Help Protect Animals in our Community

We all want to help protect animals in our community but sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to figure out how. Here are three easy ways you can help.

1. Say no to puppy mills. Concerns arose recently when Pik-A-Pup Kennel in Holliston and Laughlin Kennels in Oxford were found to have bought dogs from Iowan breeder J. Maassen Inc., who the Humane Society included on its list of the 100 worst puppy mill breeders in the country.

Senator Spilka filed the Act to Protect Puppies and Kittens to require breeders to follow stronger regulations and to ensure pet stores don't work with breeders who have violated animal welfare regulations. The bill passed in the Senate and needs your support in the House.

How you can help: Email or call you House Representative today and ask them to support the bill.

2. Sign the petition against reinstating the Greyhound Friends kennel license. The greyhound adoption group Greyhound Friends was found to be neglecting sick and injured dogs, according to a disturbing report by the Mass Department of Agricultural Resources. The state temporarily closed the kennel in January 2017 after inspectors found unsafe and unsanitary conditions on multiple occasions. A reporter also uncovered records showing that Greyhound Friends has had decades of animal welfare violations.

Despite this, the organization is seeking to get its license back.

How you can help: Ask the Board of Selectmen not to reinstate the kennel license.

3. Get the facts when getting your next family pet. You can adopt dogs of virtually any breed through animal rescues. Sites like Petfinder even allow you to search for dogs by breed.

If you choose to work with a breeder, here are some tips on ensuring that you are doing so responsibly and are not supporting a puppy mill.

How you can help: Get the facts about where your dog came from before you adopt or buy your next family pet.