Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Barkworks Pet Store that Sells Puppy Mill dogs Gets F Business Rating


BBB Reliability Report for
Barkworks
BBB Rating is F
Rating Explanation
Company Rating F
Company Rating F
Our opinion of what this rating means:
We strongly question the company’s reliability for reasons such as that they have failed to respond to complaints, their advertising is grossly misleading, they are not in compliance with the law’s licensing or registration requirements, their complaints contain especially serious allegations, or the company’s industry is known for its fraudulent business practices.



Thursday, December 24, 2009

Barkworks Westside Pavilion Sells Dying Dog. Dog Died on Christmas Eve





There will be no Christmas joy for a nine-week old dog, a mixed Yorkie dog who died this morning at a Malibu veterinary hospital after clinging to life since last Thursday. Barkworks, a pet store in Los Angeles, sold the fatally ill dog last Thursday to a woman who claimed she bought the dog in order to bring it to a hospital because she believed the dog was dying. Barkworks has been investigated by The Companion Animal Protection Society, which organized staged a silent vigil for puppy mill dogs in front of the store on Saturday, December 19th.

CAPS, a national organization that investigates puppy mills, has an ongoing investigation of Barkworks. Evidence from the United States Department of Agriculture reveals that the Midwest commercial breeders supplying the store in the Westside Pavilion are violating the Animal Welfare Act. The USDA inspection reports are shocking, bringing to light the fact that breeding dogs are living in wire cages, exposed to the elements, covered in feces and some of them are even housed in chicken cages, outside in below freezing temperatures with no bedding.












Thursday, December 17, 2009

Barkworks Pet Store sells puppies from puppy mills with USDA violations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Companion Animal Protection Society Plans Landmark Anti Puppy Mill Awareness Drive.

WHO: Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), www.caps-web.org

CAPS is the only national non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to investigating and protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy mills.

WHAT: CAPS is conducting a pro-adoption/anti puppy mill awareness boycott of Barkworks, a pet store chain that sells dogs from large, commercial breeding facilities, puppy mills, in the Midwest. This is a landmark demonstration for the California animal protection movement because pet stores that sell puppy mill dogs inside shopping malls, have, until now, been immune to the increasing public outcry over the puppy mill issue. Protests have been obstructed by the Mall, which has placed unreasonable limits on constitutionally protected free speech, claiming that the mall is private property. This peaceful demonstration will open the doors of every mall in the state of California to animal welfare activists who will bravely uphold CA Supreme Court Law.

Local activists will be gathering in front of Barkworks in silence to grieve for the millions of companion animals who died this year in our nation’s shelters because there are not enough homes for them. Animal welfare activists are asking shoppers to be mindful that over 60% of pets are bought during the weeks leading to Christmas and that the true spirit of Christmas is in giving—as in giving a homeless pet a loving home. During this severe economic downturn, we are asking people to help our community by adopting a companion animal from our local shelters.

WHEN: Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 2:30 PM

WHERE: BARKWORKS 10800 West Pico BLVD #391 in the West Side Pavilion

WHY: Barkworks sells dogs from puppy mills - commercial breeding facilities that mass-produce puppies for resale through pet shops and brokers. USDA licensed facilities are puppy mills.

“Saturday is a history-making day for the animal protection movement. Pet stores are routinely defrauding customers by telling them, like Barkworks has told our under-cover operatives, that the dogs sold in the store are “family raised in homes” and “only bred a few times.” The public is becoming increasingly aware of the cruelty of the pet industry and consumers are outraged that puppy mills are still legal. The parents of the dogs sold in these stores are kept 24/7 in cages, raised like livestock and bred like machine parts until they die. The public wants action and the stores selling the offspring of this cruel business, after Saturday, will no longer be able to hide inside the malls. This is the beginning of the end for them. Consumers want a cruelty-free pet, just like they want cruelty-free products and greener cars.” --- Carole Raphaelle Davis, West coast Director of CAPS, author of “The Diary of Jinky, Dog of a Hollywood Wife and investigative reporter for American dog Magazine

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Santa Monica Declared a Puppy Mill Free Zone by Companion Animal Protection Society


COMPANION ANIMAL PROTECTION SOCIETY PROTESTS RESPONSIBLE FOR AQUARIUM & PET CENTER DECISION TO GO HUMANE

Animal Advocates Alliance Negotiated Pet Store Decision

LOS ANGELES--November 11, 2009--The Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) and Animal Advocates Alliance (AAA) are proud to announce that Aquarium & Pet Center in Santa Monica, California, is converting to a humane business model. The pet store, which has been in business for over 20 years, has decided to no longer sell dogs from inhumane commercial breeding facilities, also known as puppy mills. The Aquarium & Pet Center, owned by Mr. Scott Lee, will now work with rescue organizations to promote adoptable animals from the Los Angeles municipal shelter system.


