN A DOG, WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A PUREBRED.
[Hidden Camera]
BUT ONLY ONE PET STORE OFFERED UP A FAMILY TREE.
EVERYONE ELSE GAVE US AN EXCUSE.
[Pet Shop Worker 1] Y'est pur race, mais y'est pas enregistré.
[Subtitle] It's a purebred, but it's not registered.
[Pet Shop Worker 2] He doesn't have a pedigree or something.
[On Assignment] OKAY, SO HE'S NOT A PUREBRED?
[Pet Shop Worker 2] It is a purebred, but it's not that pure to have a pedigree.
[Pet Shop Worker 3] Nous autres nos chiens ne sont pas enregistrés, parce que si ils sont enregistré, ils valeraient le double du prix. Mais c'est des purs races.
[Subtitle] Our dogs are not registered because if they were registered they would cost twice as much. But they are purebreds.
REGISTRATION FEES WITH THE CANADIAN KENNEL CLUB ARE THIRTY DOLLARS.
[Pet Shop Worker 4] C'est nous qui s'occupent de ca....
[Subtitle] We take care of that.
YET THIS EMPLOYEE KINDLY OFFERED TO TAKE OF IT FOR THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
[Pet Shop Worker 4] ...si vous voulez payer pour ca, c'est trois cents dollars.
[Subtitle] If you want to pay for that, it's $300.
CHARLY'S OWNERS DID HAVE THE OPTION TO EXCHANGE HIM FOR ANOTHER DOG BUT FOR THEM, THAT WAS SIMPLY OUT OF THE QUESTION. AND THEIR BAD EXPERIENCE HAS SOURED THEM TO PET SHOPS - PERMANENTLY.
[Fereira] You cannot guarantee what you're going to get from them.
[PANEL 2]
Moderator: Mutsumi Takahashi
Panelists:
Pierre Barnoti - Executive Director, Montreal SPCA
Joan Clark - ANIMA-Quebec
Louis McCann - Executive Director, Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC)
Mutsumi: Joining us - Pierre Barnoti, Joan Clark and Louis McCann.
We obviously don't want to generalize about all pet stores and we're certainly not saying that all pet stores are bad but we see enough of these cases like in the report that we saw that it is too common a problem. Why aren't the stores better regulated? Why does this happen?
McCann: I think in some cases, some of them are misinformed and in some cases, they choose to be misinformed and that's why in a letter to the Minister, the pet industry on paper and for the record, voiced its support for mandatory registration. If you had a new animal coming out of a store and there's a problem, with this mandatory registration, we can link it up right to the breeder. So we think that's a great idea and it's certainly in support of the stores that do a good job and get lambasted by reports like this.
Mutsumi: Is it realistic to think for example, ANIMA-Quebec that things can be better regulated? You know, we did some research and we talked to some people in the animal rights activism field and they're saying it's out of control. It's like every little strip mall you drive by has a little pet store somewhere. There are just hundreds of pet stores everywhere. Can anything be done to control these pet stores?
Clark: Well I think there are two ways. One is the registration which we've talked about and which I know ANIMA-Quebec would like to see registration, obligatory for all pet stores, for all breeders rather, I meant breeders. But in addition to that, I said that some complaint about the number of inspections that have been carried out, ANIMA-Quebec started out with two inspectors, it now has four. And it will have more as it gets more money and as the current ones are trained. And I think that you will find in two, three, four years a big difference.
Mutsumi: Should pet shops be in the business of selling animals at all?
McCann: Absolutely. I think that they should abide to the responsibilities of anybody else that offers an animal for sale or adoption. They offer an animal that's healthy. They offer a good warranty and they offer proper information. And in my past experience, I have come into play and visited some very good stores and you know what? The answer is not the location. The answer is the source. And I think everybody here would agree that we can't afford to lose even one good source and there are some good sources and stores. So that's why I continue to try and educate and support the ones that do it well. Because we can't afford to lose them. Any associations, the one that represent shelters, the one that represents breeders will say to you that they recognize they have less than stellar people amongst their ranks. So to go on one direction to me is not an efficient way to deal with the issue.
Mutsumi: Well, Mr. Barnoti, what do you think? Do you think the pet shops should be in the business of selling dogs and cats?
