48 replies to this topic

[Columbia MO]

Hi all,

I'm not affiliated with any BC rescue, but am one of the people that had stepped forward to foster a Border Collie from the group of 40 or so that were surrendered by Awesome Border Collies last week.

It turns out the the Missouri Dept. of Agriculture, in an effort to support puppy "agriculture," will not be offering any of these dogs to a rescue. Instead, the dogs/puppies are being offered unspayed and unneutered on a first come, first serve basis for $30 each. Commercial breeders are welcome to adopt, but anybody affiliated with a rescue is not. They started selling the dogs today, and were careful to NOT alert any of the rescue people that have been following this case. I have been told that most of the adopters have been local farmers (whether sheep farmers or puppy mill farmers is still an open question).

The dogs are being held at a Springfield MO area puppy mill auction place (http://www.onlinepetauction.com). They have already sold 11 of the dogs today, and there are two more buyers coming later today. I'm located 3 hours away and can't get there before they close, but am taking the day off work tomorrow and going to adopt at least one of these dogs myself. I'm hoping that every Missouri BC lover on this list who possibly can will join me in adopting one of these dogs.

The holding facility is located off Hwy 76 and the physical address is Route 1, Box 9D, Rocky Comfort, MO 64861. They are open normal business hours.

Note that MO Dept. of Ag. will ONLY sell dogs to people that are NOT affiliated with rescues and will NOT consider selling a dog to somebody that is acting as a foster home for a rescue. You must be willing to KEEP the puppy or dog that you adopt.

If you have any questions, you can call John Cupps, MO Dept. of Ag. at (417) 489-1214, or the puppy mill auction place at (417) 652-7540. Be courteous--both of these people were very nice when I talked to them on the phone. You can also reach me personally at k9shrink@prodigy.net.

Columbia, MO

[laurie etc]

Originally posted by Columbia MO:
The dogs are being held at a Springfield MO area puppy mill auction place (http://www.onlinepetauction.com). They have already sold 11 of the dogs today, and there are two more buyers coming later today.... You must be willing to KEEP the puppy or dog that you adopt.

UNBELIEVABLE!! AND SO VERY SAD!

[Kitch]

"we're from the government and we're here to help..."

How to make a bad situation much, much worse! This is an outrage!

[Cody's pop]

and the cycle begins again......

I wonder how many of these dogs we'll see in rescue, or on the nightly news in seizures.
This just strengthens my very low opinion of both government AND most human beings.
How could they......

[Carson Crazies]

When I read this I just want to sit down and cry. Matter of fact I believe I will.

Unbelievable.

[Rebecca, Irena Farm]

Normally I'm cheering to see the states support the small family farm but UGH.

So, stupid question - how bad did it have to be that the state removed the dogs, only to turn them back over to OTHER commercial breeders? OR maybe they heard a rumor that Awesome was really a rescuer, which seems to be the only true evil in the state's mind?

[Odin's Momma]

=O

That just made me physically ill =x

[scouts_human]

Reading that makes me sick to stomach and brought tears to my eyes. I was truly hoping to be able to offer one of these dogs a wonderful, loving forever home.
Seems like the MO Dept. of Ag. does not care about these poor dogs, or what is best for them. If they truly cared they would have released them to rescuers not to any this auction place the will give them to any old person that hands over $30.
I think I'll go hug my boy now...

[laurie etc]

Here's what I did for my part - and I hope it helps, if even one dog. I just forwarded the abbreviated story and Missouri state's contact information to every single person in my address book who might have a dog-savvy aquaintance or relative in Missouri. If we all do that, maybe people will hear about it, and the dogs will at least have a chance to be "purchased" by non- "commercial breeders". The thought of this makes me want to gag. Those poor dogs, out of the frying pan and into the fire!

[donna frankland (uk)]

oh my gods!!!!!!!
i honestly cant believe they are doing this!
will they keep hold of details from people who buy a dog off them? if not perhaps you guys can all lie and get some into decent homes?
i so wish i was nearer but i cant do anything to help

[Miztiki]

This is disgusting. Totally disgusting.

Why in the heck would they specifically not want these dogs to go to a rescue organization? Totally and absolutely disgusting and makes me sick.

[Eileen Stein]

If this is true, I don't understand what the downside would be in trying to interest the media in this story.

[Kitch]

I agree...it can only help to draw attention to it (maybe more so if media outlets outside of the state were contacted??)

[CollieKat]

Why the heck are they using this as a quick fix whenever the dogs have rescue people willing to help?! I don't understand this at all and I can only imagine that this sort of haphazard rehoming attempt will result in the dogs being returned later down the line by owners who aren't BC savvy.

This galls me. It really does...

[muggs]

I'm trying to figure out what they would have against rescue organizations. Could it be because they are nonprofit? Is it as pathetic as a small amount of money that is motivating them?

[Odin's Momma]

What can we do? I don't know anyone in the states, but I have many online friends, many of whom are from the states.

Should I pass on this information to them, tell this story?

God, I just wish there was something I could do!

[INU]

Did they remove the info from the site? I can't seem to find BCs.

web page

[-Jess-]

OMG!! That made me want to scream just reading. I have been through "smaller scale" experiences like this (rescues willing to help, government saying absolutely not) Makes me sick!! I'd like to type a few choice words right now..

Still sending good vibes to all those pups

[CoRayBee]

I just posted a question under the original Awesome Border Collies thread, maybe it should have gone here instead...what if everyone were to email the directors of the Mo. Dept of Agriculture and express their outrage? The email addresses are on the Dept's webpage- or check out my other post.

I don't know if it would make one iota of difference (generally once an idiot's mind is made up it's difficult to change it) but if enough people wrote, maybe it would get someone's attention?

edit: my sister and brother in law live in Kansas, so I emailed them to see if they know of anyone a bit closer who might be willing to "buy" some dogs...

[books]

This is absolutely disgusting!!! The poor dogs...... Has anyone alerted the media? Surely someone might find this story of interest.