puppy mill problems

[zpinkpanther]

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So I don't exactly have much of a reason for posting this, other than to vent a bit, I suppose. The clinic that I work for is pretty small: one full-time vet, his wife- the office manager, and 4-5 techs. I'm actually pretty close with the office manager, who is really my boss- we go shopping sometimes after work. I've been working there for almost 2 years and, since a little while before I started working there, the doctor has been pseudo-working with a guy who calls himself a breeder, but he actually gets the puppies from a puppy mill. I just recently confirmed this, although it's seen my suspicion all along that this was the case. Up until last October, the doctor just did exams on these puppies- the potential owners would could meet the man there, pay us for the exam and him for the puppy, and leave. This man brought puppies to meet people at least twice per week, sometimes 5 times per week.

In October, we started selling the puppies. The office manager (the vet's wife) sells them, saying that she works there, but she is just keeping them there and not selling them through the hospital. However, this is basically a front to keep from associating the doctor with any puppies that turned out badly. He's really the one who initiated selling puppies, and he's doing it as a means of getting extra money. We get the puppies from the aforementioned guy and sell them. I've been biting my tongue for going on 5 months now, and it's really starting to wear on me. I think this is wrong, but I really don't know what I can do about it. Any thoughts, comments, advice, words of wisdom?

 

[NittanyKitty]

Oh, wow. That's tough. That's definitely wrong, and you're in a difficult position as a result. I think you know that you have a responsibility to yourself to step away from this. Confrontations are hard, but the emotional toll this is taking on you is terrible. If it was me, I think I'd try to find another place to work because I'm not very good at confronting people about things like this, especially not someone who's older and more educated and experienced than me. The hard part is what to do ethically. Someone really needs to know what's going on.

Have you talked to them about the situation, or do you know anyone else who is aware of what's going on? Having an ally really helps with stuff like this.

 

[zpinkpanther]

Have you talked to them about the situation, or do you know anyone else who is aware of what's going on? Having an ally really helps with stuff like this.

I know one of my co-workers is aware of it and isn't okay with it; we've talked about it a bit when the doctor's not around. I know I could talk to my boss- his wife- about it, but I'm not sure if she'd be able to make him stop doing it. She does complain to me that he pressures her about selling them more quickly, but she's never discussed having an ethical issue with it. He's pretty set in his ways, which is why I'm not sure I can change what's going on.

When it first started, I thought either it wouldn't last long or I'd be able to grin and bear it until I leave for vet school in the fall. I would just leave, no questions asked, except A) I've been there for a pretty long time (there's only one girl who's been there longer than me), B) I wouldn't find a job where I make as much money, and my boss is pretty generous with raises, C) my boss has talked about hiring me out of vet school and D) I really like my co-workers and (most of the time) the doctor. But if this continues on like this, I may not have a choice because you're right, I can't just stand by and watch this happen.

 

[wi girl]

C) my boss has talked about hiring me out of vet school

I can't see you working here if you are having ethical problems with the doctor. Plus, you wouldn't want to get involved with that yourself, which he may pressure you into. Best bet: start looking for another place 🙁

 

[NittanyKitty]

You've got to think about yourself and what you can mentally take. I know it's tough to stand up to somebody that you genuinely like, but it sounds like this is ripping you apart. You probably aren't going to be able to change him, but staying around there isn't doing you any favors. I don't think you should even consider working with this situation again once you're out of vet school; that wouldn't be fair to you at all.

Try looking around for other jobs if you can. You might be able to find somewhere comparable that won't force you to deal with these kinds of issues.

 

[zpinkpanther]

Well, I was thinking that in 4 years or so they may not be doing it anymore, but I guess I can't count on that. Maybe if I discuss it with her and tell her I'll have to work elsewhere if this continues, the situation will change. I don't want to sound like I'm threatening them or giving them an ultimatum, but I guess if that's what it comes to, that's what I'll have to do. I know that they both value me as a worker, so maybe they'll value my opinion enough to at least reconsider what they're doing. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Pandacinny]

I'm in the same state you are it looks like, only I've been at an animal shelter for a few years.

This really, really bothers me. I would have to quit the job. I've seen waaayyy too many little puppy mill dogs and "designer" mixes and etc come through our doors in the past couple of years. Many of them have awful congenital issues, which is just heartbreaking.

Still, it's best to never burn bridges if you can help it. If you decide to confront the vet you work for and/or his wife, I would plan ahead and use some tact. Try to focus on how this puppy milling business makes you feel and why you can't support it without getting too personal or going into attack mode.

 

[zpinkpanther]

I'm in the same state you are it looks like, only I've been at an animal shelter for a few years.

This really, really bothers me. I would have to quit the job. I've seen waaayyy too many little puppy mill dogs and "designer" mixes and etc come through our doors in the past couple of years. Many of them have awful congenital issues, which is just heartbreaking.

Still, it's best to never burn bridges if you can help it. If you decide to confront the vet you work for and/or his wife, I would plan ahead and use some tact. Try to focus on how this puppy milling business makes you feel and why you can't support it without getting too personal or going into attack mode.

Oh, it super duper bothers me, too. Some of the puppies that this man sells to other people are as little as 0.5 lbs and 6 weeks, although he tells the people he sells them to that they're 8 weeks.

