When Rescue Really Isn't

[Animal Ark]

Some Background

Beyond a doubt the "business" of animal rescue is an emotional undertaking. Of the tasks animal rescuers take on there is probably nothing more demanding than working to clean up puppy mills, mass factory farms for dogs that can churn out thousands of puppies in a season.

Simply setting foot on the property of a large-scale puppy mill can be soul-crushing. The deafening sound of hundreds of dogs barking, whining and howling goes right to your core. The stench of ammonia and feces assaults the sinuses and burns the eyes.

At the large mills, the cages seem to go on an on forever, stacked 3-high, often with multiple dogs in each cage, their eyes seeming to plead desperately for someone to help them.

Anyone who cares about animals and who has been to one of these places cannot come away from the experience without having been changed by it.

Add to this the many challenges associated with trying to take legal action against these large-scale animal abusers and it is easy to see how people concerned with the welfare of animals in puppy mills would become desperate to try to help them. Unfortunately, some of the activities of would-be rescuers can have unfortunate, unintended consequences, which can sometimes make things worse for animals in these operations.

Take, for example, the practice of buying dogs from puppy mills...

Many animal welfare advocates would be surprised to learn that it is fairly common practice for some rescue organizations to purchase dogs either directly from puppy mills or from auctions where puppy millers are selling their dogs. There is often a minimum price per dog of at least $20 and some rescuers have been known to pay hundreds for a single dog.

A simplistic view of this practice might conclude that these rescuers are helping the individual animals they purchase, and there is certainly no arguing that point. Unfortunately a slightly broader perspective uncovers a somewhat darker result - another dog from another source usually takes the place of the purchased dog. At the same time, the puppy miller and the auctioneer pocket some cash and the industry benefits and flourishes. In other words: the purchasing of puppy mill dogs does not reduce the number of animals housed in horrible conditions and it is a practice that helps feed the industry, and could lead to more animals being confined to puppy mills, not less.

Gary McDuffee Going Out of Business

I have been contemplating this and other related issues for the last week because about a week ago, I was emailed a link to the Southwest Dog Auction web site. On that web site it was announced that Gary McDuffee, a large puppy mill operator who has made local and national news over various legal issues related to his breeding operation, was going out of business. His 500 adult dogs plus puppies are scheduled to be auctioned in southern Missouri beginning next week.

McDuffee originally began making headlines when Morrison County granted him a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to operate a 600-dog breeding operation near Little Falls, Minnesota. This announcement resulted in a years-long legal challenge, funded largely through the donations of Animal Ark members and donors. The case went all the way to the Minnesota Court of Appeals twice.

In the end, Morrison County ended up issuing a revised CUP, with increased standards.

McDuffee's new permit required that he reconfigure his breeding facility to bring it into compliance with Minnesota State law. It also required that he remain in full compliance with USDA regulations at all times.

But, McDuffee's problems were not over. USDA citations have been reported against McDuffee since the new CUP was issued. Additionally, his veterinarian Charles Extrand, recently surrendered his license to practice veterinary medicine after he got in trouble with the Minnesota Veterinary Board.

The high profile nature of McDuffee's puppy mill and the news about its imminent closure have people in the animal welfare community taking notice. Understandably, people are wanting to help the dogs that have been trapped at his awful place.

Some have gone so far as to send email blasts across the USA asking rescue groups to go to the auction to buy McDuffee's dogs, an action that, though certainly well intended would not do anything to slow this dirty industry.

My advice to those considering buying a McDuffee dog: Money is what this industry is all about. Don't give them any. Using your funds to help close facilities will help many more dogs in the long run.

[animal doc]

excuse me. I really resent the attitude you seem to have about us "sitting" in hastings and strategizing. I have spent unbelievable hours testifying and writing legal court documents presented in trials and going in on the ground level to inspect puppy mills. I know how these organizations function and work and how these dogs are "surviving". Dogs are living in a horrendous situation. But buying these dogs is not going to stop the horrendous flow into and out of puppy mills. It just shifts the hell from one dog to another. As horrible as it is and will be, sometimes there will need to be a magnificent sacrifice of some wonderful beings to hopefully stop the thousands and thousands of dogs living in these situations in the future.
My heart hurts for those dogs. But unless you can figure out how to buy all the dogs at auction you are in exactly the same place as accusing others of not caring. Why just the McDuffee dogs. What about the thousands and thousands of others on the auction block every year.

