This Saturday, the 10th, at Brookdale Park in Montclaire, New Jersey will be a new event to shed light on puppy mills. Sound for the Hounds. The purpose of it according to Jenny Stephens of North Penn Puppy Mill Watch is to educate the general public about puppy mills. Jenny said Sound for the Hounds will be a first for puppy mill advocacy. According to Jenny, what will set this event apart from similar events is that it is geared toward the public at large and not just animal advocates.
I must admit I have been to quite a few similar events and it does appear that most do have a following of fellow animal advocates. Preaching to the choir comes to mind. That is not a bad thing but puppy mill advocacy must reach beyond animal advocates. We, animal advocates, know the stories and are doing something about the plight of puppy mills. We need to reach the public- those who purchase puppies from pet stores.
Sound for the Hounds will have “an entire tent exhibit that will allow the public to really see what a puppy mill looks like and the ability to stand on wire flooring”. This is a first and must-see for the general public! Special guests will be Rescue Ink (by the way, there will be a Rescue Ink dog look-a-like contest..should be interesting, but no dyed, painted or tattooed dogs), Bill Smith of Mainline Animal Rescue and Jenny Stephens and prominent leaders of the canine advocacy community.
There will be musical performances throughtout the day with legendary King Errisson, Zoe, Oasis Jazz Award Winner Cindy Bradley and the ultimate Neil Diamond tribute band, TDC. There will be rescue groups with dogs who are looking for homes and vendors for both us and our “best friends”. It looks to be a day devoted to the dogs stuck in puppy mills and the torture. United Against Puppy Mills is hosting Sound for the Hounds.
Jacki Flannigan of UAPM, sums it up best: “Dogs in puppy mills live a life of misery for the sole purpose of creating puppy inventories for pet shops. Surprisingly, the average consumer has no idea where the majority of puppies for sale come from or the number of wonderful animals waiting to be adopted in shelters and rescues. We know that if people knew the truth they would make more informed decisions about where they get their next puppy and ultimately help put an end to the despicable commercial dog breeding business”.
Come on out and enjoy a day in a beautiful park with your dog(s) and learn a thing or two as well. It will be held rain or shine and it’s free!