Thanks for your support, everyone. I'm looking online as we speak and tomorrow I'll pull out the trusty phone book and start asking around. I will tell them that this issue is why I'm leaving, but I doubt that my having a problem with it will make them stop, so I have to get out.

Oh, and Pandacinny- do you mind my asking which shelter you work with? You can PM me if you're more comfortable. I've applied a few times to volunteer at the MD SPCA and Defenders of Animal Rights, but nothing ever panned out there. I'd love to do some shelter work, too, if I could find some. I need some serious good karma after this experience. *shudder*

 

[LowLife]

I think your overreacting, these ppl are just selling puppies to families and your having ethical issues with that??You have the symptoms of an animal rights freak, no disrespect intended.Tell on them and see all those puppies who would otherwise go to loving homes get killed by the "humane" society.

 

[PrimalMU]

I think your overreacting, these ppl are just selling puppies to families and your having ethical issues with that??You have the symptoms of an animal rights freak, no disrespect intended.Tell on them and see all those puppies who would otherwise go to loving homes get killed by the "humane" society.

Coming from someone who just posted a thread asking for advice on how to suture up their chickens. You obviously don't know anything about puppy milling and the horrible condition the dogs are bred and raised in and the health conditions many of these animals have. Your ignorance renders your opinion null and void.

 

[LowLife]

Coming from someone who just posted a thread asking for advice on how to suture up their chickens. You obviously don't know anything about puppy milling and the horrible condition the dogs are bred and raised in and the health conditions many of these animals have. Your ignorance renders your opinion null and void.

Im sorry but it seems like your the ill informed person here.I know you get all your puppy mill info from animal rights terrorists so your info is heavily biased and most of it is untrue.You wouldnt take a Nazi's opinion on jew's at face value would you??.You know how many investigations on puppy mills yield animal cruelty??Less than 5%, but the humane society's dont show you the videos of facilities were regulations are followed.Humane society's are nothing but $$$ grubbing, cynical atheists who want to take rural peoples rights away and put rats and dogs rights on par with humans which is absolutely ridiculous.

 

[PrimalMU]

Go find a bridge to hide under. 🙂

BTW, didn't you realize that anyone who mentions Nazis in an internet argument automatically loses?

 

[LowLife]

Go find a bridge to hide under. 🙂

BTW, didn't you realize that anyone who mentions Nazis in an internet argument automatically loses?

Lol, just the response i was looking for.You might as well responded, "but but, uhmm, go find a bridge and hide, uhm, uhm, you said nazi so you lose!!"...and you called me ignorant.

 

[zpinkpanther]

I never thought I'd see someone support puppy mills. I sincerely hope that you've never actually been to a puppy mill, because I like to think that anyone who has seen one would think it was the most terrible thing they've ever seen, but maybe I'm just too idealistic. Just FYI, I have seen a puppy mill, and it's an image I'll never forget- 20 or more puppies or dogs in each small cage, one cage stacked on top of another on top of another in endless rows, bitches that have been bred to within an inch of their lives. All these dogs/puppies spend this portion of their lives covered in their own urine, feces, and vomit because no one cares enough to clean them or their cages.

If being against that makes me an "animal rights freak," print me up a bumper sticker and a t-shirt. I'll be a card-carrying member.

 

[PrimalMU]

Lol, just the response i was looking for.You might as well responded, "but but, uhmm, go find a bridge and hide, uhm, uhm, you said nazi so you lose!!"...and you called me ignorant.

This is going to be my last response, LowLife (such an appropriate user name, by the way!). I just have two words to say: Godwin's Law - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law



Anyway, to add something constructive to this thread, to the OP, I think that you should most definitely find a different place to work if your bosses are unwilling to stop selling mill puppies. I really have to question the professionalism of selling mill puppies AT the clinic.

 

[efab]

good job, i'll have to remember that - so appropriate primalmu!

 

[fetch]

Lol, just the response i was looking for.You might as well responded, "but but, uhmm, go find a bridge and hide, uhm, uhm, you said nazi so you lose!!"...and you called me ignorant.

You ARE ignorant, animal abuser. And not too smart, either.

Folks, go look at the thread he started looking for suturing tips; he admitted he's a cockfighter.

Please report him to SDN.

ETA: He's been banned; a big thank you to anyone who reported him.

 

[SweeTeaPie]

I think your overreacting, these ppl are just selling puppies to families and your having ethical issues with that??You have the symptoms of an animal rights freak, no disrespect intended.Tell on them and see all those puppies who would otherwise go to loving homes get killed by the "humane" society.

Hopefully you are not interested in veterinary medicine, that's all I have to say.

 

[SweeTeaPie]

I find it hard to understand how a vet could willingly participate in something like this! Puppy mill puppies usually have so many health problems that it's not funny. My aunt just bought a "designer dog", hasn't had it for more than 5 months, and it already had to have knee surgery in two knees at a prie of $2,200 each! So maybe your vet is trying to create a little job security by selling dogs that he will then have to turn around and perform expensive operations on... really sad. I wonder what he wrote in HIS personal statement when asked what he hoped to do with his degree.

The selling of these dogs only supports a horrific practice and I can't believe that a veterinarian would openly support that.