[animal doc]

And I have probably seen as many of these animals as most of you have. I am not immune to the feelings we all feel. It is not a matter of a change of heart but how to truly stop the flow. I know it is truly heartbreaking to know these dogs may go into the system. But if these individuals don't others will. Hurt them in their pocketbooks. It is the only way to make a true difference. Stopping the buying will stop the selling. These puppy mills do not produce dogs out of the goodness of their hearts.

[animal doc]

excuse me. but I will restate. These dogs are being sold at auction. Do you really think that if any one or group of dogs are taken out of the system that others will not follow in their place. The buyers will find their breeding stock one way or another. You may be saving the animal you buy but you are relegating another animal that you don't see to take its place. Out of sight out of mind does not work.

[Animal Ark]

Lynne P, we will have to agree to disagree. Your desire to focus on the animals you see and to want to help them is admirable. I wish you could see the animals negatively affected by your choice to give this industry money. You don't see those animals. The affect is nonetheless there. If you were to see those animals, I suspect you would have a change of heart.

Our efforts are long-term and need to be. This industry is not going away today or tomorrow. If dogs purchased are quickly replaced with other dogs (which they are) then there is no net benefit by purchasing dogs.

You are working against yourself and you don't even realize it.

[Lynne P]

Mike, your efforts are admirable, but individuals dogs have a chance to get out of the mills and into rescue. Especially in Missouri, dogs are selling for almost nothing because the market has changed due to the economy and the millers can't sell their puppies so they are selling both breeding stock and unsold puppies. In fact McDuffee is specifically selling puppies. IS IT NOT BETTER TO PAY NOMINAL AMOUNTS TO GET THESE POOR ANIMALS OUT OF THE MILL LIFE? Your strategy is a very long term one. While you sit in Hastings and strategize, dogs are living in hell and dying tortuous deaths. Even if the evil millers make some money, at least some dogs will have a chance at a healthy, loving life. To me, that justifies purchasing dogs and puppies at auction for nominal sums while the long term strategies continue.

[Animal Ark]

Lynne P,

No one can "make sure" McDuffee does shut down. That is part of the problem.

However, we have done a lot, and continue to do more.

The various legal challenges against McDuffee raised a lot of awareness about puppy mills in general, and McDuffee specifically. That can't be helping his business.

The legal challenges were also responsible for getting his CUP reduced from 600 dogs to 500 dogs. Additionally, a daily exercise area was required to be added to his facility. Furthermore, they brought focus to his long history of, and his continued, USDA violations, and helped open a whole new approach for challenging puppy mills. Have you read the briefs in these cases?

We invested years of time, effort and many thousands of dollars getting the case to this point. We are also working diligently on helping to write and pass meaningful legislation that would prevent McDuffee from operating the way he has in the past, and, at the same time, would do the same for breeders all across the state.

Additionally, we would support rescuers attending these auctions. We would NOT support them in BUYING dogs. Giving McDuffee money is the last thing the rescue community should consider.

[Lynne P]

So Mike, then what is your plan to make sure McDuffee does shut down?

[animal doc]

I have been on the forefront of many puppy mill "inspections". I absolutely have compassion for all the dogs in these horrid situations. But I truly believe that buying these dogs at auction is not only counterproductive but opens the door for other dogs to be brought into the system. Trust me, the buyers will get the dogs they need one way or the other. You may feel good about "saving" the dog you see in front of you but realize what is happening that you don't see. The best thing anyone can do is to attend these auctions and offer to take dogs without payment to the sellers.

[Animal Ark]

Sorry, Lynne P, I have to disagree with a few of your comments.

First and foremost, I do not "reject the goal" of saving dogs - obviously. I do object to the tactic of purchasing dogs in order to "rescue" them.

Second, the view you expressed very well is the simplistic view I was referring to. It is a view that does not account for some of the realities of this industry.

I will reiterate some of the fine points covered in the Best Friends article linked to above. They made them quite well.

At some auctions, many of the dogs sold are sold to rescuers. When rescuers refuse to buy them, the millers are often willing to GIVE the dogs to rescue to avoid paying to move the dogs again.

Any dollars spent go into the pockets of the millers and auctioneers and perpetuates the behavior.