Barnoti: It's a billion-dollar industry that's being defended very strongly by the representative of the industry and I understand him fully. The thing is today there is well over a hundred breeds of dogs and before a pet shop can deal with a hundred, well over a hundred suppliers, becomes more difficult. So you see more and more brokers and the brokers will pass from pet shop to pet shop with exception, there is good pet shops and I agree with you. However, most of the business now is brokers passing from pet shop to pet shop and going to the puppy mill for the supply. So can it be improved? Some industrial countries and cities have decided that it isn't. You want to buy a pet? You buy it from a breeder. You buy it from somebody who's decent. You buy it from abandonment and so on and so forth and have succeeded in doing it properly. Now should we close pet shops? Absolutely not. It still is an industry. God knows that in the United States, you have 40,000 square feet stores selling supplies, selling and very successfully, so basically until such time as the pet shops will have decent animals coming from decent breeders, my comment is we're too far away from seeing this happen. And until we have norms and standards, I'm not talking about what Ms. Clark was saying, I'm saying norm, nine provinces saw fit to have norm and standards. It will guarantee the quality. And then, maybe pet shops can sell animals. Until then, the pet shop himself does not know where the animal is coming from.
Mutsumi: Okay, we have to go to a commercial break now but when we return, we're going to look at the future in Quebec and how it can be different going forward.
Puppies for Profit - Part 3
Mutsumi Takahashi and a panel of experts discuss what can be done in the future to protect our animals.
[PANEL 3]
Moderator: Mutsumi Takahashi
Panelists:
Pierre Barnoti - Executive Director, Montreal SPCA
Joan Clark - ANIMA-Quebec
Louis McCann - Executive Director, Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC)
Mutsumi: We began tonight by saying Quebec has the dubious distinction of being the puppy mill capital of Canada. It's obvious we're not doing enough to protect our animals. Joining us are Pierre Barnoti, Joan Clark, and Louis McCann.
Mutsumi: You know, Ms. Clark, earlier in the program, you said we can't change things overnight and I understand what it is you're trying to say but I'm a lover of animals and so are a lot of other people and I think we are all so sick and tired of turning on the TV set and seeing these animals and they're abused and they're mistreated, and it seems to be happening over and over and over again and nothing seems to be changing. And what can you say to reassure us that there really is going to be something different happening from now on?
Clark: Well, I can say that ANIMA-Quebec is an excellent beginning. The government is to be congratulated for finally after waiting 11 years, putting the legislation in force. And now, we have something built. You don't build up a police force overnight. You don't build up a lot of things overnight. They've only be really active for a couple of years. Now they've got four inspectors and they are doing the inspections correctly and properly. I certainly wish they could do more. But all I can say is that I think with time, they're doing a good job.
Mutsumi: Mr. Barnoti, I'd like to ask you this. Is there a philosophical issue here?
We tend to look at animals, not all of us, but some of us as merchandise, as products that can be turned over to make some money? We don't really look at them on par as living beings who suffer pain and also know joy. Is that part of the problem?
Barnoti: It is most certainly part of the problem. You're absolutely right. One day, we're going to recognize that the animal is a sentient being that suffers and that day, it's going to become easier to understand that for some of us, the animal is full-fledged member of our family. I'll answer the question you asked Mrs. Clark. We have offered the government of Quebec to train 25 inspectors, to put the nine inspectors we have already, to service the inspection. We're only asking the government of Quebec. We're asking ANIMA-Quebec and the industry not to boycott our effort to try to improve. Maitre Clark is saying it's going to take forever, 4 years, 5 years, whatever, we are saying we're prepared now.
We're prepared to put half a million dollars of the donation of the public, not of the tax money, the donation of the public towards the inspection and we are beginning to wonder why would ANIMA-Quebec and PIJAC stop us from doing it and make sure that the mandate is not given to the SPCA? We're there. We're ready. We would stop. We would improve the operation. Is the industry and I'm sorry to say it, is the industry worried about the coming in of the SPCA into the inspection of puppy mills? Ontario, 231 inspectors. Maitre Clark is speaking about four. Quebec is bigger than Ontario. Do you realize how long is it going to take before we can improve the situation?
Mutsumi: Would either of you like to respond to that?
Clark: About the 200 odd inspectors in Ontario, that's true. It was confirmed to me but these inspectors are also inspectors for various SPCAs and branches of SPCAs. They don't necessarily do the same kind of thing.
