What is “Bailing out Benji”?
Because this is my first post, I must first ask everyone for forgiveness. I am definitely really new to this blogging thing, but I felt like I had to use the voice that I have to speak for those who are voiceless… Our Pets
The goal of my blog is to inform, educate, and update the public on the horrors that are going on in our own backyard, while gaining more for this very important issue.
As for my “cause”: I have recently realized that Iowa is within the bottom 6th in the US when it comes to animal cruelty laws. IOWA! I was so shocked upon hearing this; the state that prides itself in being fair, hard working, and being “something we can be proud of.” But when I look at how well our citizens treat our animals, should we really be holding our heads so high? Our pets are not able to speak for themselves, and if we’re not willing to speak up and DEMAND more of each other, who will?
Back in April many people listened and/or read in disgust of the lady in Urbandale who had ten dogs in a motel room.This is the story that finally pushed me over the edge and forced me to start Bailing out Benji…. This lady had 2 female, adult dogs, as well as 8 puppies in which she starved and neglected to the point of the dogs eating cigarette butts! We listen to this in disgust, and if you’re like me, you could even bring yourself to wish harm on this woman, or some type of retribution for her cruelty. Instead, the lady gets off on one count of animal neglect, which under Iowa law is a $65 fine, and 30 days in jail. These are 10 dogs that may never be able to trust humans to take care of them again, and 10 lives that were carelessly neglected. This lady, whose only excuse was she was “down on her luck,” has the audacity to say in the end she wants her dogs back!! Sadly, she is only one case of a growing trend in mistreatment of our pets.
I also learned that Iowa is the SECOND WORST state when it comes to puppy mills. For those of you who aren’t sure what puppy mills are: they are commercialized breeders who are USDA licensed (which means they can breed as many dogs as they want and sell to pet stores). They are referred to as mills because they always have 20 dogs on their property that they breed and can constantly be selling puppies at any given time. For the most part, here in Iowa, the breeders have upwards of 100 dogs on their property (not including the puppies) and there is one notorious mill owner who has over 1000 dogs that he is constantly breeding. These breeders breed their females every heat cycle and keep all of the dogs in small, wire cages with inadequate shelter. And don’t even get me started on the food/water that they are given. The whole puppy mill industry is atrocious! This is why Iowans need to take a stand on commercialized breeding!
Fortunately, Iowa does have some great citizens who often feel the same way as I do. Upon doing all of my research, I have met so many kindred spirits along the way, and, for that I am thankful!
If you want to get involved comment to this blog, Facebook group “Bailing out Benji”, or email peopleforanimals2011@hotmail.com.
-Mindi
“The Greatness of a nation and its
moral progress can be judged by
the way its animals are treated.”
Ghandi