Furthermore, puppy mills have a nearly unlimited number of sources of dogs. If they are planning to obtain dogs, they are going to get them. If not at the auction, then elsewhere. The purchasing of dogs does not prevent them from acquiring dogs. That is why we say that purchasing these dogs does not reduce the number of dogs that are suffering at these facilities.

Since the subject has come up, I have a series of questions for those rescuers advocating the purchase of these dogs. Maybe you could answer them for me?

One question I have is this: The web site for the auction lists hundreds of dogs from other breeders also being auctioned along with McDuffee's. Yet the desperate pleas being sent out are only to purchase dogs from Gary McDuffee's facility. Can you explain why that is? If purchasing dogs is a viable means of "rescue" shouldn't all of the dogs be purchased by rescue?

Another question: If rescue groups could purchase all of the dogs should they? If they did, what do you think the puppy millers and auctioneers would do with all of that money? Do you think they would close up shop and go away? Or do you think they would be more likely to grow their enterprise and do more of the same to more dogs?

And lastly, stating that it is "public knowledge" that Best Friends purchased 150 dogs for $60k does not make it so. Someone suggested to me today that it was well known that I was running for public office. Guess what? I am not and have never even contemplated doing so.

Whether or not Best Friends purchased dogs from puppy mills in the past, I do not know. I do know that if they did, they appear to have shifted their position pretty dramatically.

For the record, here is the response Best Friends is emailing to people who are contacting them about this upcoming auction:

I appreciate you e-mailing about the McDuffee case—it’s good to discuss these things where we may have different opinions. And I absolutely understand how cases like this one get everyone fired up to DO something, and that’s great—we need this kind of momentum and outrage. However, I’m concerned about this plan and the e-mails going around calling all rescues to go to the auction and buy McDuffee’s dogs. He may or may not actually go out of business; there is no guarantee and we’ve seen terrible kennels (actually, it was this same auction company) do total kennel sellouts of some really neglected dogs, and rescuers bought them and then later, saw that same breeder at auctions picking up more dogs. If that’s the reasoning for this call to action (that it’s okay because he’s going out of business), I just don’t think it’s enough—also, many auctions are for people going out of business, this is just no different than any other auction other than that he’s a breeder people have been trying to shut down for some time. Dog auctions take place nearly every weekend at Southwest Auction—why the big push to get rescues to buy Mc Duffee’s dogs? I know his case has been a long-standing one and we were right there fighting to get him shut down, but just don’t agree that this plan is going to be helpful. I worry it will be harmful. Here’s a story on a very similar case with Pennsylvania breeders sending their dogs to OH auction: http://network.bestfriends.org/campaigns/puppymills/13311/news.aspx. In general, we support this opinion.

If rescues really want to help, they should go to the auction and be there as a safety net for dogs that no one bids on, or other dogs that breeders are willing to give up. The dog industry is hurting now, and breeders are giving up their dogs in droves and rescues that routinely take their dogs are all full. Rescues should not add one penny to McDuffee’s pockets. Note that this is the first of three auctions. If rescuers drive up the prices for his dogs, then McDuffee and the auctioneers and the other breeders will be laughing all the way to the bank at the rescuers who are bidding with their hearts instead of their heads.

I’m concerned that there is no overall organized plan to help rescuers know who’s who so they DON’T bid against each other. I once watched two rescuers bid a Yorkie up to $800 at an auction because the woman who wanted the dog—a woman in Yorkie rescue—mentioned to two different rescue bidders how much she wanted to make sure she got that dog. So essentially she was bidding against herself. It’s things like this that really hurt the cause instead of helping. I think the best thing for the bigger picture, to help more puppy mill dogs overall would be for no one to bid on McDuffee’s dogs. Offer to take the ones that he can’t sell with the promise to find them good homes if he’s willing to give them over.

One last note; I totally understand people wanting to get those dogs out. Dog auctions are one of the few places where the puppy mill industry is right there, open to the public for viewing, and it’s heartbreaking. I just worry about the unforeseen negative effects this could have. I think the rescue community has shown how quickly we can all act as well—I’ve gotten this e-mail from five people around the country in one day.

Thank you

If Best Friends has purchased dogs from auctions in the past, they appear to have learned something since then.

[Lynne P]

And what about Best Friends spending $60,000 to purchase about 150 puppy mill dogs in 2007-2008? It is public knowledge that they did this, and now they are objecting to the practice. What gives?