A few years ago, eBay had plans to sell animals via online auction. Responsible breeders would never sell dogs via online auction, so this would have resulted in the site becoming a haven for puppy mills. eBay users and anti-cruelty activists spearheaded — and won — the fight to prevent eBay from selling live animals.

Despite eBay’s claims that it “do[es] not condone unethical treatment of animals,” eBay now allows puppy mills to sell dogs in its classified section.

This practice enables flagrant cruelty to dogs, and it has to stop. Tell eBay to shut down its sales of cruelly treated puppies and all live animals.

Puppy mill dogs spend their entire lives in small wire cages, without companionship, and often without vet care, exercise or shelter from the elements. As far as puppy mill owners are concerned, the dogs have one purpose: to supply the pet trade.

The USDA recently admitted that they’ve failed to effectively monitor commercial breeders and puppy mills. When it comes to sites like eBay Classifieds, it’s even worse: Breeders who sell directly to customers online aren’t subject to any USDA regulations.

To learn more about this situation, I turned to the Humane Society of the United States which has a Puppy Mill Campaign division and stays on top of legislation and practices around the issue of mass production and sales of puppies to the public. As is so often the case, there is a gray area in a topic that might at first glance seem to be black or white. My contact at HSUS replied:

The Humane Society of the United States
700 Professional Drive  Gaithersburg, MD 20879
humanesociety.org

The Humane Society of the United States has had a good working relationship with eBay, as an auction site, over the year. While they have not always agreed or acquiesced to our concerns about their business in relation to animals, we have always had high-level access to discuss those issues, and they have resulted in some good outcomes, such as eBay’s banning sales of any ivory in the US, and a decision by eBay/Korea’s auction site to stop selling pets.

eBay, as an auction site, does not allow the sale of live animals in the US, primarily because they support the idea that shipping animals from one part of the country to another can be problematic for the animals. A few years ago, someone at eBay floated the idea of changing that policy, but it was killed, in part because of our input.

A couple of years ago eBay bought an on-line classified site, kijiji.com, which has since become eBay Classifieds. When they first started up, we reached out to them and urged them not to sell pets, citing the disconnect with eBay/US’s long-standing policy against auctioning live animals. However, they believed selling pets through the classified section was different because classified sales were local, and the shipping hazards wouldn’t apply. We talked to them about the problem of having ads on their site from bad breeders and puppy mills, issues with “free to good home” ads, etc. It soon became clear that, for a lot of reasons, they weren’t going to drop the pets category.

At some point, they came back to us with a proposal for us to post information on their site, to tell people about puppy mills, point to info on adoption and choosing a good breeder, etc. While our preference would be that they didn’t sell animals at all, we decided to work with them for several reasons, starting with the reality that there was virtually no chance that eBay Classifieds would, at least at this point, stop selling pets, and that even if they did, it wouldn’t eliminate on-line classified pet listings. Someone else would just pick up those ads. Since eBay Classifieds had the largest share of the market, we reasoned that it was the best chance to reach the majority of classified ad buyers with a warning message. In addition, eBay Classifieds asked us to help educate them and their staff about what to look for in puppy mill ads, and have been responsive to our requests to drop specific ads or sellers when we can provide specific evidence of a seller’s problematic history. They are also trying to get more shelters to advertise animals up for adoption.

This doesn’t mean that we won’t continue to encourage them to change their policy, but we believe we will have better success with eBay on all animal issues by continuing frank and open dialog, and open channels of access to the people there who can make decisions that benefit animals, even though we recognize we won’t always win the argument.

We recognize that there would be great symbolic value to eBay stepping away from selling pets through eBay Classifieds. But the fact remains that eliminating pets from eBay would not eliminate online pet classifieds, just move them to other sites, and sites which would likely be less responsive to messaging about pets, adoptions, puppy mills, etc. For years, before the Internet, shelters around the country, and The HSUS, tried to get newspapers not to advertise pets for sale, to no avail. Unfortunately, classified ad sales of pets isn’t new, the emphasis has just moved from print to ether.

