11/05/09

Puppy Mills: Help Stop Abuse

Robert Baker, ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Investigator

Show Description:

Today Catherine Bradford welcomes Bob Baker, ASPCA's Animal Cruelty Investigator. Bob will answer questions and help listeners understand how to help prevent explotation of dogs through Puppy Mills.

What Is a Puppy Mill?
Puppy mills are large-scale commercial dog-breeding operations where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs. Unlike responsible breeders, who place the utmost importance on producing the healthiest puppies possible, puppy mill owners disregard genetic quality. This often results in generations of dogs with hereditary defects, including dental abnormalities, eye problems and limb deformities. Legitimate breeders also put a lot of effort into giving puppies a good start in life by providing proper nutrition, veterinary attention and thorough socialization. Unfortunately, puppy mill dogs aren’t so lucky. Puppy mills usually house dogs in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, water or socialization. The dogs don’t get to experience treats, toys, exercise or basic grooming. To minimize waste cleanup, they’re often kept in cages with wire flooring that injures their paws and legs—and it’s not unusual for cages to be stacked in tall columns. Dogs used for breeding often spend their entire lives outdoors, exposed to the elements, or indoors, crammed inside filthy structures where they never get the chance to feel the sun or a gust of fresh air on their faces.
 

http://aspca.org

Guest Bio:

Bob Baker has been active in animal welfare since 1977, and is a nationally recognized authority on animal cruelty investigations.  Bob joined the ASPCA in January 2007 as an Anti-Cruelty Investigator, where he is a key player in the ASPCA’s ongoing efforts to combat the cruelties of puppy mills and large-scale commercial breeding operations.

During his extensive career, he has served as Chief Investigator for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and, most recently, as Field Investigator for the Humane Farming Association. Bob’s undercover investigations into animal fighting ventures have led to the arrests of more than 1,000 individuals. He spearheaded an extensive probe into the commercial dog breeding industry visiting more than 700 “puppy mills” throughout the country from 1980 to the present.  These investigations led to a rash of publicity, the closing of numerous puppy mills, a probe by the federal government’s General Accounting Office, and the closing of the nation’s largest pet store chain, Docktors Pet Center. 

In addition, Bob has investigated horse racing and dog racing abuses, dog theft rings, cults that sacrifice animals, as well as numerous other forms of animal abuse. His investigations have uncovered wide-scale abuses at the largest hog and dairy operations in the country. Bob has initiated and worked on local, state, and federal legislation to improve the plight of animals. He has also initiated and aided the production of several national news exposés on animal abuse including pieces on “60 Minutes,” “20/20” and “Dateline.”

Prior to working in animal welfare, Baker owned and raced both thoroughbred and standard bred horses. First-hand observation of the drug abuse practices in horse racing prompted him to write the book, The Misuse of Drugs in Horse Racing.

Bob lives in St. Louis, Mo.