People who buy puppies can’t be feminists because they support exploitation of bitches, claims Peta
‘Help end the sexual exploitation of female animals’
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Animal rights group Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has published a blog claiming that people who buy dogs can’t be feminists.
The argument put forward is that those who purchase dogs as opposed to adopting are supporting the sexual exploitation of female dogs who are used by their owners solely to breed puppies.
Female dogs who are kept in puppy mills are forced to endure multiple births until they’re physically incapable of carrying any more puppies, the organisation states.
“In puppy mills and breeding operations, female dogs are trapped in a nightmare sickenly similar to the illicit sex trade,” Peta writes in the blog post.
“Their bodies are controlled, manipulated, bought, and sold - all for the financial benefit of their peddlers.
“When these females are no longer useful as breeding stock, they are often auctioned, off, dumped somewhere, or simply killed.
“Unfortunately, just like selling women, selling puppies can be profitable.”
While the people who run puppy mills are clearly at fault for the horrifying way in which they treat female dogs and their offspring, Peta also shines a light on the behaviour of breeders.
“Breeders may churn out fewer litters than puppy mills, but they still treat female dogs as moneymaking commodities,” the blog states.
"Even ‘hobby breeders’ force female dogs to bear litter after litter of puppies, who will be taken away and sold off for a quick buck.
“Casual breeders typically force a mother dog to go through impregnation, pregnancy, whelping, and the loss of her young at least once a year.”
In the US, approximately six million dogs and cats end up in animal shelters, with a quarter of the dogs coming from breeders of “purebreds”.
Peta is urging that people pledge to adopt animals in future.
“Anyone who cares about equality and social justice can help end the sexual exploitation of female animals by refusing to support abusive puppy mills and breeders,” the blog concludes.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments