Puppy Mill Protest in Reno on Saturday

Organizers are expecting a large turnout at Saturday's anti-puppy mill demonstration in Reno at the corner of Neil Rd and S. Virginia Street from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

"The event is being called to show the Reno and Sparks City Councils and the Washoe County Commission that citizens mean business when it comes to a ban on the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in retail stores in Reno, Sparks and Incline Village," stated Billy Howard, Founding Organizer for the popular initiative Puppy Mill Free Reno/Sparks/Washoe.

"Let the Saturday rush drivers know it's time to end the sales of animals that come from the despicable "mill industry," which are factory-farms where dogs are considered livestock, treated as commodities and nothing more than non-stop birthing-machines. Dogs deserve better treatment than a life totally confined to a cage that can be as small as 6" from their noses without proper veterinary and dental care and grooming. We want the people of Reno to know it's better to adopt, not to shop."

Those who wish to participate should park in the Home Depot or Kinkos lot. Specified areas are designated for the demonstration and participants will be guided to them.

“Bring noise makers: whistles, horns, even pots and pans to bang. Make a sign, paint a tee shirt or hat or a puppet and come join us! This is a celebration of puppy, kitty and rabbit mill awareness in Reno. We have little cause to be angry, but very happy that the three government agencies are moving in positive directions on this issue. So let's celebrate and get even more people onboard with our positive message!” stated Howard.

Howard also emphasizes the ground rules for a successful demonstration. "We'll stick to the public sidewalk. We won't obstruct automobile or foot traffic if someone needs to get by. We'll wrap around the southwest corner near Taco Bell. If there's a driveway we'll split the line up to keep the area clear. We have to make sure the firehydrants are clear for 15 feet."

The grassroots group, made up of like-minded individuals, organizations and businesses, is asking the three government agencies of the Truckee Meadows to enact a similar ban that has been sweeping the country in 48 municipalities so far. Staff members in all three agencies are developing language for an ordinance which will be voted on over the next few months.

Puppy Mill Free Reno/Sparks/Washoe has gathered over 6300 signatures in support of the ban with a thriving Facebook community of nearly 2000.

Forty-four businesses and organizations have endorsed the movement including retail stores such as Cafe DeLuxe, The Seed and The Studio, Chapel of the Bells, A Doggie's Dream, Natural Paws, Healthy Tails, Sage Veterinary Care, The Cozy Cattery, Training By PJ, Dog Gone Amazing, Great Full Gardens, jüs, Feline Rescue of Northern Nevada and the Nevada Humane Society.

Big box stores such as PetSmart and PetCo long ago stopped selling dogs, cats and rabbits and regularly host adoption events while providing the supplies for a new companion.

Across North America 48 municipalities have passed similar laws, including South Lake Tahoe, the second town in the country to enact a "puppy-mill free" ordinance. San Diego, Phoenix and Chicago have passed laws in the past few months. Multiple municipalities across the region of south Florida have enacted the ban on the sale of dogs, cats, rabbits.

A sister organization, Puppy Mill Free Nevada, hopes bans throughout Northern Nevada including Reno, Sparks, Incline Village of Washoe County, Carson City and the towns of Douglas County will garner national attention for the area which is known as one of the most animal-friendly in the country because of the low-to-no kill shelters in Washoe and Douglas counties.

We hope to soon see the headline, "From South Florida to Northern Nevada, puppy mill stores are not welcomed."

Puppy, kitten and rabbit "mill" is the term used for large-scale farms where animals are kept in mass in small cages, often barely big enough for them to turn around in. Multiple reports from a number of nationally funded non-profits show that typically the animals have to sit, stand and sleep on the wires of their cages in filthy conditions their entire lives. Because these animals are used solely for income purposes, veterinary care is rarely given nor do the animals ever know a kind touch. They never leave their cage except to give birth to puppies that are often taken away too soon. Because of the concentration and close proximity and the fact that females are kept pregnant every possible heat cycle, the animals are often virally or genetically sickly, poorly socialized and their litters can be frail from inbreeding and common kennel viruses such as parvo.

According to the Humane Society of the United States nearly every animal sold in retail pet stores comes from 10,000 puppy mills across the country.

Responsible breeders who aren't mass producers are not affected by the proposed ban because very few such breeders sell to retail stores and prefer to deal directly with their customers. Internet sales of animals became much more strict since the USDA implemented new rules last September, showing that this concern is being addressed on a federal level as well as locally.

"Washoe County is widely known as the most successful "no-kill" shelter in the country. It only stands to reason that our area join the trend to end the suffering of tens of thousands of animals. The benefit to taxpayers could come down the road as more animals will be spayed or neutered before being welcomed into people's homes, thus reducing the feral animal problem in the future," concluded Howard.