WHO: Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS)
Deborah Howard, Founder and President of CAPS
Howard founded CAPS in 1992 and is devoted to the protection of
companion animals. She is a frequent guest speaker on the topic
and has been featured on Animal Planet, CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC
and FOX.
CAPS is the only national non-profit organization dedicated
exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet
shops and puppy mills.
www.caps-web.org
WHAT: CAPS will kick-off the first in a series of protests against Pet
Fashion on the Upper West Side (the other locations are
Washington Heights and Yonkers) to draw awareness to the
connection between pet shops and puppy mills. Almost all pet
shops obtain dogs from puppy mills. Informing the public about
the dangers of purchasing pet shop dogs is more important now
than ever as people consider purchasing companion animals for
gifts this holiday season.
WHEN: Saturday, November 28, 2009 from 1-3 pm ET
WHERE: 565 Columbus Ave., New York, New York 10024
Between 87th and 88th
WHY: Pet store Pet Fashion sells dogs from puppy mills -- commercial
breeding facilities that mass-produce puppies for resale through
pet shops and brokers. USDA licensed facilities are puppy mills.
-- Kathy Bauck, using her husband's name, sold puppies to Pet
Fashion in August. Bauck, who was one of the largest dog
brokers and breeders in the country, was convicted of
animal cruelty in March 2009 based on evidence from a
six-week undercover employment investigation by CAPS. The
USDA terminated her licensed on September 29 and she is
appealing the agency's decision.
-- CAPS completed several very successful protests in the Los
Angeles area, resulting in pet shops converting to humane
business models that provide shelter animals for adoption.
-- Millions of healthy and treatable dogs and cats are killed
each year in shelters. CAPS urges consumers to adopt
companion animals from shelter and rescue organizations
rather than through pet shops, the Internet and breeders.
HOW: CAPS wants to alert consumers to the problems associated with
purchasing puppies from pet shops. At these peaceful protests,
CAPS will distribute fact sheets on pet shops and where to adopt
in NYC and CAPS brochures. CAPS protestors along with concerned,
local residents want Pet Fashion to convert to a humane business
model that dogs from local shelters, especially kill facilities,
rather than from puppy mills.
Editorial note: video footage from a CAPS investigation of Kathy Bauck
Please note this footage contains graphic images
About CAPS
Founded by President Deborah Howard in 1992, Companion Animal Protection
Society (CAPS) is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated
exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and
puppy mills. CAPS actively addresses the abuse and suffering of pet shop
and puppy mill dogs through investigations, education, media relations,
legislative involvement, puppy mill dog rescues, consumer assistance and
pet industry employee relations.
Contact Information: Media Contacts: Deborah Howard cell: 339-236-0978 caps@caps-web.org Sheila Bohan sbohan@emergepr.com