Editor
AS a dedicated animal lover, I was so happy to read the heartwarming outcome of the never-ending plight of the dog named Virginia. However, I was sickened to see on page 20 of your Northglen News dated 19 December, under a beautiful picture of frolicking puppies, your promotion for people to breed and supply any breed of dog, even “pavement specials” to Petland for a fee. I am so disgusted that your newspaper would gladly place advertisements or promotions encouraging the abuse of animals. Surely your staff must be aware that this will appeal to anyone who may think that this is an easy way to make money.
As a volunteer for the SPCA, I have regularly been approached by people who have complained about the horror stories which they have witnessed and experienced at most pet shops (which are purely driven by financial profit). These pet shops do not undertake to have the animals sterilised and neither do they perform home checks for prospective new owners who may purchase the dogs. The animals are not kept under ideal conditions and the SPCA is regularly called upon to investigate matters.
There are so many unwanted dogs and strays that the animal shelters are barely coping. Nothing is government-sponsored, so funds are dependent on donations. Millions of dogs and cats countrywide are having to be euthanised because there are just not enough homes, yet breeding is encouraged. Our rural areas have almost no animal shelters and are bulging with strays. I could continue forever about the plight of our unwanted and stray animals, but I am sure that you must be well acquainted with stories of horror and neglect from years of reporting. So I ask, why would you willingly promote this cruel practice?
Rose Darrall
Durban North
Editor
I HAVE been informed that there is a full feature in the Northglen News promoting backyard breeders to sell their dogs to Petland. I wish to complain in the strongest possible terms about this feature, as backyard breeders are usually the very worst for places like puppy farms. These puppy farms do not ensure that bitches are treated as humanely as possible, they are only used to breed, breed, breed as much as possible so that the owner can earn as much money as possible.
The puppies are not inoculated or checked to see if they have hip dysplasia, so a lot of these puppies can be lame, or die before they become much older, because of disease and other problems. Please do not encourage these backyard breeders by printing articles, or even so much as advertising in your newspaper as the pain some of these animals go through is unbelievable.
Jill Orton
Durban North
Editor
AS an animal rescuer, I bend over backwards every day to stop the breeding of unwanted litters as thousands of unwanted kittens and puppies are euthanised each year.
This advert that appeared in the Northglen News is basically saying that it is acceptable to let your pets breed and this is a very worrying thing. We see the horrors that back-yard breeding causes.
Tracey Hartley
Feral Cat Rescue
Editor
YOUR Advertisment “Pupland” Puppy Programme on Page 20 of the Northglen News refers.
I was completely horrified to see this advert. This is surely the highest form of pet exploitation there can be! We are all aware by now of the horrendous figures of unwanted pets being euthanised all year round, let alone at Christmas. How can any thinking human being possibly encourage the breeding and supply of further pets, which will only end in more destruction of these poor animals, purely to appease the greed of uncaring, disreputable breeders? South Africa is not America, and as long as this country has such a shocking record of dumped animals, stray animals and neglected animals, we do not need any more pets brought into this world to provide short-term financial profit. First of all we need to clean up our act in this country and prove ourselves as responsible, caring pet owners who take on animals, and look after them properly for life.
Juliet Seidl
Durban North
Editor
I am really annoyed and upset that your publication has accepted an advert of this nature from Petland – this is encouraging every Tom, Dick and Harry and anyone else, and backyard breeders to breed their animals.
You publish many an articles about maltreated animals and yet you accept this advert. I ask that you do not accept or publish this type of advert in future from anyone encouraging the breeding and mistreatment of any animal. Petland does not have the best of reputations.
Carol Pearce
Durban North
Editor
I WOULD like to express my disgust at the advert requesting pups for Petland. There is a worldwide trend to stop selling live animals in pet stores, and yet here this vile store is actually advertising for them, making the money factor plain and simply obvious. Where these pups end up, they don’t care.
Rescue organisations are overwhelmed with unwanted and neglected dogs, and these horrific shops are feeding the cycle just to line their pockets. Instead of advertising their revolting skin trade adverts, rather highlight their awful name, and how dogs are dying in their care and how they should be closed down.
Linda
Durban North
Editor
THE National Council of SPCAs has been copied in with the correspondence and communications relating to the advertising for live animals to be sourced for sale at a pet shop. There is really and truly such a big picture here and we stress that the efforts of animal welfare organisations are thwarted when such actions take place. Pet shops sell. They do not undertake home checks nor check the identity of individuals purchasing the animals nor do they insist on sterilisation.
From our side we have proof that people, including “brokers”, pose as members of the public to obtain animals for the most dreadful purposes. Wherever there are no questions asked, they go. We appeal to you to be welfare-minded and to uphold worthy practices rather than promoting pet shop trade.
Christine Kuch
Public Relations NSPCA
PETLAND RESPONDS:
Editor
PETLAND would like to apologise for any confusion caused by the advertorial which has been totally misconstrued. Petland is totally against the promotion of puppy farms and irresponsible breeding.
Petland recently underwent management changes and stopped all selling of puppies as there was little control over the qualifications of the breeders supplying puppies. It is for this reason that Petland started investigating a concept of introducing prospective buyers of puppies to owners of domestic puppies, to create an environment where the puppy owners would be able to talk to the buyers in order to establish that the puppies would be going to a happy home.
There is a demand for puppies, and this would have been a safe way for buyers to meet the owners of the puppies and, if necessary, inspect their premises to meet the puppy’s parents. There is no profit motive for Petland in selling the puppies, but merely to act as intermediaries and hopefully benefit from the accessories that the prospective purchaser might need such as collars, beds, toys and food. Petland is a serious provider of pet products and is mindful of a healthy environment for pet lovers.
Petland appreciates the concern and comments of the readers which will be taken very seriously in evaluating the future of the programme which, to date, has not yet commenced. There is still much to consider before the idea can be implemented, if at all.
Petland thanks Northglen News for the opportunity to respond.
Petland Management
