My first protest

I now receive emails and text messages from various local animal organizations regarding ongoing demonstrations/protests regarding adopting animals, fur-free campaigns, and efforts to close down cruel pet shops. In an effort to encourage people to stay away from puppy stores, due to the fact that these puppies are force-bred in very inhumane conditions in puppy mills. Often, these puppy mills are not health or government regulated, and the puppies and the poor dogs that breed them are extremely malnourished and often starving. Not to mention, they're crammed in tight cages and almost never have healthy human contact.

There are millions of dogs and cats killed every year, due to the demand of pure breeds, hence why puppy mills are in business.

I wanted to contribute to spread this great message to ADOPT, DON'T SHOP! and so I showed up to the Meadows Mall on the Saturday before Christmas, otherwise known as the busiest day at puppy stores. They sell a large volume of puppies and other animals because people buy them for Christmas presents.

Meanwhile, dogs and cats and other animals are begging to be adopted and placed in a loving home so their fateful day of euthanization never comes. It's a never-ending vicious cycle that I pray I hope to see end in my lifetime.

I have had the pleasure of meeting many people that volunteer and work towards shutting down puppy stores and puppy mills, and it's such a blessing to see their hard work pay off when they do close their doors. There are often demonstrations outside puppy stores here in the valley....and I plan to attend one soon. The owners of these stores know what they're doing; they know they're contributing to this crisis and they know they're selling sick animals to innocent, often ignorant, people.

My sign read "Adopt a Puppy" ----I didn't want to write anything offensive, but rather encouraging. I realize a lot of people are unaware that you can adopt a sweet chihuahua or dachshund or golden retriever, etc at the shelter for hundreds less and they're healthy. The dogs at the Vegas shelters are often $50-200...no more. This includes a free bag of food, free vet check-up, all shots, and a microchip. On the other hand, from a pet store, you are buying a sick puppy that you'll likely have to nourish back to health, with the added bonus of expensive vet bills and worry/stress.

PLEASE: IF YOU'RE THINKING OF GETTING A NEW FURRY BEST FRIEND, PLEASE ADOPT. IF YOU LIVE IN A CITY WITH NEARLY EMPTY SHELTERS ,LOOK AT PETFINDER.COM, A NEARBY SPCA WEBSITE OR THE ASPCA WEBSITE (AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS) OR OTHER WEBSITES (THEY'RE ARE PLENTY) THAT WILL ADOPT TO A PERSON OUT-OF-STATE. DO WHAT YOU CAN TO HELP DEFEAT THIS CRISIS!!!

God Bless!
Alexis