While in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, filmmaker Tom McPhee witnessed atrocities and senseless killings of many helpless animals. Part of McPhee's work is to shed a light on those atrocities. However, the fight is far from over. Millions of animals die each year because there are simply too many animals without homes. It is estimated that sixteen million animals are euthanized annually in the United States. That number is rising because of the economic downturn.
The business of selling pets is built upon the breeding of them. Every pet up for sale has been bred for that sale. Every time a pet is sold in a store, one dies in a shelter. Millions of animals are bred for sale and millions of animals die each year. It is that shocking and simple.
McPhee has called for a five year ban on the sale of pets in order to aid the efforts of controlling the pet overpopulation. Pet animals should not be bred while pet animals die.
We believe that good breeders will get behind this initiative because it will clean up the industry from backyard breeders, puppy/kitten mill owners, and bunny/ferret farms. We are not looking for a permanent ban on the sale of pet animals but in these extraordinary economic times, it is absolutely necessary.
We should not be okay with sixteen million animals dying each year.
With our signatures, we are hoping to institute the five year ban of the sale of animals on August 30, 2010: the five year anniversary of animal rescue efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
