Date
November 23, 2002
Contact
Marshall Smith: (573)636.9291
Elliot M. Katz, DVM:
(415)388-9641
In Defense of Animals
131 Camino Alto
Mill Valley
CA 94941
IDA is an international, California-based animal advocacy organization dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by defending their rights, welfare and habitats.
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Jefferson City, MO –In Defense of Animals (IDA)vows to continue demonstrations and educational events in order to make the public aware of the connection between the buying and selling of dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens and the deaths of millions of homeless animals in the nation’s shelters. The protest will take place at Pampered Pets on Saturday, November 23rd in front of Jefferson Plaza in the 1400 Block of Missouri Boulevard in front of the store.
A letter from a local law firm requested that IDA “cease and desist” of all educational protesting. This letter alleges that IDA’s signs and educational materials are malicious, false, and misleading because they make the connection of the deaths of millions of animals in the nation’s shelters to the buying of selling of animals by Pampered Pets.
People must be made aware that for each puppy or kitten bred and sold, another homeless animal is condemned to death,” stated veterinarian Dr. Elliot M. Katz, President of In Defense of Animals.
“The ‘cease and desist’ letter that we received threatening legal action, is nothing more than the attempt to suppress an awfulreality. Smith explained, “We will not be swayed by baseless legal maneuvering, both the public – and the animals we seek to save – deserve better than this shameless attempt to squash free speech by Pampered Pets and their friends in the puppy mill industry. One can’t help but wonder what they have to hide.” Smith continued, “I am haunted by the images of animals suffering unimaginable misery in puppy mills which leads to the senseless death of millions more healthy animals in pounds and shelters and the ‘cease and desist’ order is nothing more than an attempt to stifle our first amendment rights.”
IDA initiated an aggressive hard-hitting campaign to educate the public about alternatives to purchasing animals from pet stores two years ago since they encourage and support the breeding of animals in mills. Marshall Smith, IDA's Director of Investigations, is the campaign coordinator and spearheading the demonstrations against Pampered Pets and other pet stores selling puppies and kittens. IDA uses factual educational materials to promote adoptions from pounds, shelters, and breed rescue organizations instead of pet stores. The group makes no apologies for its actions.
Prior to serving as IDA’s Director of Investigations, Smith's career includes working nearly 19 years with the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. USDA is responsible for protecting animals covered by the Animal Welfare Act including those raised in commercial kennels and catteries for the pet industry. Smith and other critics continue to expose USDA policies and actions that demonstrate USDA's bias in favor of the business owners instead of animals Congress intended to protect.