Press Release: Consumer alert - Christmas puppies

December 21, 2007

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA) Every holiday season brings its share of must-have gifts. What other time of year do people willingly line up--sometimes in bitter cold--for computer games? But puppies have been Christmas crowd pleasers for decades running. And just as gaming companies race to meet the end of the year demand, so does a business that animal welfare groups call cruel: puppy mills.

"This is the big money-maker time of year for puppy mills," says Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The uptick in breeding extends to so-called backyard breeders as well, as a glance at the classifieds will prove. "People are marketing dogs as "Christmas puppies" because it helps them sell," Shain says.

This year's "hot" breeds? Popular lap-warmers such as Lhaso Apsos, Yorkshire terriers, and Maltese, says Shain, all of whom, not coincidentally, get lots of ink in today's tabloids. But plenty of lesser-known breeds come from the mills as well. "I can't think of any breed of dog out there that's free from the tortures of puppy mills," she says.

For more on this story and for tips on how to find a dog or a puppy that's best for you and your family, go to www. DogTime.com and take DogTime's "MatchUp". Or email, Clare Ellis at clare@dogtime.com.

About DogTime: DogTime Media, the largest network focused exclusively on pets, reaches over 10 million pet enthusiasts through 50 plus pet sites and includes DogTime.com, the premier destination for dog people. DogTimeMedia and DogTime are based in San Francisco, CA.

Contact:

Clare Ellis
clare@dogtime.com

Trevor Wright
trevor@dogtime.com