I'd wanted to write about something cheery.  Something to do with life; not death, hope; not useless killings, as well as something that might touch you, make you feel good about life.  Maybe even make you laugh.  I may come close to some of these goals, in telling you about Rachel.  Not the one with Depression and Cancer, but another Rachel.  One who has been fighting for the rights of our best friends, dogs and unless you are Sarah Palin, who hates 'em, cats.

For two years, she's been part of a crusade against Monster(ous) Pets.  Like Petco, it is a big box supply store of various animal products and sundries.  However, Petco does not sell dogs or cats.  The store on Aramingo often has cages with rescue cats 'n' kittens up for adoption.  There is a Greyhound (dog, not bus) Rescue that is there most week-ends.  Monster Pets?  They're selling the animals that might end up homeless at Petco.

See, the difference is, the Monster sells domestic animals for no good reason.  Only one person should be able to sell animals, and that is an invested, informed, caring, properly credentialed breeder.  One example would be my friend Bruce.  He's owned Belgian Bouviers/Bouveirs De Flandres for so long, he's known as Bruce Bouvier.  He is a fierce owner.  He trains those animals for months at a time.  He takes them through paces over open-grid bridges, by tractor-trailers, and other high stress situations.

He teaches them commands in Greek, halting the possibility of a casual person saying, "Come on Lassie!"  His animals, if put in a stay command, will.  Cricket told me about Heara, who sat in a car loaded up with trays of pretzals.  She didn't even  look at them for the half hour that Bruce left her with them.  Me?  I'd have snuck at least one.  Maybe more if there was a good mustard on hand.

So he decided to breed her.  She was blond, with dark tips on her ears.  Zeus, his previous dog, had been all black.  When she gave birth to a litter that ended up being ten, they were degrees of honey, with Cleopatra markings around their eyes.  Cricket and I spent a lot of time over there hanging with these bundles.  I snuck one into my jersey, as it was just about the size of my big arse breasts.  But, they were wise to me.  And me, I tend to getting my familiars off the street or from shelters, whilst Cricket has found the same to be true of her dogs.

Bruce had two things on his mind in placing this brood.  Making sure the puppy was socialized enough to leave.  But more important, he "vetted" the potential owner.  He didn't want any of his herd to go to some one willing to cough up the $1000 to $1500 for an animal.  He made sure to see them, their place and make inquiries about them and their background.  He didn't place all of them, just for this reason.  But that is a choice of a caring breeder.  My parents, fond of Siamese, recently adopted two older cats from a breeder, because the breeder knew they cared about the animal, rather than the age.

But anyway, here's the deal.  Monster(ous) Pets does not need to sell puppies.  If Petco can place rescue animals, why not the Monster?  People spend more money on their pets than they do on car insurance, gym memberships, fashion and decent haircuts.  Maybe I exaggerate, but you get the picture.  You could make a nice toy out of foil bunched up, or paper, but we buy multi-coloured feathers on elastic tied to a plastic pole.  Stuffed animals, at a thrift store for a dollar, are regularly sold for five at a pet store.  Catch my drift?

Particularly in this (secret) Depression, we should tighten our belts.  One way would be to get our dogs and cats from rescues.  It generally costs fifty bucks, which includes neutering, shots and the entire animal.  You should know also, if you're into Pure Breeds, that a lot of them are showing up in shelters.  More than before the (secret) Depression.  I 'm part of an online net-work that helps place surrendered and abandoned animals.  We're seeing two year old Akitas along with Cavelier King Charles.  So, why would you support a store that sells animals bred in puppy mills?

That's right, MONSTER PETS SELLS PUPPY MILLS PUPPIES.  Given the lack of treatment, socialization, caring, nurturing, exercise that a normal pup would experience, this may be the worst purchase of your life.  (Aside of say, a bag of crack, that got you addicted and you went down a path not envisioned by anyone, including yourself envisioned.  But I digress).


On the 25th of October, rain or shine, there is a protest rally in West Philly.  I'll be there with Griffin, my best friend's dog whom I'm taking care of for the week-end.  Griffin may be going on seven now.  We're not sure.  When Cricket chose him, in the SPCA shelter, they said he was perhaps a year old.  He's mostly black Lab, with a hint of Pitt.  But for me, he is the first dog I have ever loved.  To the point where I, lazy as I am, could see the beauty of walking a dog three times a day.  Which I never understood, until Cricket was injured.  Which too many people will not understand.

Animals are work, dogs need work.  But most important, our work, which means for us making money and hopefully satisfying us in some small measure, is not to profit of those with no voice.  Like animals.  A sincere breeder may be that voice.  But Monster Pets?  I think not.  Please join us in this rally if you can.  I'll be dressed in black, with Griffin, who is black.  But he sports a pink collar.  If you spot us, come up and we'll sniff each others', hmn, perfume!