This warning, which links to our responsible pet buyer tips, is displayed whenever you open a puppy ad on Ebay:

Important Safety Warning: Please take care when buying and selling animals. Learn more about responsible pet ownership and adoption. Avoid fraud by meeting all sellers in-person to pay for items. eBay Classifieds does not offer any transaction or payment services. Stay safe – read our safety tips.

Of course, we always recommend that anyone getting a pet consider adoption as the first option.

I am waiting for The Cat Bible to arrive from Amazon.com, as I have many concerns regarding my new Devon rescues, who came to me from Specialty Purebred Cat Rescue, a rescue group that places over 600 purebred cats per year. Thanks again for your prompt welcome and I really do appreciate ALL that you provide for us. (The pet food industry/nutrition information alone is priceless.)

Thanks so much for the introduction to your website, which I have been perusing for a month now. The information is so exceptional that I have emailed your site to everyone I know who loves pets. And have shared your site with another new website I found Devon Zone, an international site for Devon Rex cat lovers.

Since I had never heard of this rescue, I asked for details as I am always trying to encourage people to adopt from shelters if they want a certain breed of cat, since rescues often have purebreds as 1/3 of their population. Dana filled me in and it led to my inviting the founder of the rescue, Kirsten Kranz, on both radio shows in March and April of 2011.

Dana responded to this news by saying:

I suggested to Kirsten to put her upcoming Cat Chat® information on her website so that all of us who “lurk” on her site can have the information. I can’t wait to hear her on your shows!

I cannot say enough about Kirsten Kranz, the director of Specialty Purebred Cat Rescue. All of the cats are fostered out of loving homes and she takes great care with placement of the rescues, which include Persian, Siamese, Abyssinian, Devon Rex, Sphynx, Ragdoll and more.

Here is the rescue’s website  http://www.purebredcatrescue.org/available-for-adoption-2

I suggested to Kirsten to put her upcoming Cat Chat information on her website so that all of us who “lurk” on her site can have the information. I can’t wait to hear her on your shows!

At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, I want you to know that I have seldom experienced such generosity AND genuine sincerity about the welfare of our pets in someone with your celebrity status. I sensed this from the first time I found your website, and you have only validated my first impression. My hope is that your radio show helps Kirsten connect more pets and people.

Again, thank you so much, Tracie. You confirm my belief that there are many good people in this world. We just have to reach out and find them.

In order to follow this sordid little tale, you would do best to have listened to DOG TALK® a couple of weeks in a row. On October 15th you could have heard the show in which trainer Allison Denlea and I discussed the topic of buying a puppy. Then on October 22nd you would have heard a diatribe from me on the air expressing my dismay at the ugly reaction I had received in the intervening week from a select few people. They had reacted with vigorous indignation to the one line description of that show about purchasing a puppy. As you will see when you follow this very long email trail below, not one of these people took the time or had the respect for me to actually listen to the interview itself before taking me to task for a partial sentence description of the topic. First of all, more than 5,000 people receive those email announcements every week so these are very few written responses — yet for every person who writes there are always many thinking the same thoughts, so it was worth my time to set the record straight (there are tens of thousands of people who download the show from iTunes and do not receive the written reminder and description). But more importantly, somewhere these folks lost sight of the fact that DOG TALK® is a radio show — yup, you actually have to listen to it with your ears to partake of it! Imagine that… a one-line description of the show is nothing more than that, for interviews which last 15-20 minutes.

If you’re wondering why I’ve taken the time to go into this in ongoing detail, it’s simple: if any of us permits anti-social, ugly behavior to go unchecked then those indulging in the practice of cyber-bullying or social terrorism are empowered to continue what I call “social terrorism.” It is each of our responsibility to keep society civil — and to call people on their actions when they think they have the right to brow-beat someone who is not only above reproach based on her consistent words and actions (yes, me, the target of all this!) but do so without even taking the time to know what they are going on about. As you will see, some of these people know very well who I am and what I stand for because they have benefited from my public support of their efforts.

