January 19, 2001



Martha Stewart
C/O Martha Stewart Living
20 W. 43rd St., 25th Floor
New York, NY 10036



Dear Ms. Stewart,

In Defense of Animals was very disturbed by your promotion to give animals as "gifts" this past holiday season. I would like to share my perspective regarding this issue that evokes strong emotions from those of us working in the animal protection movement.

I am a former USDA employee, having served nearly 19 years before my resignation in 1997. My employer, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, was responsible for regulating commercial breeders who supply puppies and kittens to pet stores throughout the U.S. and abroad.

For years I routinely documented cases of unbelievable suffering and misery.
Breeding animals, with coats matted so severely that the breed was not discernable, were usually housed in crowed hutch style cages with mounds of fecal matter rising two feet from the ground towards the mesh floor. These conditions were common and a prelude to even more flagrant violations and deplorable conditions for the animals. Once a facility was cited for violations of federal laws, it might take years before any action would result from the citation. Meanwhile, the animals suffering in these facilities would continue unabated. Penalties, if and when levied, were inconsequential and seldom improved the lives of animals. I eventually decided that I could no longer participate in USDA's inept regulatory scheme. USDA policies placed more emphasis on the economic interests of commercial breeders than the health and well being of animals supposedly protected by federal laws.

As Director of Investigations for IDA, I continue to document and expose the horrors associated with the commercial pet production industry. I have participated in local, regional and national exposé's that have heightened public awareness of the suffering and misery prevalent in "puppy mills". These mills would not exist if it were not for the high demand from consumers, unaware of the brutal realities associated with this industry.

I implore you to never again promote or encourage others to give an animal as a gift. An animal companion requires an emotional and economic commitment that some may not be willing or able to make. When an animal is given as a “gift” this pledge for any sort of commitment is typically bypassed.
Anyone wishing to adopt an animal companion should visit a pound, shelter or rescuer instead of buying, regardless of the source. Granted, I agree that there are breeders who are knowledgeable and professional about caring for animals.
However, as long as millions of healthy animals continue to be killed as “surplus” in our shelters across the nation, we must not purposefully breed more. Instead, we must constantly remind people that healthy, loving animals are condemned to die for lack of loving homes.

The suffering and misery I have witnessed must not flourish and I am determined to make a difference. To that end, I am now leading a national boycott of Petland, one of the country's largest pet store chains selling puppies and kittens, in addition to spreading the truth about all aspects of the puppy and kitten mill industries.

In Defense of Animals invites you to publicly support this initiative. We would be honored to have a celebrity of your stature to help us educate people to stop animal suffering rather than promote it. Perhaps I might speak with you or your agent about ways in which this could be accomplished with a minimum of time and effort on your part.

I am available if you would like additional information or resources pertaining to the commercial pet production industry. I very much appreciate your careful consideration of this compelling issue and the positive impact you could make on behalf of millions of animals by not promoting the sale and purchase of animal companions.

Sincerely,



Marshall G. Smith
Director of Investigations