Animal rights activists don’t purchase animals at pet stores!
February 2nd, 2007 by admin
An odd “animal rights” protest, led by actor Mickey Rourke, took place yesterday in Miami Beach. Local media referred to Mr. Rourke as an “animal rights advocate,” but his actions were nothing an activist would be proud of. Last Christmas, Mr. Rourke purchased a Chihuahua for $1,100 at a pet store called Hot Dog Puppies, as a gift for a friend. This wasn’t the first dog that he purchased from the store, but this one died shortly after of parvovirus. Thus, the protest.
At the protest, Mr. Rourke was quoted, ‘’There is no excuse for abusive treatment of animals.'’ Of course, we agree, and he has good reason to be angry. But he shouldn’t be surpised that an animal purchased from a pet store wasn’t healthy. Behind the pretty store-front of pet stores are cruel breeding farms (”puppy mills”) that often keep animals in deplorable conditions. Pet stores are a business, and profit always comes before the welfare of animals.
(According to the Florida Department of Agriculture, there have been other complaints about sick dogs purchased at Hot Dog Puppies.)