From Ted DuPuis
Founder, President, and Pilot, Cloud Nine Rescue Flights

I sure hope your first topic is a typo, as I can’t imagine encouraging people to go out and encourage the continuation of the overpopulation epidemic and encourage puppy mills.

[Note: I have spent time on the air supporting all rescue missions, flights, transports and other caravans, had two different interviews about this organization and one was actually with Ted himself.  Note that he tells me I am encouraging puppy mills -- when anyone who follows me work knows how much investigative work I have personally done on volume breeding and millers -- and also note I go on in the interview at length with Allison about how to recognize and avoid puppy mill breeders.]

From Melissa, NYC practicing attorney-at-law

Although I do not know the content of the show for Sat — but the trainer, Allison Denlea, with “10 reasons to buy a puppy vs adopt is an outrage”.  Do you know how long it has taken animal advocates to educate people about the incredible animals there are for adoption from shelters, rescue groups, breed rescue, etc.  I looked at her website and although it seems “OK” — I and most animal advocates are against buying puppies from stores hence supporting the inhumane torturous treatment at puppy mills which also means leaving another perfectly wonderful dog in the shelter with a chance of being killed or in a rescue group which are usually overcrowded; rescue groups must adopt the animals they rescue or else they cannot continue to bring additional dogs in that need a place to go other than the local shelter.

I strongly urge you/her to reconsider her topic.  It will do much more harm than good as so many people think exactly that… dogs would be completely against such a message on your radio show.

[Note: This woman describes herself as a lawyer -- but did not even properly read the show description to know that the show was already aired and ready for listening -- which she also did not take the time to do. Nor did she even read the show description properly and added her own "10 reasons to buy a puppy" which appeared nowhere in the announcement. Then she goes into her personal lecture without any regard for who she is lecturing to -- even if you are not a lawyer it's easy to find out that I actually "wrote the book" about puppy buying and avoiding bad breeders.]

From Diana, Weimaraner rescue volunteer

Please remove me from your email list. I support an animal rescue group.

[Note: She seems disinterested  that I now have my 4th & 5th adopted rescued Weimaraners and contribute to Weimaraner rescue in various ways.]

From Karen Powers
Founder/president, Green Mountain Pug Rescue

Yucko!!!!

10 reasons to get a puppy instead of adopt- UMM ZERO!!!!!

[Note: She has a short memory since only a few months ago I helped drive a transport of a Pug to her very organization -- and then had her as a highly praised guest on DOG TALK® -- when she said she has a houseful of her own Pugs, whose photos are up on my website gallery. Clearly she has a preference for only one breed to help or own -- but if no one should be allowed to breed or buy Pug puppies, then in a very few years there will not be any more Pugs anymore.]

From Anonymous:

Oh, my God! Is this a joke?

From D.

There are NO reasons to buy a puppy.  This disgusts me!!!!  There are puppies available for adoption through rescues.  I drove 8 puppies today from a kill shelter to reputable rescues. Please drop me from this mailing list and never contact me again.  I will also send this all my rescue friends and ask that none of them patronize your blog and website.

[Note: All these years of hearing the show for free, getting loads of great free information and advice on my website -- certainly she's never bought The Dog Bible or written to acknowledge all the information and value she's gotten from my efforts to support all dog lovers in every area of interest -- and she is now threatening me with what, exactly? Setting out to hurt my reputation? Her sense of her own power is impressive. As for puppies being available it is a widely known fact that there are rarely any puppies in shelters in the Northeast and in any case, some people desire a certain breed (just like certain rescuers are breed snobs, too)].

From Michael

Reasons to adopt a dog instead of buying a puppy:

1. So the dog doesn’t get killed. Understand? Don’t send me any more e-mails you arrogant a-hole.

[Note: I don't really need to comment on this delightful gentleman. He speaks for himself.  And all those like him.]

From Shannon

Tracie, I think it is HORRIBLE that you are promoting a show about reasons to buy a puppy instead of adopting.  There are MILLIONS of amazing purebred and mix puppies that are killed in shelters across the country every year.  Adult dogs too.  Get your facts straight before you promote such nonsense!  I hope no one listens to you or your show.

