tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422478120559600333.post-89249919115872442562008-03-10T22:05:00.000-07:002008-03-18T13:01:52.264-07:00Ironically, while slumlords fatten their wallets by jeopardizing the health and safety of tenants and the Village Board bows to their demands, Capital Region animal rights activists have focused their apparently excessive amount of free time on an alleged “puppy mill” in Schoharie County’s own hamlet of Sloansville.<br /><br />A recent gotcha-style series on WRGB, a local CBS affiliate shines a spotlight on Sloansville dog breeder Dake Fu, who’s been accused of operating a “puppy mill”. A puppy mill is described as a “mass-breeding operation” with “unsanitary conditions” and “no breeding records”.<br /><br />Aside from the obviously sleazy nature of the story (the reporters were acting on a complaint and based their judgment on Fu’s refusal to allow the camera crew free reign of his property), the story reveals what it means to survive in Bush’s America. Drive along any one of the rural roads in this county and you’ll notice people engaged in all kinds of “unofficial” means of generating income. In an era long-plagued by persistent job losses due to economic restructuring, rural residents are faced with an ever-shrinking array of ways to earn a livelihood and as a result many turn to collecting scrap metal, hoarding junk cars, and yes, breeding dogs for profit. The real story here is how rural communities are forced to adapt in an economic system that is completely and utterly failing them.<br /><br />Instead, the PETA-types are out in force shifting the focus of attention to the condition of the animals rather than the human beings who have been thrust into the unfortunate position of having to mass breed dogs for profit. Surely these “puppy mills” are disgusting places. No sane human being would choose to operate one if he or she had something better to do, right?<br /><br />Shocking photographs that purport to represent all cases of alleged puppy mills are only fueling hysteria and empowering dangerous people bent on pursuing bizarre personal crusades.<br /><br />Until animal rights activists correctly realize that the current trend of puppy mill operations are a symptom of a deeply flawed economic landscape that is failing actual human beings, they will deservedly be the object of scorn and ridicule.<br /><br />Especially when our local slumlords feel that their “people mills” should be exempt from regular inspections.<br /><br />People need to step back, take a deep breath and put this story in perspective. Then ask yourself: do we really have nothing else to worry about?Seanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16991111968506879849noreply@blogger.com