WHO: Deborah Howard, Founder and President of the Companion Animal
Protection Society (CAPS). Carole Davis, West Coast Director
of CAPS and organizer of the Barkworks protest. More than 75
protesters will be participating in this landmark event.
CAPS, www.caps-web.org, is the only national non-profit
organization dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals
from cruelty in pet shops and puppy mills.
WHAT: CAPS is conducting a pro-adoption/anti puppy mill awareness boycott
of Barkworks, a pet shop chain that sells dogs from puppy mills --
commercial breeding facilities that mass produce dogs for resale.
This is a landmark demonstration for the California animal
protection movement because pet shops that sell puppy mill dogs
inside shopping malls, have, until now, been immune to the
increasing public outcry over the puppy mill issue. This peaceful
demonstration will open the doors of every mall in the state of
California to animal welfare activists who will bravely uphold
California Supreme Court Law.
Local activists will be gathering in front of Barkworks in silence
to grieve for the millions of companion animals who died this year
in our nation's shelters because there are not enough homes for
them. Animal welfare activists are asking shoppers to be mindful
that over 60% of pets are bought during the weeks leading to
Christmas and that the true spirit of Christmas is in giving -- as
in giving a homeless pet a loving home. During this severe economic
downturn, we are asking people to help our community by adopting a
companion animal from our local shelters.
The activists are also upholding a California Supreme Court
decision, which, until now, has remained untested by the animal
protection movement. This landmark boycott will open the doors
for activism and free speech on private property. After Saturday,
stores that sell puppy mill dogs will no longer be able to prevent
protests inside California's malls.
WHEN: Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 2:30 pm
WHERE: Barkworks, 10800 West Pico Blvd., #391, Los Angeles, CA 90064 in the
West Side Pavilion
WHY: Barkworks sells dogs from puppy mills. CAPS has evidence from USDA
inspection reports of inhumane treatment in puppy mills that supply
Barkworks.
According to Carole Raphaelle Davis, West Coast Director of CAPS,
author of "The Diary of Jinky, Dog of a Hollywood Wife" and
investigative reporter for American Dog Magazine, "Saturday is a
history-making day for the animal protection movement. Pet shops
are routinely defrauding customers by telling them, like Barkworks
has told CAPS' under-cover operatives, that the dogs sold in the
store are 'family-raised in homes.' The parents of the dogs sold
in pet shops are treated inhumanely, raised like livestock and
bred like machine parts until they die. The public is becoming
increasingly aware of the cruelty of the pet industry and the
California stores selling the offspring of this cruel business,
after Saturday, will no longer be able to hide from the truth
inside the malls."
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: Carole Raphaelle Davis West coast Director of CAPS 310-990-5758 hollywoodjinky@gmail.com Deborah Howard President of CAPS cell: 339-236-0978 caps@caps-web.org Mara Stefan Emerge PR cell: 781-771-6911 mstefan@emergepr.com