The Aquarium & Pet Center had been the target of an ongoing investigation linking the store to the Hunte Corporation, a notorious puppy mill broker in the Midwest. In addition to dogs supplied from inhumane breeding factories in the Midwest, some of the pups sold in the store were found to be from an overcrowded and substandard commercial breeding operation just outside of Los Angeles. This is the fourth store in Los Angeles to succumb to investigations and protests by The Companion Animal Protection Society in the past four months. The other stores no longer selling puppy mill dogs include Elaine’s Pet Depot, Elite Animals and Pets of Wilshire.

“We congratulate Mr. Lee, his family and his staff on their wise and compassionate decision to become a humane pet store,” said Carole Raphaelle Davis, West Coast Director of The Companion Animal Protection Society. “Consumer taste is evolving and retailers need to pay attention in this economy. Shoppers want a greener car, cage free eggs and non-polluting household products. They don't want a puppy mill pet. They want a pet that is cruelty-free. Mr. Lee's decision is an enormous victory for the animal protection movement and in the longer term, for dogs and cats suffering in inhumane breeding operations around the nation. The decision also has far reaching benefits for pets in the Los Angeles shelter system, as they will now have an additional place to be seen and adopted in up-scale Santa Monica. Now, instead of selling intact animals from factories, the store will be a happy place to shop and adopt, breaking the cycle of misery in the puppy and kitty pipe line from factory to shelter to euthanasia. We encourage consumers to shop at Aquarium & Pet Center now that they have gone humane.”



Mr. Lee is proud of his achievement. “As I get closer to retirement,” said Mr. Lee, “I would like to make the right choice to help homeless pets and educate and support the community in the process. This is a proud decision for me and my family.”

Phillip Gharabegian, of the Animal Advocates Alliance was also instrumental in negotiating the agreement. “Animal Advocates Alliance is pleased that Mr. Lee has committed to a humane business model,” said Mr. Gharabegian. “They have chosen to set a positive example for other retail pet stores. Mr. Lee has now become a part of the solution rather than supporting irresponsible breeders who profit from the dreadful suffering of animals.”

As a result of the agreement, the protests of the store will be called off. The dogs that are currently in the store will be put up for adoption at a celebration event at noon, on Saturday, November 14th.

CAPS had organized three weekend protests in front of the store. On October 10th, the protest was interrupted by violence, when dozens of animal rights activists were shot at by an unknown assailant with a high powered air rifle, spraying them with two millimeter brass slugs. Two of the protesters were slightly injured. The police investigation into the shooting is ongoing and there is a $5000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the shooter.

Groups who participated in the protests and humane conversion:

Two Hands Four Paws, Stray Cat Alliance, Social Compassion in Legislation, In Defense of Animals, Strangest Angels Rescue, Kris Kelly Foundation, Much Love Animal Rescue, HSUS, Animal Advocates Alliance, and others. If you participated in the event and are not mentioned here, please leave a comment and you will be added immediately.

Footage of protest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcOxLBv2HEQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vZeYrlBLv0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cplTokQb-Bc

KTLA news story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46El_8jhOjo

About CAPS

Founded by President Deborah Howard in 1992, Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy mills. CAPS actively addresses the abuse and suffering of pet shop and puppy mill dogs through investigations, education, media relations, legislative involvement, puppy mill dog rescues, consumer assistance and pet industry employee relations.

Animal Advocates Alliance is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the humane treatment of animals through legal advocacy, effecting social change through community education initiatives and supporting animal rescue organizations.

# # #

Friday, October 30, 2009

Aquarium & Pet Center Signs Agreement to Convert to Humane Business Model


Aquarium & Pet Center has made a commitment to enter into an agreement with The Animal Advocates Alliance and the Companion Animal Protection Society to convert to a humane business model. The details must still be worked out but Scott Lee, the owner of the pet store, has agreed to only work with rescues.

Mr. Lee's wise and compassionate decision is an enormous victory for the animal protection movement and in the longer term, for dogs and cats suffering in inhumane breeding operations around the nation. The decision also has far reaching benefits for pets in our the Los Angeles shelter system as they will now have an additional place to be seen and adopted in up-scale Santa Monica.

