This post is part of Be the Change for Animals, a quarterly blog hop focused on animal welfare.

I was undecided as to what to post about today.  Until my sister’s dog, Bandit went missing.

Typically one wouldn’t think a lost dog would be a cause to write about concerning changes in animal welfare.

Except Bandit isn’t just a dog.  You see Bandit came from a Puppy Mill. This is Bandit’s story as I remember it.

Twelve years ago when my sister decided she wanted a Jack-Rat (Jack Russell/Rat Terrier) she found a ‘breeder’ in North Carolina.  Excited she and her husband drove to Virginia to spend the weekend with friends and then my sister and her friend, drove from Virginia to North Carolina to pick up her puppy.

My sister was horrified when she got to the ‘breeder’s’ home.  There were cages, upon filthy cages chock full of dogs.  The ‘breeder’ took her past these cages on their way to the Jack-Rats.  My sister noticed one cage where a dog lay dead, just hanging out of the crate.  The ‘breeder’ said, “Oh, she died having puppies this morning, I haven’t had the time to clean out the cage.”

My sister was appalled.  When she got to the crate containing the Jack-Rat’s raised her hand and pointed, “I’ll take that one.”

And so Bandit came to live with my sister.

It’s important to note that Bandit did not know how to walk on a floor.  He’d never had the opportunity.  He spent his entire young life in a wire crate.  And he’s never been in one since.  He’s terrified of the crate and when my sister attempted to put him in one he lost his stuff.

Typically when a dog goes missing you can set up a humane trap, and the dog can be lured in with food.  We’re almost certain Bandit would never go into one of these Have a Heart traps.  He’s too afraid.

So my sister and brother-in-law have to hope that at some point Bandit will either find his way home or relax enough to allow someone to get close enough to snag him.  The good news is he’s been spotted near a farm just a 1/2 mile down the road from my sister.  The bad news is so far he’s eluded capture, and he’s spending his time in the wilds of New Hampshire where some dangerous predators also live.  

Bandit’s story is important to Blog the Change for Animals because his story sheds light on a very unsavory section of animal welfare.  Puppy mills.

I want to be clear here.  There is a difference between responsible breeders and puppy mill breeders.  

• A responsible breeder screens purchasers of their puppies and almost always has some type of application or contract when you purchase that puppy.  
• A responsible breeder will take the puppy back if health or behavioral issues arise.
• A responsible breeder would NEVER allow their dogs to be sold in pet stores.  

Which means the puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy millers. 

Many areas of the country are taking steps to prohibit puppies from being sold by pet stores.

So how can you help?

• Educate people about responsible breeders, whether it be on your social media resources or in person.
• Find out if there’s a local chapter that advocates for stronger animal welfare laws.  CT has an advocating organization called Connecticut Votes for Animals. I signed up to receive e-mail alerts when a law regarding animals is coming up for a vote. Not only do I know when a vote is coming up, they also tell me what action I can take to facilitate the passage of the bill.  Because of organizations like CVFA, CT recently passed a law prohibiting chaining a dog out 24/7.  
• Contact your state representative and ask how you can get involved.

If we can stop pet stores from selling puppies, we can shut down some of these mills.  

If we can educate people about responsible breeders, we can shut down some of these mills.

If we speak up for those who have no voices, we CAN be the change for animals. 

Together we CAN be the change for dogs like Bandit.