Thank you for taking the time to read this message regarding a subject that is very important to me.

The last thing I would want to do is make the Yule Log.com site an open forum for public service announcements but this past year I saw something that has moved me to add this message. You all know how much of an avid fan I am of The Yule Log, classic WPIX programming and tv nostalgia in general. But one thing you may not know about me is my love for animals. Both Patty and I are supporters of several pet rescue agencies around the country including the Humane Society and the ASPCA. I am also very active in the fight against cruelty and in the light of the recent dog fighting case, I am glad to see more of the population getting involved to put an end to this horrific practice. One area in the fight against animal cruelty is one I feel needs more exposure... puppy mills.

For those of you who do not know what a puppy mill is, it's essentially a breeding ground for inhumanity. Mixed breeds of dogs are brought in to mate and produce litters to be sold to pet stores all over the country. The dogs are thrown into wire cages and very often are populated 6 or 7 to a confined area. Unless their health is threatened to a degree where it will damage the owner's production, the dogs very rarely get the medical care they so desperately need. The females are forced to mate to the point they can no longer produce litters and are then destroyed.

I could go on but I'm sure you get the picture. To me, this is one of the most inhumane practices going on in the world today. I know there is much worse happening out there but to me, the fact remains that human beings have much more control over their own destinies, while animals in fact have very little. Factory farming, wide scale destruction of our marine life and massive bludgeoning of baby canadian seals by "hunters" are all concerns of mine and many other humane animal lovers out there.

As do other businesses, puppy mills exist because of demand. The little girl who walks by a pet store and sees the adorable baby lab in the cage. She tells her mother how bad she wants it and before you know it they're on the way home, pup in car. What the little girl doesn't know is that that dog may very well be infested with all kinds of genetic disorders as well as psychological issues. Dogs produced in mills are raised in such deplorable conditions that they are not what you would call healthy animals by any stretch of the word.

In closing I would just like to express my thoughts to you about making the world a better place not just for each other but for these creatures that God put here for us to cherish and share our planet with. If you're in the market for a dog or cat, there are so many homeless ones out there who are just waiting for someone they can give their love to in exchange for a good home. Rather than go to your nearest pet store, please visit your nearest shelter or rescue organization. You'll be surprised how much love an animal can return to you when you're saving them from a life of loneliness.

It's my hope that one day, pet "stores" will no longer exist because they will have no one to get their supply from. There is no doubt that one day puppy mills will be a thing of the past. I just want it to end soon because every time I look into my dogs' eyes it reminds me of the thousands of pups out there going through this terrible ordeal.

If you'd like more information on this or any other animal interest topics, I'm enclosing some links of worthwhile organizations you may visit.

Again, thank you so very much for your time in allowing me to express a subject that is very close to my heart.

Joe

The Yule Log.com website, message board and its content is an original work and contains material acquired from both private and public sources. By no means is it the intent of The Yule Log.com or JFX Visuals to obtain financial gain from this site. Donations are requested but not required to view the entire site. If there is a media item attached to this site that is in fact a violation of a copyright, please email us so we can rectify the situation as soon as possible.

The Yule Log.com and JFX Visuals is in no way affiliated with WPIX Inc. or Tribune Company.