As a result of the agreement, the protest scheduled for Saturday, October 31st, is being called off. There will be no protest and instead, preparations for a joyous news conference that includes Mr. Lee and members of CAPS, Animal Advocates Alliance, HSUS, Stray Cat Alliance, The Kris Kelly Foundation, Strangest Angels Rescue, In Defense of Animals, Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue, Much Love animal Rescue, Social Compassion in Legislation and Animal Acres.

The dogs who are currently in the store will be put up for adoption.

We thank and congratulate Mr. Lee and his family and we owe gratitude to the dozens of activists who made this humane transition possible. Now, instead of selling intact animals from factories, the store will be a happy place to shop and adopt, breaking the cycle of misery in the puppy and kitty pipe line from factory to shelter to euthanasia.

The activists who persevered during this campaign deserve the highest praise for standing up for voiceless animals who suffer endlessly in wire cages far away.

This victory is for them. Bravo to all of you and stay tuned for celebration details coming soon.
Carole Davis

Monday, October 26, 2009

Shooter targets animal rights protesters at Aquarium & Pet Center in Santa Monica

Carole Raphaelle Davis of CAPS after the shooting at Aquarium & Pet Center

Animal Welfare Protesters Shot at Santa Monica Pet Shop
News Type: Event — Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:26 PM PDT

Anti-puppy mill protesters were shot at with an air rifle at Aquarium & Pet Center in Santa Monica on Saturday, October 10th. The Santa Monica Police are treating this case as an assault with a deadly weapon, a felony.
"BB guns can be extremely dangerous and can kill if the bullets hit a vital area of the body" said Santa Monica Police Sergent Lewis.

There is a $5000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the shooter.
Approximately thirty-five activists were holding a peaceful anti-puppy mill demonstration when violence erupted. Three animal welfare advocates were hit, including West Hollywood community organizer Ed Buck and animal welfare advocate Elizabeth Johanson. There were minor injuries. Police arrived on the scene within minutes and retrieved several two millimeter brass bullets on the sidewalk where the protesters were shot.

This group of activists, who are members of several large animal welfare organizations, have been protesting stores in Los Angeles for two years. The Aquarium & Pet Center is supplied by commercial breeding facilities in the Midwest and also uses a local breeder in Southern California that houses its dogs in substandard conditions.
Dogs in commercial breeding operations are sometimes called puppy mills, or puppy farms. Though they are often licensed by the USDA, they are considered inhumane by the animal protection movement. The minimum standards of care for USDA licensed facilities typically allow only enough room for a dog to stand up and turn around. The dogs are kept in cages for their entire breeding lives and are often exposed to the elements. Most dogs suffering in commercial breeding operations do not get veterinary care or socialization. They are often sick, injured, diseased and have malformations.

The violence at Aquarium & Pet Center occurred during a highly charged atmosphere in the state of California. Last week, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed The Responsible Breeder Act (AB 241), a bill designed to limit the number of dogs in commercial breeding facilities to fifty. The pet breeding industry lobbied against it, claiming that a limit on an arbitrary number of dogs did not address animal cruelty issues.

Animal protection advocates were disappointed in the Governor's veto, claiming that limiting the number of dogs in inhumane breeding factories would limit the number of dogs abused. The bill would have also allowed for inspections and better transparency for commercial breeders who typically mistreat their "breeding stock" and routinely under-report the number of dogs they are using. Many breeders sell directly to the public using Websites and under-report their earnings to the Internal Revenue Service.

After the shooting at Aquarium & Pet Center, an employee of the store was seen laughing at the animal welfare activists.
On Monday, a volunteer in Pennsylvania called the store, posing as a buyer and asked the owner what he planned to do about the protesters, to which he replied, "I'll shoot them all."

The verbal threat was immediately reported to the police, who have added this information to the investigation. Mr. Lee, the owner of Aquarium & Pet Center, was visited by police detectives on Thursday. He denied making the threats. He also denied having anything to do with the shooting.

Activists Ed Buck, Elizabeth Johanson and Catherine Eure

"We will not be intimidated by violence nor by threats of further violence," said Carole Sax, volunteer coordinator for the Companion Animal Protection Society. "We will stand firm for these animals who have no voice but ours. This despicable behavior will only strengthen our resolve to end puppy mills period, " Ms. Sax continued.

"When the animal abusers realize that they have lost the debate, they turn to their guns," said activist Ed buck, who was hit in the groin with a brass slug. "There is nothing more powerful than people standing in the face of danger to speak the truth. Bullets will never silence the truth."

"Any danger we face is obscene as we are participating in an anti slavery movement," said Elizabeth Johanson, one of the activists shot on Saturday. "The torment that these thousands of animals withstand in these concentration camp settings is very real and is life long. I'm out there because I would not want to live like that."

"This is un-American, " said Carole Raphaelle Davis, the West Coast Director of the Companion Animal Protection Society. "We were boycotting a known puppy mill dealer and they decided to use violence against us for speaking the truth. We have a right to speak out against the cruel practices of the pet trade industry. It's called the first amendment. The public, which is routinely defrauded by pet stores, deserves to know what's really going on so that they can make better choices when bringing a companion animal into their lives. When consumers learn the ugly truth behind the pretty storefront, they run the other way."

"Furthermore," said Ms. Davis, "we ask that consumers give the $1000 or more that they would have spent on buying an animal in a pet store and give that money to a family in need. We are experiencing the worst economic crisis of our time and there are families who need to put food on the table. Give the money to the truly needy instead and save an animal's life at your local shelter. There are five million pets killed in our nation's shelter system every year because there are not enough homes for them. This costs taxpayers $2 billion per year to house and euthanize all these unwanted animals. It makes sense, fiscally and morally, to adopt from a shelter. And for breed snobs, 25% of the dogs in the shelter system are purebred, adoptable dogs. "

Since the shooting, an anti-animal welfare email circulated on a breeder meet-up Internet group. The e-mail states that the animal welfare advocates protesting Aqaurium & Pet Center might have staged the shooting in order to gain publicity. There is no evidence to support that and the investigation is on-going.

Part of the e-mail is posted below:

"They whine like little babies about BBs being shot at them. I think it's funny. Shooting BBs at them isn't an attack. It's a little bit dangerous and someone can lose an eye, but it's ridicule. The tiniest little thing gets thrown their way and they need clean pants.I've been over the reasons before why we're being beaten by a bunch of pants-wetters."

"I hope the police find the shooters so they can speak for themselves on their motivation," said Judie Mancuso, President of Social compassion in Legislation. "In a nutshell, I think the pet trade is fearful of the animal welfare community as we expose the way they treat their animals and the underground economy that goes along with the underground breeding. Once exposed the general public is on our side."

The protesters are planning to return this weekend to educate shoppers about puppy mills.


Thursday, October 22, 2009

Open letter from Activist Carole Sax about the importance of protesting pet stores


OPEN LETTER TO RESCUE PEOPLE
 
I get over 200 e-mails a day from various rescue people with dogs & cats who need rescue.  All you people that network these dogs & cats, JOIN US to protest these puppy stores! You have to know it's the only way to educate & inform the public where these puppies come from and about the pet-overpopulation problem we have in this country.  

The shelters, as you know, are killing animals by the hundreds daily. So bring your adoptables to the protest, bring literature because when we have a huge crowd, people listen & look. The store owners get nervous, which is a good thing.  Let them know they are committing fraud to the consumers when they say they hand pick their breeders. It's a lie and they know it. None of them have ever even been to see the breeders they use and when they say we use local breeders, WHAT A LAUGH!

 California is getting to be the worse puppy mill state in the country and the local mills aren't even inspected.  

Send out an alert to your e-mail lists and let's make these stores go humane. It works with numbers and a committment of only 2 hours a week is not much to ask for the voiceless.  Encourage people to adopt, not buy, and maybe, in our lifetime, we can see an end to these countless e-mails and the killing of beautiful adoptable pets.

We will be at Aquarium & Pet Center, 826 Wilshire Blvd. 8th & Wilshire SANTA MONICA, bring friends, dogs, kids, flyers, we have signs or make your own, let's make some noise.

Thanks
Carole Sax

Friday, October 16, 2009

Animal Welfare Groups Protest Aquarium & Pet Center in Santa Monica for selling puppy mill dogs


Anti-puppy mill protesters were shot at with an air rifle at Aquarium & Pet Center in Santa Monica on Saturday, October 10th. The Santa Monica Police are treating this case as an assualt with a deadly weapon, a felony. BB guns can be extremely dangerous and can kill if the bullets hit a vital area of the body.

There is a $5000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the shooter.

See full story  in WEHO NEWS here.

 Approximately thirty-five activists were holding a peaceful anti-puppy mill demonstration when violence erupted. Three animal welfare advocates were hit, including West Hollywood community organizer Ed Buck. There were minor injuries. Police arrived on the scene within minutes and retrieved several two millimeter brass bullets on the sidewalk where the protesters were shot.