Barnoti: What difference does it make?
Clark: .as the inspectors of ANIMA-Quebec. I cannot speak for the department of Agriculture or the Minister of Agriculture. It is he or she who makes the decision and he, I think it was a she at the time, decided to give the mandate to ANIMA-Quebec, created by the government. The SPCA for Montreal wanted it. The foundation of which I am president asked for it. Other organizations asked for it. That was the decision of the Minister. And in hindsight, I think it was right because there would be a conflict of interest with an organization that has a pound, that has a shelter. The ANIMA-Quebec has no possible conflict of interest. It has no shelter. And it has inspectors that go and inspect other things.
Barnoti: This doesn't make sense. I'm sorry but in Ontario, it's called the SPCA Act. The law is called the SPCA Act and it's given to them.
Mutsumi: This is what I think I find troubling for those of us outside looking in, aren't we, aren't we all here because we care about the animals and what we constantly seem to see are turf wars between different organizations who instead of what we think should maybe that you should all be working together, it seems to be a turf war.
Barnoti: Well, we never asked for ANIMA-Quebec to disappear. We're saying, we, God knows there is a need for more. We're offering to be more and are stopped. This is my question - why? I'm going to ask Mr. McCann here in front of the camera, would you agree that the SPCA could do as much as ANIMA-Quebec and would you want the SPCA or would you block it?
McCann: In the present context and the structure of the SPCA in Quebec, it's not able to carry out the mandate even if you say it is. Secondly, as an industry.
Barnoti: I rest my case.
McCann: As an industry, it's difficult to support an organization that's got a written statement policy against pet stores. It's like putting out a police officer that's going to inspect and give speeding tickets and hates red cars. And all the red cars are going to get a ticket.
Barnoti: Maitre Clark, am I the SPCA or not?
Clark: I leave that up to the minister.
Barnoti: I see.
Mutsumi: Okay, you know what? Unfortunately, we're very quickly running out of time and the last thing I want to get to is our own responsibilities. Those of us who say we love animals. We have a responsibility as well, don't we? When we're talking about the pet stores earlier, we have to ask the right questions, we have to be prepared to look out for the animals ourselves, don't we?
McCann: Absolutely and the four national associations agree with you, Mutsumi and created a document called "New Addition to the Family" that I have here, that's available through the website of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, Canadian Kennel Club and PIJAC Canada and basically, it's exactly this. It's a document to consumers.
It says first of all, is a dog the right pet for you? That's the first thing to establish socially, economically, where you are in the municipality, by-laws, etc. You've made a decision. Here's a checklist. Here's a list of 12 questions, go to any source, go to a shelter, go to a breeder, go to a pet store, go to an animal control service. If you can't get an answer from these checklists, if one of them is not answered, walk away.
Mutsumi: Well, thank you all very much. We all have a responsibility to do here. And always, I remember spade and neuter your animals, right?
Barnoti: Absolutely.
McCann: Thank you.
CTV did a piece on puppy mills recently. The three members of the panel who were invited: Louis McCann, ex SPCA inspector, now general director of PIJAC, an association representing the $4 billion/yr animal industry in Canada and board member of Anima-Québec; Joan Clark, ex-member of SPCA board and board member of Anima-Québec and Pierre Barnotti, ex-member of Anima-Québec board and general director of the Montreal SPCA.
We are telling you this so you have a good idea who those clowns are, their interconnections and the fact that they have known about puppy mills in Quebec for years and years and did nothing to protect those dogs. They have no excuse. So, how do you expect them to do something about it NOW.
Here's the transcript of that program "Puppies for profit" which aired August 27, 2006:
Puppies for Profit - Part 1
MAHATMA GHANDI ONCE SAID "THE GREATNESS OF A NATION CAN BE JUDGED BY THE WAY ITS ANIMALS ARE TREATED." BUT IF THAT IS SO, THEN WE HERE IN QUEBEC, HAVE FAILED. THE PROVINCE CAN'T SHAKE ITS REPUTATION AS THE PUPPY MILL CAPITAL OF CANADA. TONIGHT MUTSUMI TAKAHASHI WILL BE JOINED BY PANELISTS TO DISCUSS WHY THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND WHETHER ANYTHING CAN BE DONE. BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE SITUATION AS IT STANDS NOW AND WHAT IS BEING DONE TO OUR ANIMALS.
