I had to find the perfect shirt.  And that was no simple feat.  As I tunneled through the cushioned mountain of clothes on the unkempt floor of my room, I encountered various cotton t-shirts promoting recycling and water conservation, but where was it?  In a frantic sweep I threw layers of wrinkled garments into the stale air.  There.  My Humane Society of the United States shirt.  It was perfect.  Glancing at the neon purple clock dangling from a loose nail on the wall, I panicked.  I was late!  To make up for wasted time, I hastily yanked on the top and darted outside with no breakfast, stumbling over assorted canines and cats on my way to the car.

            The Defend the Dogs Rally on Monument Circle in the heart of Indianapolis united animal rescue groups, animal rights groups, and individuals concerned with animal welfare.  Maneuvering into a parking spot about a block from the circle, I caught a glimpse of the crowd, nearly one hundred strong at eleven o’clock, surrounding the Civil War monument.  My heart fluttered with eagerness and passion.  At that instant I realized a peaceful rally might be the remedy animal rights constituents had been searching for.  Although droplets of perspiration trickled down my nose and pooled above my upper lip, I marched to the coordinator of the event.  The thrill of the moment intensified once I took up my post beside a disquieting, graphic banner, and each time a passing vehicle honked in support, a cheer arose from the group and we smiled in triumph.  Perhaps our rally would be successful.

            For decades, mass breeding facilities known as puppy mills have thrived on the sale of their adorable puppies.  Canines from these facilities are victims of inbreeding, malnutrition, a lack of veterinary care, overcrowding in cages, and abuse.  The puppies are the lucky ones because they are often purchased from a pet store.  Breeding stock are forced to breed litter after litter until they die of birthing complications, exhaustion, or a condition of the mill.   My journey to stop puppy mills took off during my freshman-year speech class when I delivered a persuasive speech on the subject.  To enhance the oration I participated in the Humane Society of the United States’ investigation of pet stores around the country.  A friend and I took a questionnaire to an employee of Pass Pets to unearth the origin of their puppies.  Until mid-summer, when the doors closed on the establishment, I continued to examine and report on the store.  Although pet shop puppies tend to be irresistible, they come from unsettling beginnings.  The most chilling factor of puppy mills and their merchandise is the conditions in which the innocent animals live.  It is my hope that animal rights advocates will continue to educate the public on the dire puppy mill conditions.  It is my dream to assist in putting an end to mass-breeding.