Shannon — Dog rescuer and a person who has seen thousands of wonderful, innocent animals being put to death for NO REASON — no reason at all other than severe overcrowding at run down shelters.

[Note: Another person believing there are millions of purebred puppies just waiting to be scooped up by those who had a English bull dog puppy in mind, for example. Or a Yorkie, one of the most popular breeds in the country.  Hardly reliable information.]

So I took a deep breath — and responded with this letter to these people:

Dear Friends,

I am sorry and surprised that a few of you were outraged and upset that I might have a conversation on DOG TALK® about the reasons someone might have to, or want to buy a puppy.

First of all, none of you has even listened to the show — that announcement you receive has a link right to the podcast and you can listen right there, which you may not have been aware of. So maybe before denouncing a show (and in the case of two people, demanding to be removed from the list that tells people each week what the show is about and allows them to listen or download it for free) might it not be a good idea to listen before you form an opinion?

Secondly, reading the actual words in the announcement is also helpful – i.e. it does not say “10 reasons” to buy a puppy, nor does it say anything about buying from a pet store. Read what it says — but better yet, listen to the show.

Is it possible you have no idea who I am or what I stand for?

Do you really believe that no one should have the right to buy a dog from a reputable responsible breeder after educating themselves?

Why did no one object when for nearly a year I had a weekly breeder of unusual breeds of dogs talking about the breed, how they got into the breeding and/or showing of the dog — all to make very clear the mindset and attitudes and expectations of a really responsible and dependable breeder. These breeders usually have only one litter a year, maybe two, and only when they have buyers on a waiting list — the point was to hear the passion and commitment to their dogs’ welfare and wellness of these responsible breeders. I was doing those interviews to educate people about the difference between the origins of puppies at any pet store and those from good breeders — always discussing breed rescue and considering that option first.

Is it possible to have to be so “politically correct” that there can be no dialogue at all about options for those who want to buy a puppy — and how to do that responsibly and thoughtfully?

It’s a free country — and there are many different people in it with different issues and priorities. Does that make them “bad” and those who rescue the only ones doing the “right thing?”  Should we really stand in judgment of other people who also choose to share their lives with dogs and love and nurture them just as you do?

Without open public conversations, the topic of puppy buying will be driven underground. Education is everything — it is what my work is dedicated to on every single topic relating to dogs and cats. There has to be room and respect for differing points of view as long as no people or animals are harmed.

Anyone who has read my books — or ever listened to DOG TALK or CAT CHAT, or read my hundreds of blogs on my website, or read my guest blog on the Humane Society of the United State (for which I am an “ambassador” and a very generous contributor), or knows how many Weimaraners and other dogs (Yogi Bear the Rottweiler, Jazzy my Collie mix) and cats I have adopted, or is aware of how many interviews I give as a media spokesperson educating the public about the genesis of every single puppy in every single pet store.  In fact, I made the anti-pet-store-puppy-mill speech with my guest Monica Holloway, the author of “Cowboy and Wills” on the very October 15th show you are so quick to denounce.  If you listened to me or read me, you would never jump to the conclusion that you have to lecture me on how terrible puppy purchasing is from stores or the internet.

Do you know that the most effective, largest and passionate humane organization — HSUS — defends peoples’ rights to buy puppies if they so choose?

I just made a contribution to the Missouri proposition Yes on 8 to improve lives for the poor dogs in the 3,000 volume breeding operations there.

Would I personally buy a puppy? Never. Does that mean that I would criticize or belittle someone who does? Never. But I do ask every single caller to my radio shows and who write to me “Where did you get your dog?” so I can make a gentle teachable moment of every dog who may have joined a family via a pet store. So how do you permit yourself to jump to negative assumptions about me for raising the topic of when and how to buy a puppy?

Good grief, folks.

Furthermore, wouldn’t it be a good idea to give the benefit of the doubt to me — as someone who has devoted the beginning of every DOG TALK® show for more than a year to highlighting an adoptable cat and dog from Bide-a-wee — which I invited to be the official shelter partner of DOG TALK® and my previous show on WOR in NYC?  And now the Southampton Shelter will assume that role when DOG TALK® goes live again in a few weeks — the shelter where 2 of my own dogs came from.