[PUPPY MILLS]
[Reporter=Annie DeMelt]
(s/up dogs barking) Come on now, come on now.
IN FIFTEEN YEARS WITH THE SPCA, LINDA ROBERTSON HAS NEVER SEEN HER ANIMAL SHELTER THIS CROWDED.
(s/up) You like these cookies, eh...
THE MONTEREGIE'S SPCA NOW HAS ABOUT TWO HUNDRED DOGS OF ALL BREEDS. ROBERTSON BELIEVES MOST ARE THE PRODUCT OF PUPPY MILLS.
[Linda Robertson / Director, SPCA Montérégie]
People who purchase animals in pet stores don't know where they come from. They don't know the suffering that's attached with these animals.
[Hidden Camera]
(s/up) barking
THESE CUTE LITTLE PUPPIES AT A SHORE SHORE BREEDER ARE JUST A FEW DAYS OLD. SOON, THEY'LL BE READY TO BE SOLD.
THEY MAY BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND A GOOD HOME, BUT CHANCES ARE THE DOGS YOU HEAR BARKING NEVER WILL.
SADLY, THIS IS TYPICAL.
SHACKS FULL OF DOGS, SOMETIMES HUNDREDS OF THEM; THEIR SOLE PURPOSE: TO BREED, IN LESS THAN HUMANE CONDITIONS.
[Robertson] I would say it's out of control. Anyone can open overnight. There's no requirements how these animals are kept, how they're fed, how many they can keep in one location. Many of these animals never see the light of day. It's a real bad situation.
THE SAME BREEDER SENT THIS DOG TO THE VET.
BUT IT WASN'T TO TREAT TO THE WOUNDS ALL OVER HER BODY.
IT WAS TO PUT HER DOWN BECAUSE SHE CAN'T HAVE PUPPIES ANYMORE. INSTEAD THE VET SAVED THE DOG AND TOOK THIS VIDEO.
[Robertson] They're in this business for the money and the least expense with the most revenue is their goal, and they're not going to consider the animals at all.
(s/up) Stop puppy mills!
FOR YEARS, ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN PUSHING QUEBEC TO DO SOMETHING - ANYTHING.
IN RESPONSE, IT CREATED ANIMA-QUEBEC IN MAY OF 2002.
ITS MANDATE IS TO KEEP KENNELS ON A TIGHT LEASH.
HOWEVER IT TOOK THREE YEARS FOR ANIMA-QUEBEC TO BEGIN INSPECTIONS, AND AFTER 200 OF THEM, IT'S ONLY CARRIED OUT THIS ONE SEIZURE.
[Robertson] You'll only start seeing any changes when all these places are registered.
LINDA ROBERTSON BELIEVES THAT IS THE ONLY SOLUTION: FORCE BREEDERS TO REGISTER AND PAY A FEE THAT WOULD GO TO HIRE MORE INSPECTORS AND REIGN IN ABUSIVE BREEDERS.
[Robertson] Until you have a grip on where they are, who they are, what are they doing, you're going to turn around in circles.
[PANEL 1]
Moderator: Mutsumi Takahashi
Panelists:
Pierre Barnoti - Executive Director, Montreal SPCA
Joan Clark - ANIMA-Quebec
Louis McCann - Executive Director, Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC)
Mutsumi: Joining us now in studio are Pierre Barnoti. He is the Executive Director of the Montreal SPCA. Joan Clark of ANIMA-Quebec. It's a group created by Quebec's Ministry of Agriculture. And Louis McCann. He is the Executive Director of PIJAC, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council. Thank you very much for joining us.
McCann: Thank you.
Mutsumi: It was said in that report that Quebec is known as the puppy mill capital of Canada. Now Mr. Barnoti, you end up cleaning up the messes usually as a result of these puppy mills. Why is the situation as it is? Why is Quebec the puppy mill capital of Canada?
Barnoti: It's very simple and the other nine provinces, every province has created a norm and standard for breeding, some harsher, some easier, so on and so forth. Here in Quebec, we were the last one to pass an Animal Welfare act that was passed in 2004 and let me state clearly that the only recommendation of that Animal Welfare act of Quebec is give them fresh water, food according to genetic need, and a habitat that's acceptable. So in other words, we still haven't got here in Quebec norms and standard for the industry, for the pet industry. Breeders breed any way they want and if an inspector walks in, that has the power to walk in, walks in and if the breeder turns around and says, "Fine. Pass me on the norms and standards that I would have to apply." Well, sadly there is still none.
