Customer Reviews

How Shelter Pets are Brokered for Experimentation: Understanding Pound Seizure

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Twenty-two states have no laws limiting the seizure, sometimes called "release," of animals from pounds or shelters as of this writing. Nine states leave it up to each shelter to decide whether to relinquish animals to Random Source Class B dealers (those who do not deal in animals raised especially for research) for re-sale to industry or universities or not. In the rest, except for Minnesota and Oklahoma, which *mandate* pound seizure, meaning that it cannot be denied the dealer, you can feel safe. I was unaware that when I adopted one kitten from a home and took in another that had been abandoned at our doorstep in Montcalm Co., Michigan, in 2002 that I was saving them from a short life in a laboratory. Until recently, they would have been sold, along with other unwanted or even kidnapped pets, to be used in various experiments and then killed, perhaps painfully.

Phillips documents the cruelty of dealers who see adorable dogs and cats as merchandise, and establishes that many of those pets that are killed after experiments or surgery lessons die needlessly. She cites studies showing that the public does not want animals they turn over to shelters out of mercy or must surrender when they can no longer care for them to be treated inhumanely, experimented on, and then killed. People state overwhelmingly that they would not financially support shelters that allow these practices. Yet, in many states they continue, in spite of public outrage. "Now is the tipping point," she says, when public awareness can lead to a total ban on the practice. Drug experiments are not necessarily valid when performed on animals, as the failure of some recent new drugs has shown; vet students can perform surgeries, including neutering, for free, and return animals to owners or shelters rather than "putting them to sleep."

This is the book for you or your activist friends to read. This is something we can fix.

The author does a wonderful job of shining a light on a horiffic practice. I had no idea that this type of thing was going on. Kudos to her for educating and empowering others.

Matilda Mae: The Dog Who Needed a Name

This book is a must read for anyone who lives in Michigan, or near any state that engages in the selling of lost pets in shelters for experimentation (pound seizure). Basically, if you have a pet, the practice of pound seizure affects you no matter where you and your pet live!

The author's passion and life changing journey brought her to find the courage to take on the grossly negligent and incompetent "system" and "industry" that is notoriously illegal and shady...she helps bring vampires out into the light - where they can't stand it!

The stories of pets who were witnessed as seized, and the total failures of the current laws to protect them, exposes why pound seizure simply never will be a practice that can be trusted by anyone.

Pound seizure is a dirty little secret and this book exposes those who would engage in such practices - and public servants who fail to uphold the law and taxpayer interests. No matter what issue you are passionate about, this book will give you insights on how to fight an outdated system of the 'good ol boys' and win local battles that will both improve community trust and save our pets from horrible torturous deaths.

This book is empowering to help any citizen learn not to fear battles with the "status quo" when you know you are right - vampires can't stand the light!

An incredibly thorough examination of one of America's best kept dirty little secrets. Hard to imagine pound seizure is still practiced in several states. It's about time someone wrote a book like this. A must read for anyone interested in changing local government and protecting communities and all animals from an abysmal practice.

I purchased this book and was impressed by the excellent research and documentation from the author. I learned things I didn't know before about pound seizure.

This book is invaluable to all "pet parents"--anyone who cares about the safety and welfare of their own pets as well as homeless pets. I highly recommend it.

The practice of pound seizure, while in decline because of local citizen advocacy, is still in force in United State animal shelters. Dogs and cats who were once-loved pets are brokered through class B dealers to cosmetic, medical technique and tool, and drug testing often without the consent or knowledge of the owners who release them, and with inadequate oversight and documentation.

Phillips provides thorough explanation of the history, law, and current status of this practice and provides myriad citations, case studies, and personal experiences. While clearly advocating for an end to this practice, the book is a well-balanced, sober look at the facts. The countless hours of research contained in this book is remarkable, and likely unparalleled for this subject.

This book, while informative, is also well-written, and a fascinating, albeit disturbing read. Lack of information can no longer be an excuse for communities not to act in support of the vulnerable animals in their midst.

As someone interested in pound seizure and class B dealers, this book is a must have. But for those folks who are interested in animal welfare and animal rights in a more general area, it is a must read as well! This book opens up the world of Class B dealers and pound seizure to the reader. Ms. Phillips calls pound seizure the communities "dirty little secret" and after reading this you will 100% understand why.

I personally loved the chapter that shows what you can do to help stop pound seizure if it is occuring in your community. It is great to have that kind of direction and help in how to make a difference.