This group of activists, who are members of several large animal welfare organizations, have been protesting stores in Los Angeles for two years. The Aquarium & Pet Center is supplied by commercial breeding facilities in the Midwest and also uses a local breeder in Southern California that houses its dogs in substandard conditions. 

Dogs in commercial breeding operations are sometimes called puppy mills, or puppy farms. Though they are often licensed by the USDA, they are considered inhumane by the animal protection movement. The minimum standards of care for USDA licensed facilities typically allow only enough room for a dog to stand up and turn around. The dogs are kept in cages for their entire breeding lives and are often exposed to the elements. Most dogs suffering in commercial breeding operations do not get veterinary care or socialization. They are often sick, injured, diseased and have malformations.  

After the shooting, an employee of the store was seen laughing at the animal welfare activists.

On Monday, a volunteer in Pennsylvania called the store, posing as a buyer and asked the owner what he planned to do about the protesters, to which he replied, "I'll shoot them all."

The verbal threat was immediately reported to the police, who have added this information to the investigation. Mr. Lee, the owner of Aquarium  & Pet Center, was visited by police detectives on Thursday. He denied making the threats. He also denied having anything to do with the shooting. 
 
"We will not be intimidated by violence nor by threats of further violence," said Carole Sax, volunteer coordinator for the Companion Animal Protection Society. "We will stand firm for these animals who have no voice but ours. This despicable behavior will only strengthen our resolve to end puppy mills period, " Ms. Sax continued.

"This is un-American, " said Carole Raphaelle Davis, the West Coast Director of the Companion Animal Protection Society. "We were boycotting a known puppy mill dealer and they decided to use violence against us for speaking the truth. We have a right to speak out against the cruel practices of the pet trade industry. It's called the first amendment. The public, which is routinely defrauded by pet stores, deserves to know what's really going on so that they can make better choices when bringing a companion animal into their lives. It is very un-American to resort to violence against an idea. We live in a democracy and if consumers knew the ugly truth behind the pretty storefront, they would run the other way."

"Furthermore," said Ms. Davis, "we ask that consumers give the $1000 or more that they would have spent on buying an animal in a pet store and give that money to a family in need. We are experiencing the worst economic crisis of our time and there are families who need to put food on the table. Give the money to the truly needy instead and save an animal's life at your local shelter. This is a new era of social responsibility and this is not a time to buy into cruelty. This is a time to roll up our sleeves to help the community by relieving our municipal shelters. There are five million pets killed in our nation's shelter system every year because there are not enough homes for them. This costs taxpayers $2 billion per year to house and euthanize all these unwanted animals. It makes sense, fiscally and morally, to adopt from a shelter. And for breed snobs, 25% of the dogs in the shelter system are purebred, adoptable dogs. "  


Since the shooting, an anti-animal welfare email circulated on a breeder meet-up Internet group. The e-mail states that the animal welfare advocates protesting Aqaurium & Pet Center might have staged the shooting in order to gain publicity. There is no evidence to support that and the investigation is on-going.

The email is copied below:

 "I hope that no one on our side "deplores" this episode.  Sympathy is wasted on people who hate humanity so badly that their basis for their "animal welfare" and "animal protection" ideas is entirely in their hatred of humanity.  They pass around pamphlets instructing people how to firebomb cars, and one of their trainers in the art of firebombing cars, houses, and laboratories works high in the HSUS. Then they whine like little babies about BBs being shot at them.  I think it's funny.  Shooting BBs at them isn't an attack.  It's a little bit dangerous and someone can lose an eye, but it's ridicule.  The tiniest little thing gets thrown their way and they need clean pants.I've been over the reasons before why we're being beaten by a bunch of pants-wetters.  Most of us help them by being sympathetic to what they pretend is their cause, as if they have good hearts.  Ask Edyth London or Brian Cass or anyone else who has suffered at their hands.  We have to have a philosophy to stand on to be able to take away their toys.  We should be able to take the whole mess away from these pansies.  People have before. From now on let's call the Green party what it is.  It is the "Screw Humanity Because We Hate Ourselves and Everyone Else" party."

 "I hope the police find the shooters so they can speak for themselves on their motivation," said Judie Mancuso, President of Social compassion in Legislation. "In a nutshell, I think the pet trade is fearful of the animal welfare community as we expose the way they treat their animals and the underground economy that goes along with the underground breeding. Once exposed the general public is on our side."