Mutsumi: You know, Ms. Clark, you drafted P-42, that's the bill that Annie was talking about, the bill that is supposed to be regulating and keeping an eye on these things.
Clark: I supported it and instigated it. It was actually drafted by two lawyers from the department of justice. May I reply to something Mr. Barnoti just said?
Mutsumi: Sure.
Clark: He said that there were no regulations, no norms and standards. There is in fact what they call in French, the GPGR - "Guide de pratique généralement reconnu", guide of standards generally recognized which ANIMA-Quebec has prepared after consultation with many organizations and which are available and are given to breeders and often, they ask for them and it's something that the inspectors rely upon when they visit. So there are, there are standards and they are as rigorous as can be. I should say that, I think it was Linda Robertson who mentioned that there should be a registration of breeders and I totally agree.
Barnoti: One hundred percent.
Clark: Yes. So that now, we just have to kind of figure out where the breeders are and go and see them. But there should be a registration.
Mutsumi: But all fine and well. But this is still going on? We still keep seeing these puppy mills. I mean what is this bill doing to stop this?
Clark: Well, the bill is doing.I mean you can't change the world overnight. Under this new bill, this new amendments to P-42, inspectors mandated by the Minister of Agriculture and hired by ANIMA-Quebec have the right to go anywhere they believe there are animals except a private home, anywhere at reasonable times and see what's going on. Now they've had two inspectors. The government has given them $ 150,000 a year, over three, for each of three years and they have got some other private funds and the foundation of which I am president is also raising funds. The whole key to my mind is getting more inspectors which means money to pay for them.
Mutsumi: Mr. McCann, I want to get to you. In that report, they said that these puppy mills are created because they're selling these puppies to the pet stores and is it possible that if you somehow get at the pet store level, the puppy mills would be stopped if the puppy mills had no pet stores to sell to? Then, wouldn't it be right that there would be no more puppy mills?
McCann: No, it wouldn't. By all means, nobody wants to see the scenes that we've seen in our industry and our association is in support of the new law and also in support of registration but the misconception that puppy mill dogs all end up in pet stores unfortunately, clouds the issue. You only have to look at the newspaper ads and the classifieds and there's a lot of these operations that don't sell directly to stores. I don't want to shift the responsibility away from pet stores.
There are some excellent pet stores out there. Unfortunately, there's some unscrupulous ones. That's where I come in and I try to work and improve the standards in the industry.
Mutsumi: And we're going to take a quick break now. And coming up, we will be looking at the pet shops and are they the source of the problem?
We'll look at that when On Assignment returns.
Puppies for Profit - Part 2
[PET SHOPS INTRO]
[Talent=Mutsumi Takahashi]
If you were to buy a dog, where would you go? Would you go to a breeder? Would you go to the SPCA? Or would you go to a pet store?
The puppies are cute in the pet store window but do you know where they might be coming from?
[PET SHOPS]
[Reporter=Annie DeMelt]
(s/up kisses dog)
IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY ANYONE WOULD WANT TO BRING 'CHARLY' HOME.
[Jean-Manuel Fereira/Charly's Owner]
He was so cute when he was small and everything. So you know, Julie - she likes the dog. We took 24 hours to think about it. We went back the next day and we bought it.
THAT WAS MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, AT THIS PET STORE IN ST-LEONARD. JEAN-MANUEL FEREIRA AND JULIE HEBERT PAID ALMOST THIRTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR WHAT THEY WERE TOLD WAS A HEALTHY YORKSHIRE TERRIER.
[Fereira] He told us it was guarantee he was in health. He was examined by the veterinarian. He says "you have no problem, not at all." And we find four days later, he have a problem.
CHARLY HAD A HOLE IN HIS HEART AMONG OTHER CONGENITAL PROBLEMS. SO FAR, HIS OWNERS HAVE SPENT SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS TO KEEP HIM ALIVE.
THE OWNER OF ANIMALERIE YOGI WOULD NOT SPEAK TO US ON CAMERA. HE TOLD US THE POLICY HERE IS THAT BUYERS HAVE SEVEN DAYS TO EXCHANGE A SICK ANIMAL FOR A HEALTHY ONE.
