I have heard from literally hundreds of you about our Puppymills stories. One thing is very clear. Residents of this state feel very strongly about how these despicable mills are run and how the dogs in them are treated. I thought I would share some of the emials with you.
Hello,
I just want to take a moment to thank you for your very important investigative report on the horrible situations in puppy mills in Wisconsin. I have seen firsthand what the mills can do to a dog. I know someone who got a puppy mill rescue 2 years ago, and this dog still won't let her touch him, he is so afraid. It is so terribly sad.
It is an outrage that this still goes on in 2007 in the state of Wisconsin!
Thank you again for this important coverage.
Sincerely,
Mary Jo
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I want to thank you for your disturbing story about the puppy mills in Wisconsin. Your story moved me to tears. As an active member of WAAGR (Wisconsin Adopt A Golden Retriever) we are constantly involved with the rescue & re-homing of puppy mill dogs, and the bred-out mothers. If possible please provide me with information of who to contact to get our Wisconsin legislators informed, alerted & motivated.
Kris
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WAAGR
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I live in Milwaukee and saw the channel 4 report on the news last night and it darn near broke my heart. When I saw that poor puppy with the chewed foot I wanted to jump through the TV screen and really give it to that breeder that said he didn’t come from her. Until a year ago, I was not a fan of dogs. I was afraid of the teeth and temperaments, despite having grown up with dogs all my life. A friend of my husband has two German shepherds that he bred, just the once, and not for profit. We have one of those pups, Justice, who is now a happy healthy one-year-old boy. That boy changed my life and how I look at dogs. Because of Justice, I see dogs in a different light.
When I was a child, I had a dachshund of my own. He belonged to my grandmother but when she came to live with us, Heine (pronounced Hiney) took to me and became “my” dog. I loved him like nothing I have ever loved in my life. I had a much older cousin that lived with grandma long before she came to live with us and my beloved Heine truly belonged to him. So, one day after grandma died, Joey came to the door drunk and drugged out to collect his dog. Years later, I came to find out that this monster of a human abused my dog, punching him and kicking him, put out cigarettes on Heine. It broke my heart and I still think about Heine to this day and how if my parents had stood up to Joey, stood up for Heine he could have lived out the rest of his days with me happy and warm in our home. Joey killed that little dog I later discovered and I haven’t been the same since. I still harbor guilt over not fighting for Heine. Even as a kid, I believe I could have done something. Thinking about Heine still makes me cry.
Fast forward to Christmas 2006. My husband arrives home late from work one night with a tiny shivering bundle and gently sets it on the floor. Out from the puff of blanket pops this tiny tail wagging ball of love, a nine-week-old mini dachshund. Tom (my husband) remembered the story of my poor Heine and knew that one day, I wanted another one. A co-worker of his shows dachshunds and had breed her two champions. I feel it was cosmic intervention that he was there at that time to bring this beautiful little girl to me. It was love at first sight and she immediately came to me and has been mine since that moment. Her name is Merlin’s Magic Disco Ball, or Disco for short. She is the highlight of my day every day.
When I saw the piece on the news last night I knew I had to do something. I saw that poor little dachshund with “the belly full of worms” and I remembered my cherished Heine and the tears began to fall once more. I need to know how I can go about adopting that dog from the ones that were rescued from that puppy mill. I feel in my soul that this is my chance to bring justice for Heine, for me to take a stand and do something about it. My hands are no longer small, they are no longer tied they are open and ready for love. I don’t care the cost or the time or the heartbreak that comes with this job, I know I have to do this. I have tried to find a way to contact the woman from the news story that rescued those puppies but I have been unsuccessful. I am reaching out to you to please help me find her (her name is Teri Woodchuck). Help me give a chance to that puppy, give me a chance to make a difference in his life.
Kym
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Hi John,
Great job on the puppy mill story. It really made my blood boil to watch it. The woman you confronted that said she would "call the cops" is a real piece of work. I wish people like that would end up behind bars. ?
Again, great work.
John S.
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Mr. Mercure and the I Team staff:
Thank you so very much for bringing to light the deplorable situation right here in Wisconsin regarding the horrible way that some individuals are treating these helpless creatures. Importantly now is how can those of us as a community of believers that this is wrong bring about a change at the government level. I implore those of you who are covering this story at tmj4 to not let this issue die after the story has been told. I believe that collectively we can make a change and that having you and your team as direct leaders for making this change may make all the difference.