I financially support many rescues across the country every year — never forgetting Friends of Pets in So. California where my first Weimaraners came from — and donating books for raffles and time at events and giving many of them airtime on the show.

Why can that not co-exist with the reality that buying puppies will also happen and the more people know about how to do that, the better things will be for everyone?

Please think before you point a finger at someone who is firmly on the side of doing the best we can for all people and pets at all times — okay?

I got only one reply back — I got no response acknowledging that perhaps their knee-jerk reactions had been misplaced — or admitting that perhaps it might have been a good idea to actually listen to the show itself before landing their criticisms and judgments, nor any appreciation that I had taken the time to respond in great depth to their notes of dissatisfaction. And then I discovered there was actually one response to my letter from “D.” — a rambling diatribe that for me seemed to sum up the irrational, mean-spirited, uninformed and holier-than-thou judgmentalism that can cause such unpleasantness among people in the community of those who each believe they care for and love dogs — without regard for how they treat other human beings. Such a damn shame. Here she is, in all her self-righteous glory:

You upset me once with your first email.  Your Sorry email is absolutely infuriating.

Had I known that you [were] doing interviews with breeders of “unusual breeds” I would have asked you to delete my name at that time. I have driven far too many miles and seen too many dogs die because they were not young cute puppies or the “right kind.” Anyone that buys a dog is either uninformed or callous about the issues of unwanted dogs in this country. You know thousands and thousands of dogs are being killed each year because they don’t have a home.  Instead of trying to create a “market” for unusual breeds and puppies under the disguise of informing the public, why don’t you do a real service to all the dogs and people in the country and tell them not to buy any dog until all the shelters are empty?

In my opinion, NO. People should not be allowed to buy dogs.  What is “a really responsible and dependable breeder?”  In my mind, there are none as long as I am still driving miles and miles each week and dogs are dying. Sorry but I don’t count you as one of the people “who is firmly on the side of doing the best we can for all people and pets at all times.”

Your comment “how to do that responsibly and thoughtfully” and “co-exist with the reality” regarding buying puppies is absurd. Would you make the same assertion about slavery, racism and the evils of our society? I think not.

Think about it Tracie.

So I ask you — if you’ve made it to the bottom of this frighteningly long blog! — how does all this make you feel?

–Tracie Hotchner

I urge you to re-address the petfinder issue both on your show and on your website. I found the notice about some kerry blues dogs coming from puppy mills only once and when searching for a kerry blue rescue in Texas for a friend. I actually look at petfinder quite often when I fantasize about a companion for Terrible Bean. You’ll never find such a warning on craigslist, of course, or any other places that less streetwise folks may be vulnerable to.

When I mentioned that warning on the kerry blue page, I took it as a positive thing, that petfinder does want to bring awareness up, unlike some other pet source venues.

You’ve played such an important part already in doing this and I hope you will once again remind listeners/readers that caveat emptor is a universal concept and that petfinder is actually one of the few places trying to police itself against any unsavory postings.

As written, your post now may be interpreted as if petfinder itself, one of the most powerful places for fosters and shelters to come together to find homes for unwanted pets and farm animals, may be corrupt and this may have a detrimental affect on placing adoptable animals.

You have such a powerful voice, you are a market maker, if you will, as much as an announcer on CNBC relaying financial and investment information.  So many of us rely on you for bringing us such incredibly interesting and useful, often critical, information, and I thank you for that.

Please reconsider how this particular information is projected/worded.

As always, thank you for being our animals’ and our best friend!

–Bambi

It’s been a long time since I have written or called you and that is good news. A wonderful bit of good news is that my Mom recently rescued a 4 year old Shih Tzu from a local humane society. It seems as though the state of Kansas rescued over 70 Shih Tzu’s from a hoarder. The poor dogs were in horrible shape but better now. The little girls name is Ruby and she is a doll. Mom has had her for 2 weeks and they are inseparable. Ruby follows her everywhere, including work. The two were meant for each other! Mom is feeding her a brand called Into the Wild and I think the fowl flavor. Ruby is malnourished and bald but we see wonderful changes each day.