HE ALSO TOLD US HE CAN'T GUARANTEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ANIMAL ONCE HE RETURNS IT TO THE BREEDER.
WE WANTED TO FIND OUT, BUT TURNS OUT TRACKING DOWN THE BREEDER IS NO EASY FEAT. THE STORE WOULDN'T GIVE THESE CUSTOMERS ANY INFORMATION.
[Fereira] Well, the paper is missing here the address and the name of the owners, okay. We told them "why we don't have them?" They told us "we don't give them because we don't want anybody to go buy directly to them.
THE PET SHOP ALSO DID NOT GIVE US THE NAME OF THE BREEDER.
JULIE AND JEAN MANUEL ARE WORRIED SOME PET SHOPS MAY BE SELLING SICK DOGS FROM PUPPY MILLS.
[Fereira] They're cheating people, they don't tell you the truth. You pay very expensive because it's supposed to be a pure one, it's supposed to be healthy and in the end, it's not that.
IN FACT, IT CAN BE QUITE DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE BUYING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO A DOG'S PEDIGREE.
BY LAW, PET SHOPS CAN SELL A DOG AS A 'PUREBRED' ONLY IF IT HAS REGISTRATION PAPERS.
WE WENT TO SEVERAL SHOPS. AS SOON AS WE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN A DOG, WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A PUREBRED.
[Hidden Camera]
BUT ONLY ONE PET STORE OFFERED UP A FAMILY TREE.
EVERYONE ELSE GAVE US AN EXCUSE.
[Pet Shop Worker 1] Y'est pur race, mais y'est pas enregistré.
[Subtitle] It's a purebred, but it's not registered.
[Pet Shop Worker 2] He doesn't have a pedigree or something.
[On Assignment] OKAY, SO HE'S NOT A PUREBRED?
[Pet Shop Worker 2] It is a purebred, but it's not that pure to have a pedigree.
[Pet Shop Worker 3] Nous autres nos chiens ne sont pas enregistrés, parce que si ils sont enregistré, ils valeraient le double du prix. Mais c'est des purs races.
[Subtitle] Our dogs are not registered because if they were registered they would cost twice as much. But they are purebreds.
REGISTRATION FEES WITH THE CANADIAN KENNEL CLUB ARE THIRTY DOLLARS.
[Pet Shop Worker 4] C'est nous qui s'occupent de ca....
[Subtitle] We take care of that.
YET THIS EMPLOYEE KINDLY OFFERED TO TAKE OF IT FOR THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
[Pet Shop Worker 4] ...si vous voulez payer pour ca, c'est trois cents dollars.
[Subtitle] If you want to pay for that, it's $300.
CHARLY'S OWNERS DID HAVE THE OPTION TO EXCHANGE HIM FOR ANOTHER DOG BUT FOR THEM, THAT WAS SIMPLY OUT OF THE QUESTION. AND THEIR BAD EXPERIENCE HAS SOURED THEM TO PET SHOPS - PERMANENTLY.
[Fereira] You cannot guarantee what you're going to get from them.
[PANEL 2]
Moderator: Mutsumi Takahashi
Panelists:
Pierre Barnoti - Executive Director, Montreal SPCA
Joan Clark - ANIMA-Quebec
Louis McCann - Executive Director, Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC)
Mutsumi: Joining us - Pierre Barnoti, Joan Clark and Louis McCann.
We obviously don't want to generalize about all pet stores and we're certainly not saying that all pet stores are bad but we see enough of these cases like in the report that we saw that it is too common a problem. Why aren't the stores better regulated? Why does this happen?
McCann: I think in some cases, some of them are misinformed and in some cases, they choose to be misinformed and that's why in a letter to the Minister, the pet industry on paper and for the record, voiced its support for mandatory registration. If you had a new animal coming out of a store and there's a problem, with this mandatory registration, we can link it up right to the breeder. So we think that's a great idea and it's certainly in support of the stores that do a good job and get lambasted by reports like this.
Mutsumi: Is it realistic to think for example, ANIMA-Quebec that things can be better regulated? You know, we did some research and we talked to some people in the animal rights activism field and they're saying it's out of control. It's like every little strip mall you drive by has a little pet store somewhere. There are just hundreds of pet stores everywhere. Can anything be done to control these pet stores?