See the immediate aftermath of the shooting incident below:


See full story in Santa Monica Daily Press here

See KTLA's coverage of the story below:


Sunday, July 12, 2009

Elite Animals Resorts to Sorcery to Repel Animal Rights Activists










Elite Animals, a pet store in West Hollywood, California, has endured nine consecutive weeks of protests by animal welfare activists. Neither side is budging but Elite Animals is showing signs of battle weariness. 

The Companion Animal Protection Society  (CAPS ) conducted an investigation  of Elite Animals' breeders which revealed footage and still photos of breeding dogs suffering in inhumane conditions. The dogs in the mill that supply Elite Animals are exposed to the elements, living in rusted wire cages and many of them are sick and injured. CAPS also has evidence of USDA inspection reports of repeated violations by several of Elite's suppliers  in the Midwest. 

In addition to selling dogs from puppy mills, Elite Animals also sells puppies under the age of six months from Russia. Importing puppies under the age of six months old for resale from overseas is a violation of the federal Farm Bill passed in 2008.

Animal advocates hope the protests will push the store to convert to a humane business model and that Elite Animals will begin to work with reputable rescue organizations, making their profits from supplies and services, not from selling animals raised in factory-like conditions.  Elite Animals' owners did make a visit to the Amanda Foundation in Beverly Hills several weeks ago but no formal agreement with that rescue organization or any other has been announced.  

Because the siege by protesters has deterred so many potential customers, two puppies, a Moscow Terrier and a Maltese have not found buyers and are outgrowing their cages inside the store. Activists are concerned that this long period of confinement in small glass enclosures with no socialization is detrimental to a dog's well being. To our knowledge, these dogs have never been taken out for a walk. Representatives from several local rescue organizations have offered to take the dogs and find them adoptive homes but they have been rebuffed. 

These two dogs are considered "easy placements" by rescue organizations. Loving and stable homes could be found within days if Elite Animals would agree to transfer ownership to a rescue organization. An ownership surrender document accompanied by an agreement to cease and desist from acquiring animals from commercial breeders would also move the negotiations forward and, most likely, would halt the protesting of the store.  


Last week, Elite Animals closed for five consecutive days with the two dogs inside the store, alarming animal welfare advocates. The City of West Hollywood and animal services intervened, calling the owners and imposing an emergency inspection. The dogs had food and water and the store was not cited for violations at that time.

There is nothing illegal about the store leaving a dog in a cage for 24 hours a day, as long as he has food and water. Animal welfare advocates believe that though this treatment is not illegal, it is inhumane. 

On July 11, week nine of the protest siege, a bizarre and culturally intriguing scene unfolded. 

Outside, animal rights protesters chanted, "Elite! Elite! The meanest on the street!" Inside, the owners of the store, who are middle-aged Russian women, were visibly unsettled. They seemed highly agitated. One of them brought a heavy, crystal ball, the size of a bowling ball, from the back of the store and perched it ceremoniously on an ornate gold pedestal at their front desk. 

Her face hidden behind long black hair, she placed a ghoulish-looking figurine next to the crystal ball. It looked like a scene from the movie "Rosemary's Baby." The figurine she was posing in front of the crystal ball looked demonic, with a long, black cloak--it looked like a child's evil action figure or a cult object used for black magic. Then, oddly, the woman with the long dark hair walked briskly to the back of the store and returned with a fistful of loose, ten-inch long black bird feathers. She then hovered over the crystal ball, muttering--possibly some kind of incantation, while she waved the black feathers back and forth over the satanic figurine. 

"They're actually putting a spell on us!" yelled one of the activists. "Quick! Spit three times!" said activist Kimmy-Sue, laughing. "I'm half gypsy," said Elizabeth, another protester.


This group of activists is highly experienced, having converted or shut down a large number of puppy mill fronts in the last two years. They have endured a barrage of insults and and have stood their ground against physical intimidation and harassment from store owners in the past. Sorcery is an unfamiliar form of bullying by dog dealers. 

If Elite's magical spells are effective, maybe they can teach us how to wave those magic black feathers over our local shelters so that an actual miracle can occur--a loving home for every homeless pet dying at the pound.

For animal activists, questions remain unanswered.

1. When will the store realize it has no alternative but to go humane?
2. When will they release the dogs suffering in their cages to a rescue organization?
3. When will they admit the truth that they have been lying to consumers about the fact that they are supplied by puppy mills?
4. Where did they get those large black feathers? Did the birds just GIVE them the feathers? 

Given where their dogs come from, the worst mills in the Midwest, it's doubtful they acquired their special incantation feathers humanely. 