Linda
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Thank you so much for doing this story!! I live in the Northern part of the state and a friend emailed it to me. I volunteer with dog rescues some around the state and tell anyone who will listen to get educated before buying a pet, know your breeder. I applaud you for caring enough to give these silent critters a voice.
Puppy Haven is for sale. If money were not the problem I'd buy it and close it down.
Shayla
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Just want to thank John Mercure and the rest of your staff for the OUTSTANDING investigative report on Puppy Mills in Wisconsin.I commend TMJ 4 for taking a stand in uncovering this sickening business and for making it a lead story. I am a volunteer at a local animal shelter and cannot thank you enough for educating the public on what goes on 'behind the scenes' in this inhumane industry. Reports like yours are invaluable in helping to put an end to something that should already have been outlawed.
YOU HAVE EARNED A LOYAL VIEWER - THANK YOU!!!
Sheila
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Thank you for having the knack and nerve to cover a topic, puppy mills, which are disgusting, unethical, and unfortunately, widespread. More news organizations need to bring this issue to light so that legislation can be passed.
Many thanks,
Bob and Ann
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Thank you so much for exposing the horrible conditions suffered by the cute puppies in pet stores. No reputable breeder would sell their littler to a store where they could not keep track of their puppies. But, in today's world, people are impatient and want what they want now. Why wait for a puppy with a contract that says that if you don't want to keep your dog, for any reason, you must return it to the breeder. If the contract is broken and the dog ends up in a shelter or rescue, a responsible breeder will pay to get their dog back and restore it to good health. Selling a puppy is a life long commitment if you are an ethical breeder.
I sincerely hope that tonight's story will expose the wreched conditions suffered by the puppies raised as "cash crops" for the Amish in our state. Pity the puppies born there. They receive no vet care, no immunizations, and no socialization. Many of these unfortunate babies end up in rescue. Luckily, unlike Missouri, Wisconsin does not have the scourge of the dog auctions of the overbred females, females in whelp, and the deformed. How many of these poor unfortunates end their days in research or worse, and eventually become an ingredient in dog food?
Thank you so much for this important story.
Sincerely,
Barbara
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You don't know how much I appreciate your story on WI Puppy Mills. I wish we could put an end to this once and for all, but I know that won't happen. There is far to much money in selling puppies in Wisconsin as well as the entire United States. There are also the families who purchase a dog and want to have puppies so their children "can experience birth" which also adds to the animal population in our state. This issue will then snowball when those children turn into adults becuase they want their children to "have the same experience".
If nothing else happens from the story, you have served a huge purpose in the education of the public on what is really happening. I see this day in and day out in my hobby as being involved in rescue. My dream someday would be to have to shut down our rescue organization and close the doors of our foster homes because there are no dogs that need rescuing.
Thank you for your coverage and keep up the good work. You will help to make our jobs easier when we educate the public at our events, pet fairs, expos and meet & greets when we talk about why there is a need for rescues in Wisconsin.
Thank you again,
Deb Lukasik, President
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Hi John,
I saw your special report last night on the Puppy Mills in Wisconsin. As an advent dog lover I was appalled that Governor Doyle would see fit to give these irresponsible dog breeders card blanch to run their kennels with no regulations! What is this state coming to!
I have lived here all my life and am shocked and a shamed that Wisconsin allows these puppy mills to stay in business without any regulations or penalties!
Thank G-d for you John and TMJ 4 I TEAM, for giving these helpless puppies and dogs a voice.
This is a situation that can not be allowed to continue.
Looking forward to seeing your report tonight. And finding out I can help save the pups!
Sincerely,
Renee
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John,
I caught your piece last night on the deplorable puppy mill situation. Unbelievable! I'd like to place that woman from Puppy Haven in one of her own cages.
I am wondering if you could advise people on how to contact their legislators to put a stop to this horrible practice here. Governor Doyle needs to revisit this issue. Every night your station does stories on crime and shootings in Milwaukee and I am quite frankly unfazed. Your story however hit a nerve. Please pursue this story like your predator series, animal abuse is serious stuff and needs to be stopped.
Thanks.
Steve
WHAT DO YOU THINK? LET ME KNOW. jmercure@todaystmj4.com
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