Clark: Well I think there are two ways. One is the registration which we've talked about and which I know ANIMA-Quebec would like to see registration, obligatory for all pet stores, for all breeders rather, I meant breeders. But in addition to that, I said that some complaint about the number of inspections that have been carried out, ANIMA-Quebec started out with two inspectors, it now has four. And it will have more as it gets more money and as the current ones are trained. And I think that you will find in two, three, four years a big difference.
Mutsumi: Should pet shops be in the business of selling animals at all?
McCann: Absolutely. I think that they should abide to the responsibilities of anybody else that offers an animal for sale or adoption. They offer an animal that's healthy. They offer a good warranty and they offer proper information. And in my past experience, I have come into play and visited some very good stores and you know what? The answer is not the location. The answer is the source. And I think everybody here would agree that we can't afford to lose even one good source and there are some good sources and stores. So that's why I continue to try and educate and support the ones that do it well. Because we can't afford to lose them. Any associations, the one that represent shelters, the one that represents breeders will say to you that they recognize they have less than stellar people amongst their ranks. So to go on one direction to me is not an efficient way to deal with the issue.
Mutsumi: Well, Mr. Barnoti, what do you think? Do you think the pet shops should be in the business of selling dogs and cats?
Barnoti: It's a billion-dollar industry that's being defended very strongly by the representative of the industry and I understand him fully. The thing is today there is well over a hundred breeds of dogs and before a pet shop can deal with a hundred, well over a hundred suppliers, becomes more difficult. So you see more and more brokers and the brokers will pass from pet shop to pet shop with exception, there is good pet shops and I agree with you. However, most of the business now is brokers passing from pet shop to pet shop and going to the puppy mill for the supply. So can it be improved? Some industrial countries and cities have decided that it isn't. You want to buy a pet? You buy it from a breeder. You buy it from somebody who's decent. You buy it from abandonment and so on and so forth and have succeeded in doing it properly. Now should we close pet shops? Absolutely not. It still is an industry. God knows that in the United States, you have 40,000 square feet stores selling supplies, selling and very successfully, so basically until such time as the pet shops will have decent animals coming from decent breeders, my comment is we're too far away from seeing this happen. And until we have norms and standards, I'm not talking about what Ms. Clark was saying, I'm saying norm, nine provinces saw fit to have norm and standards. It will guarantee the quality. And then, maybe pet shops can sell animals. Until then, the pet shop himself does not know where the animal is coming from.
Mutsumi: Okay, we have to go to a commercial break now but when we return, we're going to look at the future in Quebec and how it can be different going forward.
Puppies for Profit - Part 3
Mutsumi Takahashi and a panel of experts discuss what can be done in the future to protect our animals.
[PANEL 3]
Moderator: Mutsumi Takahashi
Panelists:
Pierre Barnoti - Executive Director, Montreal SPCA
Joan Clark - ANIMA-Quebec
Louis McCann - Executive Director, Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC)
Mutsumi: We began tonight by saying Quebec has the dubious distinction of being the puppy mill capital of Canada. It's obvious we're not doing enough to protect our animals. Joining us are Pierre Barnoti, Joan Clark, and Louis McCann.
Mutsumi: You know, Ms. Clark, earlier in the program, you said we can't change things overnight and I understand what it is you're trying to say but I'm a lover of animals and so are a lot of other people and I think we are all so sick and tired of turning on the TV set and seeing these animals and they're abused and they're mistreated, and it seems to be happening over and over and over again and nothing seems to be changing. And what can you say to reassure us that there really is going to be something different happening from now on?
Clark: Well, I can say that ANIMA-Quebec is an excellent beginning. The government is to be congratulated for finally after waiting 11 years, putting the legislation in force. And now, we have something built. You don't build up a police force overnight. You don't build up a lot of things overnight. They've only be really active for a couple of years. Now they've got four inspectors and they are doing the inspections correctly and properly. I certainly wish they could do more. But all I can say is that I think with time, they're doing a good job.
Mutsumi: Mr. Barnoti, I'd like to ask you this. Is there a philosophical issue here?
We tend to look at animals, not all of us, but some of us as merchandise, as products that can be turned over to make some money? We don't really look at them on par as living beings who suffer pain and also know joy. Is that part of the problem?