 











                                                                       

                   


Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Michael Jackson Scrutinized by animal Protection Movement

Michael Jackson Did Not Love Animals

Elephant cage at Michael Jackson's private zoo

Abandoned outdoor enclosure at Michael Jackson's private zoo

Giraffe cage at Michael Jackson's private zoo

July 3, 2009 ADMJ --Carole Raphaelle Davis

Michael Jackson did not love animals. He loved to collect them. He loved owning them like a sheik owns his harem.

As details emerge about the bizarre life of Michael Jackson, questions about the animals who were housed in his private zoo of exotic pets remain unanswered. Members of the animal welfare community wonder whether Jackson was truly an animal lover or merely a collector who abandoned his dozens of exotic pets, leaving them to be scattered, with no endowment, in different facilities around the country.

Recent photographs of Michael Jackson's private zoo have been released by TMZ.com. The photographs are of the emptied interior and the abandoned grounds of Jackson's Neverland Ranch north of Santa Barbara. The photographs of the zoo enclosures are particularly disturbing to some in the animal protection movement.

Jackson owned wild animals, including giraffes, elephants, tigers, crocodiles and monkeys and housed them in what appears to be caged conditions. Though the animals' enclosures might not have been illegal, they were inhumane. And though no animals currently reside there, their former home reveals much about how the animals lived.

Mr. Jackson bought the ranch in the late 1980s. There, he set up a zoo to house exotic pets. What happened to them when he left the ranch — and the United States — after his acquittal on charges that he molested a teenage cancer survivor in 2003?

There are numerous reports that the animals were sold at auction, that some went to sanctuaries, that some are being cruelly warehoused in Arizona, that caretakers were not paid after he left the property and that Michael Jackson was sued by his veterinarian for a six-figure unpaid bill for treatment of the Neverland animals.

Though the rooms inside the home look luxurious, the enclosures for his private collection of large, wild animals look woefully inadequate. The cages and outdoor enclosures appear not to meet the minimum standards of humane care that is required for the well-being of the animals living there.

The photo of the elephant cage tells the story of a grim existence.

"It's a very small space with a concrete floor which is detrimental to elephants' joints and feet," says Catherine Doyle, elephant specialist and Los Angeles director of campaigns for In Defense of Animals. "It looks like a concrete cell. It's no way to keep an elephant; there's no way that type of enclosure could ever meet their needs. It's a depressing, small, impoverished space."

"Elephants walk tens of miles a day and their home ranges measure hundreds of square miles," continued Catherine Doyle. "They have extremely complex social structures and they live in tightly knit family groups in which the females stay together for life. It's like looking at a prison cell looking at these pictures."

I spoke to undercover investigator Jack Stevens on July 4th. He is an elephant expert, having worked hands on with them both in the Circus and at an Elephant Sanctuary. " I can state categorically that the pictures of the enclosures I've seen at Michael Jacksons Neverland Ranch are grossly inadequate to house an elephant, " he said. "Unless the elephant was given long term access to vast acreage on other parts of the ranch where he/she could roam around unimpeded at his/her own leisure I would say that cage bordered on the inhumane."

There are thousands of pictures on the Internet of Neverland ranch and many on-line albums on photo sharing websites that have been uploaded by visitors to Michael Jackson's zoo. In every picture I could find, there are none where the animals are roaming.

It makes financial sense that the zoo keepers would keep potentially dangerous animals from having access to visitors. A zoo accident could have been costly. But given Michael Jackson's enormous wealth, the grounds could and should have been equiped like a sanctuary, where his exotic pets could have lived in a humane setting while on display. The Neverland grounds, even in their decayed and delapidated state, look like what they are: a children's amusement park which also had zoo animals in cages. The zoo area, was just that--a zoo, and as far as zoos go, not a very pleasant one for its captives.

"It reminds me of the pictures you see coming out of Guantanamo," said Jack Stevens. "Elephants are highly social, intelligent, sentient beings. To house a single elephant in a concrete cell is cruel. Let's not forget that the elephant who was confined in a tiny stall had his/her own family and friends and no doubt longed for them but was denied because of the selfishness of humans."

I spoke with Jane Garrison, an animal advocate and contributing author of "Elephants and Ethics" (Johns Hopkins Press). While she was running an international program to protect elephants ten years ago, she was so concerned about a paricular elephant at Michael Jackson's zoo, she contacted the Neverland veterinarian.