All 3 of my felines are adjusting to each other and getting into a routine. The 2 greyhounds are still afraid of the cats and get this, Zosimos (the middle child at 9 months) likes to steal the greyhounds pig ears during treat time at night! We have to monitor treat time now because one greyhound is very possessive of her pig ears while the other one will let Zosimos take it. It is an unusual sight to see!

As always, thank you for all you do to help us pet owners. My copy of The Cat Bible is very used and I am giving my Mom her own copy of The Dog Bible tomorrow now that she has Ruby. Take care of yourself and keep taking care of us!

Meows & Woofs!

Tammi, Lexie, Bell, Boston, Zosimos & Achates

My name is David and I am currently thinking about getting a cat. I have a few questions that I need answered before I make any decisions. I would greatly appreciate it if you could answer as many of these questions as possible. They are as follows:

1. I am physically disabled and confined to an electric wheelchair. Therefore, I will need a cat that is somewhat self-sufficient. Is there a particular breed that I should get or can I adopt a kitten from my local shelter?

2. I currently have a one and a half year old basset hound. He is very sweet and very playful. Do you think he and the kitten would be okay together?

3. The basset hound lets himself out. Do you think the kitten would follow him? If so, how would you suggest I prevent this from happening?

Again, if you could answer as many of these questions as possible, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

Hi David

Adopting a kitten from your shelter is always the best option since you’ll be saving a life. Also, kittens raised with dogs are all pretty much the same in their ability to get along with another species. Since the dog you have is a Bassett Hound the kitten will be in luck since Bassetts are so sweet-natured. However, I urge you to get a copy of THE CAT BIBLE as soon as possible so you can read up on kitten-proofing your home, the best way to introduce the kitty to the dog, and all the things you can do to make that transition a positive one. Also, you’ll want to have a good cat tree, scratching posts, and a litter box the dog cannot get into. All this is explained in my book. As for the dog door, yes the kitten will probably learn to follow the dog out but that could be a good thing. You can go to my website to visit the Purrfect fence page to see how incredibly fast and easy and affordable it is to fence in your yard so the cat can have freedom and safety at the same time.

Tracie

The Cat Bible

Hi Tracie! First, thank you for all you do for animals and their guardians!

I have a young cat that started hanging around my house several months ago so I began feeding her. She has no collar and I received no responses when I put up signs in my neighborhood. Im almost certain she is pregnant since she has grown in her belly area over the last few weeks. I wanted to take her to have a termination and get spayed put the low cost clinic quoted be $150-200 but I cannot afford that at this time (I’m college student and only work part time). I do not want to take her to the SPCA because I know what will happen. I think the best thing is to let her have the kittens and then spay her. What can I do to make sure I have access to the kittens after they are born so that I can adopt them out and how long should I wait before I take them away from her? Is this even a good idea? I cannot bring her inside since I have one cat of my own but I could provide shelter for her my garage. Please help with any ideas or suggestions. I want it to be clear that I am not an irresponsible pet owner- I started to care for this cat because I felt sorry for her and now I’m in over my head! Thank you sooo much!!!

Hi, Marisa -

I think that was you who called into my show with this question, right? Thanks so much for reaching out in multiple ways for this kitty! Did you find the website for Alley Cat Allies on my website I told you about? They will help you deal with the pregnancy and especially getting a low cost spay for the kitty. Then we’ll figure out how to find homes for those kittens But PLEASE put that cat in your garage with a litter box in the meantime – you don’t want her to give birth and hide the kittens – nor to get run over. But let Alley Cat Allies find you a local feral cat group that can support your very kind efforts, okay?

Tracie

The Cat Bible

FROM RICH: Why would you introduce purebred cats when there are so many homeless cats that need homes? Push for adoption, not breeding of more cats. This is also the case for dogs so we can put an end to puppy mills. Thanks for listening.

