Below is a copy of a letter published in today’s Sanford Herald:
To the Editor,
On behalf of everyone at Carolina Animal Rescue & Adoption (CARA) and our Caldwell County puppy mill survivors, we would like to thank the Sanford community for the tremendous support for these deserving dogs. We especially would like to thank the vets and staff of Myres Animal Hospital, Carolina Veterinary Hospital, All Animals Veterinary Hospital, and Willow Creek Animal Hospital for donating their time and services towards the extensive care these neglected pups required. A Cuter Pet Boutique donated grooming services and Dossenbach’s Furniture made a financial contribution and is holding a supply drive at their store for CARA. There have been many individuals that either made monetary donations or offered their homes to these dogs. Without the community’s support we could not take in special animals like these that require extra care and resources. For this we are genuinely grateful.
These dogs serve as a reminder that it is imperative to thoroughly research the breeder that you are considering buying from if you have your heart set on a purebred or “designer” breed puppy. Request to see where the puppies and the parents are being housed and how they are being treated. Mason Creek Kennels was selling puppies through the internet and shipping them all over the country. Unsuspecting buyers never knew that while the kennel operator was profiting from the puppies the adult breeding dogs were neglected and gravely suffering.
Everyday across the state of North Carolina 7 out of 10 pets entering public shelters do not leave alive. At any given time approximately 20-25% of shelter animals are purebred pets that have ended up homeless through no fault of their own. We strongly urge anyone looking to acquire a new pet to check their local shelters and rescue organizations.
Petfinder.com is a great resource that allows adopters to search adoptable pets by specific breeds, sizes, ages, and genders. Also, a simple internet search for a breed name and the word “rescue” will connect you with breed rescue groups that specialize in caring for and finding new homes for particular types of dogs.
While CARA and several other rescue groups are working diligently to rehabilitate and find wonderful homes for the 276 dogs from Mason Creek Kennels, there are countless others living in similar puppy mills throughout the state. You can help discontinue these poor breeding practices by contacting your local and state representatives and request that they support legislation to regulate commercial dog breeders that sell to the public. Without regulation, law enforcement has to wait until they can prove animal cruelty while the dogs suffer silently in deplorable conditions.
Abbey Lindauer
Posted by Carolina Animal Rescue & Adoption 