"I was horrified that this incredibly social animal was being housed alone and I contacted Michael Jackson's representative to get the elephant moved to a sanctuary, " said Ms. Garrison. "They live their entire lives with their mothers, their sisters, their aunts... so no amount of space could make up for this. Keeping a female elephant alone is actually the cruelest thing you can do to her."

"I tried to get them to retire that elephant and the vet wouldn't budge," continued Ms. Garrison. "They have job security by having an elephant there. Any vet who approves of a female elephant being alone certainly does not have the best interest of the animal at heart."

Ms. Garrison added that even the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums), which is regarded with disdain by the animal rights community for acrediting confinement of animals, is against the housing of a lone female elephant. "There is no way to humanely keep an elephant in captivity when you consider their physical and social needs," she said.

On July 1, CNN issued a report that featured Bubbles, the Chimpanzee Jackson brought on tour with him in the 80's. When Bubbles became "too difficult" (Bubbles bit a hole in Quincy Jone's daughter's hand) he was returned to the trainer who originally bought him from a facility in Texas that breeds chimps for research. The trainer handed Bubbles over to the Great Apes Sanctuary in Florida, where he is retired and thriving with other chimpanzees. As in the case of other Neverland animals, he was surrendered with no endowment for their care.

Fans of Michael Jackson insist he loved Bubbles but a more skeptical look at TMZ photos of Bubbles' former cage reveals that he lived in a zoo, not a sanctuary. He lived a solitary existence in a cage when he wasn't on display. Chimpanzees are social animals and thrive in a naturalistic environment with other chimpanzees. Bubbles was dressed like a toddler and treated like a living toy for Michael Jackson's pleasure. He is certainly happier now, climbing and enjoying the company of friends, not gawkers.

According to the London Standard, two of Michael Jackson's tigers did not find buyers when his zoo animals were auctioned. Tipi Hedren, who is the mother of actress Melanie Griffith, adopted the tigers after animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) broke the news of the deplorable conditions the animals were living under.

"They, as did 98% of the animals requiring sanctuary at the Shambala Preserve, came with no bank account or dowry," said Tipi Hedren. "As a sanctuary, that's what we do. We rescue exotic felines who have been born in the U.S. to be sold as pets or for commercial use. It is a grave human error to acquire a wild animal as a pet."

Certainly, the desire to own or have dominion over dangerous wild animals has psychological implications. Psychologist, author and animal advocate Jana Kohl told me she wanted to cry when she saw the pictures of Michael Jackon's zoo enclosures. Her opinion of the zoo includes the psychic suffering its owner.

"The physical and emotional abuse Joe Jackson inflicted upon his son, including objectifying Michael as if he were a possession, merely there for his own narcissistic needs, was sadly something Michael repeated himself," said Dr. Kohl. "He thoughtlessly acquired exotic living beings whose own needs were secondary to his insatiable child-like drive to collect and display as many prized possessions as he could, like the priceless objets d'art he bought by the truckloads. The animals were there for his amusement, and whether or not they suffered in cramped or unnatural conditions appeared to be something he was incapable of recognizing. If Michael had spent a fraction of his fortune in therapy, understanding and mourning his painful past, he would have likely made different and more conscious choices, including being able to empathize with creatures who have no voice, just as he had no voice as a child, other than the one he created for performing."

Michael Jackson might have professed to love animals but upon closer inspection, his relationship to them was less than loving. You don't sell your pets when you tire of them. Nor should you buy pets that you can't commit to for their lifetime. A responsible pet guardian makes arrangements for their care.

Michael Jackson used wild animals for his entertainment and as a lure to delight the children he wanted to surround himself with and then he abandoned them, both financially and emotionally.

Supposedly unable to care for his private zoo as a result of "financial troubles," Jackson continued his lavish spending right until the end, where he was leasing a California castle for $100,000 a month while his former animals, the ones lucky enough to live in sanctuaries, depend on donations from the public.

As the public waits to discover the specific contents of the Michael Jackson family trust, a private document that instructs how his assets are to be allocated, some of us in the animal protection movement hope that a few dollars will go towards the animals he abandoned. So far, the details released to the press are as follows: 40% to his mother. 40% to his children. The remaining 20% is to be distributed to undisclosed children's charities.

Nothing to animals.

Michael Jackson never visited Bubbles once he gave him away. Maybe John Branca, the executor of his estate, will throw him a banana.

Carole Raphaelle Davis is the author of "The Diary of Jinky, Dog of a Hollywood wife" and West Coast Director of The companion Animal Protection Society

ShareThis