I WROTE BACK TO RICH: If you ever had a chance to listen to me on CAT CHAT® on Martha’s channel of Sirius/XM you would know that I am all about adoption and rehoming and NOT giving your pets up for adoption when you encounter problems. Maybe you didn’t see the whole segment of my visiting Martha on her show? Martha explained that she just adopted her new cat Frost and his sister Snow from the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (ARF) at age 10, making it clear that adoption is the way to go, even with elderly pets. If you have a chance to look at my website TracieHotchner.com you’ll see that I support rescues and shelters across the country, some that are cats-only, and my book THE CAT BIBLE makes it clear that at least 30% of all animals at shelters are purebred, so that’s the first place to go when looking for a new pet. My work with the Humane Society of the Untied States to educate about the horrors of pet store and puppy mills is well known, so please spend some time getting to know who I am so you can call me on the air and share in my efforts. Thanks for caring about the animals.

I GOT THIS SWEET REPLY FROM RICH: Hi Tracie. I stand corrected. Thank you. I really didn’t know much about you, only little tidbits that I have seen here and there. In the future I definitely will make myself more familiar with the whole story before I open my big mouth. Thank you for taking the time to tell me about yourself, and [your] love for animals. The dogs and cats need all the help they can get. Thanks again.  Rich

SO I WROTE HIM ONE MORE TIME: Dear Rich – What a kind note and don’t apologize for having a “big mouth,” the animals need us to make a lot of noise for them! I would much rather have you mistake my intentions so I can clear it up than have you not care enough to find a way to contact me. From my perspective, your question was one worth asking, because I always tells people to Question Authority, even mine! Your gentlemanly response showed who you are.

Tracie

Hi Tracie,

I am inquiring about the Maine Coon cat you had on Martha TV show today. Is it for sale? Our Maine Coon passed away and it is a sad story. We adopted him from the local shelter, SPCA. We have a beautiful farm in New York and would love another big friend.

Thank You,
Gemma

Hi Gem – I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s so hard to lose the four-legged beauties who share our lives.

NO! Tigger was not “for sale” (he’s actually the cat of the actor Chazz Palmintieri, whose beautiful wife Gianna brought him all the way into New York City for the show — they are clients of Dr Marty Goldstein, whose radio show is on Martha’s channel on Monday nights).

None of the kitties were for sale, they are all beloved family members, including Martha’s new cat Frost, who she just adopted from the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons. We advocate that people find a pet for themselves by first going to www.Petfinder.com. Put in your zip code and (in your case write in Maine Coon cat) and you will see any shelters near you that have a Maine Coon for adoption. Over 30% of all animals at shelters are purebred so the chance of finding what you’re looking for is pretty good.

Let me know what you find – and send me a photo to post on my website. Call into the show any Wednesday night with any questions. My website www.TracieHotchner.com tells you all you need to know.

Tracie

Hi Tracie,

We’re really looking forward to listening to the podcast and also getting a copy of your The Dog Bible.

I did as you suggested and checked into those websites…on the akc website I didn’t see anything that looked right for us…all older dogs and I’m concerned about bringing all of those issues into our family with my kids and their friends frequently at the house.

There were two pups at a nearby rescue that I found through petfinder.com and I have begun to correspond with the managers of that facility. These pups are both young puppy mill survivors. Is there a place I can go to become fully informed about the risks we would be assuming if we adopt a puppy mill survivor? I see the sweet and sad little eyes of these puppies and would love to give them a home. At the same time, the practical side of me is concerned that I am going to risk breaking the hearts of my 8 and 10 year olds by bringing a puppy that is potentially very sick into our home, having them fall in love and then too soon, be in a position that we won’t be able to keep the puppy for one reason or another. I know and understand all of the reasons that it is important to get your dog from a reputable breeder. Taking a rescue pup certainly would help the puppy for a time, I can see, of course. I just need to be sure that it is not going to cause undue stress on our family. I want to be sure we go into this with our eyes wide open.

I know you are a “one woman show” as I have spent a good time reading your website. I sincerely appreciate your time and effort on our behalf! Feel free to use my e-mail on your show.

Rebecca
Plymouth, MI