You can end this cruelty now

In the past few weeks, the provincial government and your local representatives have been inundated with emails and letters deploring the non-existent or extremely lenient legislation which allows for these despicable puppy mills to continue existing in this province.

As the news has gotten out, as the media has exposed the cruelty that takes place, as images of emaciated and barely alive pups have greeted viewers on the evening news, people have started to open their eyes and demand that their provincial and federal representatives do something to put an end to this. Now.

Petitions are circulating, the outrage is spreading and politicians are starting to listen, because we have given them no choice. When you start screaming loudly and persistently and in large numbers, sometimes the government has no choice but to listen to you.

As poet Maya Angelou, once said: "When you know better, you do better". People have now been informed of the atrocities that take place in our own backyard and can no longer claim, in good conscience, that they are not aware. The SPCA has been flooded with people calling to volunteer, to donate their time and their money, to adopt the seized pups.

Now, more than ever, is the time to apply pressure to our provincial and federal governments and make sure, once and for all, that the legislation changes so situations like this are never allowed to occur again. There's only so much kind-hearted animal lovers can do individually to ease the pain and suffering inflicted by these despicable puppy mill operators. A change of legislation is the only concrete, long-term way to make sure that the law will never be on their side again and animal abuse on this horrendous scale will be prosecuted to the maximum degree.

The Humane Society has a petition going. Go to www.thepetitionsite.com and add your name to the list. Print the petition, take it to your office, go around your neighborhood, ask as many friends and coworkers as you know to sign it. We can make a difference! We can force them to listen to us. We can change these anachronistic, anemic and impotent laws and replace them with something much more unforgiving. Enough is enough!