Barnoti: It is most certainly part of the problem. You're absolutely right. One day, we're going to recognize that the animal is a sentient being that suffers and that day, it's going to become easier to understand that for some of us, the animal is full-fledged member of our family. I'll answer the question you asked Mrs. Clark. We have offered the government of Quebec to train 25 inspectors, to put the nine inspectors we have already, to service the inspection. We're only asking the government of Quebec. We're asking ANIMA-Quebec and the industry not to boycott our effort to try to improve. Maitre Clark is saying it's going to take forever, 4 years, 5 years, whatever, we are saying we're prepared now.
We're prepared to put half a million dollars of the donation of the public, not of the tax money, the donation of the public towards the inspection and we are beginning to wonder why would ANIMA-Quebec and PIJAC stop us from doing it and make sure that the mandate is not given to the SPCA? We're there. We're ready. We would stop. We would improve the operation. Is the industry and I'm sorry to say it, is the industry worried about the coming in of the SPCA into the inspection of puppy mills? Ontario, 231 inspectors. Maitre Clark is speaking about four. Quebec is bigger than Ontario. Do you realize how long is it going to take before we can improve the situation?
Mutsumi: Would either of you like to respond to that?
Clark: About the 200 odd inspectors in Ontario, that's true. It was confirmed to me but these inspectors are also inspectors for various SPCAs and branches of SPCAs. They don't necessarily do the same kind of thing.
Barnoti: What difference does it make?
Clark: .as the inspectors of ANIMA-Quebec. I cannot speak for the department of Agriculture or the Minister of Agriculture. It is he or she who makes the decision and he, I think it was a she at the time, decided to give the mandate to ANIMA-Quebec, created by the government. The SPCA for Montreal wanted it. The foundation of which I am president asked for it. Other organizations asked for it. That was the decision of the Minister. And in hindsight, I think it was right because there would be a conflict of interest with an organization that has a pound, that has a shelter. The ANIMA-Quebec has no possible conflict of interest. It has no shelter. And it has inspectors that go and inspect other things.
Barnoti: This doesn't make sense. I'm sorry but in Ontario, it's called the SPCA Act. The law is called the SPCA Act and it's given to them.
Mutsumi: This is what I think I find troubling for those of us outside looking in, aren't we, aren't we all here because we care about the animals and what we constantly seem to see are turf wars between different organizations who instead of what we think should maybe that you should all be working together, it seems to be a turf war.
Barnoti: Well, we never asked for ANIMA-Quebec to disappear. We're saying, we, God knows there is a need for more. We're offering to be more and are stopped. This is my question - why? I'm going to ask Mr. McCann here in front of the camera, would you agree that the SPCA could do as much as ANIMA-Quebec and would you want the SPCA or would you block it?
McCann: In the present context and the structure of the SPCA in Quebec, it's not able to carry out the mandate even if you say it is. Secondly, as an industry.
Barnoti: I rest my case.
McCann: As an industry, it's difficult to support an organization that's got a written statement policy against pet stores. It's like putting out a police officer that's going to inspect and give speeding tickets and hates red cars. And all the red cars are going to get a ticket.
Barnoti: Maitre Clark, am I the SPCA or not?
Clark: I leave that up to the minister.
Barnoti: I see.
Mutsumi: Okay, you know what? Unfortunately, we're very quickly running out of time and the last thing I want to get to is our own responsibilities. Those of us who say we love animals. We have a responsibility as well, don't we? When we're talking about the pet stores earlier, we have to ask the right questions, we have to be prepared to look out for the animals ourselves, don't we?
McCann: Absolutely and the four national associations agree with you, Mutsumi and created a document called "New Addition to the Family" that I have here, that's available through the website of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, Canadian Kennel Club and PIJAC Canada and basically, it's exactly this. It's a document to consumers.
It says first of all, is a dog the right pet for you? That's the first thing to establish socially, economically, where you are in the municipality, by-laws, etc. You've made a decision. Here's a checklist. Here's a list of 12 questions, go to any source, go to a shelter, go to a breeder, go to a pet store, go to an animal control service. If you can't get an answer from these checklists, if one of them is not answered, walk away.
Mutsumi: Well, thank you all very much. We all have a responsibility to do here. And always, I remember spade and neuter your animals, right?
Barnoti: Absolutely.
McCann: Thank you.
:: retour en haut ::