Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, August 9, 2019 ASKS | FROM PAGE 1 Editor’s Note: For this week’s interview, we sat down with Marcia Benson, a longtime Saugus resident who a few months ago took up the cause to prohibit the retail sale of “puppy mill” animals in Massachusetts. Benson, a Maine native, moved to Saugus 35 years ago. She is a volunteer for Sweet Paws Rescue in Groveland, Mass., and the Melrose Humane Society and has also helped pick up foster dogs for New England Basset Hound Rescue. Benson is the owner of three rescue dogs. Last month she was one of 39 Sweet Paws Rescue volunteers who attended a hearing at the State House in Boston to back legislation (Senate Bill 175 and House Bill 800) to ban the retail sale of cats, dogs and rabbits in pet shops in Massachusetts. Benson is a 1966 graduate of West Paris High School in Maine. She grew up in a town of 1,000 people that was 50 miles north of Portland, Maine, and she was just one of 16 students in her graduating class. She is a 1980 graduate of Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Ga., where she received a bachelor’s degree in health information management. As a registered health information administrator, she has worked at various rehab facilities, including the old Grover Manor Hospital in Revere and the Greenery, a head injury center in Brighton, Mass. She retired eight years ago and has since stepped up her advocacy of animal rights issues. She advocated for the passage of legislation that ended greyhound racing in 2010. Now she is trying to spread the word about the plight of dogs and cats that are mass-bred in operations known as “puppy mills.” Highlights of this week’s interview follow. Q: You consider yourself a huge animal lover? A: Yes, I do. I have rescued hundreds of cats off the streets in Saugus and Lynn over the past 20 years and have found homes for them. I’ve always been an animal person. But since I’ve retired, I have really focused on it. I guess when I was young, my dad found me a hobby. I grew up on a small farm in West Paris, Maine. My father was a small businessman and he relaxed with the farm. He had 40 head of beef cattle and quarter horses. Q: What brought you to Saugus? A: After college, it was my job. With 1,000 people in my hometown, there are not that many jobs up that way. Q: When did you become aware of the issue of “puppy mills” and how did it become a big issue for you? A: I’ve always been aware of them, but decided to get more involved in the last couple of SPREADING THE WORD: Marcia Benson during a recent interview in a local restaurant. She advocates for a ban on the retail sale of “puppy mill” pets in Massachusetts. (Saugus Advocate Photo by Mark E. Vogler) months with Sweet Paws, actively supporting the legislation. Q: So, what was the pushing point for your active involvement? A: I saw all of these horrendous pictures of “puppy mills” that Sweet Paws had. And they asked all of their members to go to the hearing [last month]. I went to the hearing and heard all of these atrocious stories. Q: Such as? A: There was a lady who told how she adopted a dog from a “puppy mill,” and the dog hung his head down and kept his tail between his legs – and how he was frightened by everyone. The dog never had any love or affection. And there was a veterinarian who testified how people pay thousands of dollars in vet bills because the animals are in such poor health. The reason why this [legislation] was referred to the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Licensure is because it’s ripping off the consumers. The people who buy the dogs love their animals and try to make them better. But “puppy mill” dogs have a lot of health problems. Q: Were there many people from Saugus who attended this legislative hearing on July 22? A: There was one girl. I didn’t get her name. But we went to [State Senator Brendan] Crighton’s office and we spoke to his aide. Q: Did you get to meet State Rep. Donald Wong? A: Yes. I’ve been a big supporter of his since he ran, but it will end if he doesn’t support this bill. Q: What about your meeting with Rep. Wong? A: We talked to him and it seemed like he was just skirting the issue. Q: How so? A: Somebody asked for his position on the bill, and he started talking about German Shepherds he had and how much he loved them, and how hard it was when they passed away. And he talked about how he supports small businesses and how he likes to listen to both sides of an issue. Q: So, you don’t feel like you got his support? A: No. I don’t think he supports the legislation. Q: How long did you spend with him? A: About 10 minutes – he was accosted by all of the Sweet Paws people. So, we want to get the word out there, so we can ask his constituents to support the legislation. Q: Looking at the list of state senators and representatives supporting it, this isn’t a Republican-Democratic issue. There is support from a wide spectrum of people. A: Mostly Democrats. It’s an ethical and humane issue. That’s why I was so surprised that Donald wasn’t in our corner. Q: Are you Republican? A: I’m enrolled as an Independent, but I support Republicans. Q: So, why isn’t there more support for this legislation? A: I think it’s money; I think it’s all about lobbyists and money. But there are a lot of animal lovers out there, and I want to make them aware of what’s going on. Q: At the hearing you attended, were there more people speaking in support of the bill than against it? A: Oh yes. There were representatives from the MSPCA and the Animal Rescue League who spoke in support of it. Q: So, what are your expectations of this legislation? A: We are going to eventually stop the sale of “puppy mill” dogs and cats. We’re going to chip away at it, like we did with ending Greyhound racing. California and Michigan have already passed laws prohibiting the retail sale of “puppy mill” dogs. We’re going to continue to chip away at it until Massachusetts passes a law. Boston, Cambridge and Stoneham have already adopted bans. Q: What would you say to the people of Saugus – why this is important – to stop “puppy mills”? A: It’s important because we have to stop the cruelty of “puppy mills.” It’s abhorrent how these dogs are kept or bred in inhumane conditions. I want the word to get out so that people call up their state representatives and senators. It’s awful what happens to many of these dogs. These dogs often don’t go to a vet. They’re never groomed. And some of them are raised in stacked crates like rabbit hutches; they never go outdoors and the floors of the crates are wired DOGS WORTH SAVING: Marcia Benson, pets her Jack Russell/ Chihuahua mix, Bennie, 10, while her Basset Hound, Roseanna, 10, relaxes at her Saugus home. (Saugus Advocate Photo by Mark E. Vogler) mesh. Q: What you are describing sounds like animal ghettos. A: I don’t know if they are ghettos. They are just places with cruel and inhumane conditions. Most of the dogs people buy on the Internet come from “puppy mills.” No reputable breeder would sell a dog that way. They wouldn’t put the dog in a van or in an 18-wheeler and drive across the United States. That’s just mass production. Q: What was the most compelling argument at the hearing that made a case to ban the retail sale of “puppy mill” dogs? A: There were just so many of these stories of how the dogs were raised in squalor. Q: What would you advise parents who want to buy dogs as pets for their children? A: Go to a breeder where you can see the mother and how the dog is raised. Better yet, adopt a rescue dog or cat. There are some places you can go: There is the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, N.H., or the Methuen MSPCA or the Animal Rescue League in Boston; or you can go on Petfinder. They have thousands of animals available and they are all rescue cats and dogs. There are thousands and thousands of rescue dogs and cats out there that need homes. We should not be mass-producing them. Q: Are you optimistic about the passage of this legislation? A: Yes. We’ve only just begun to get the word out, and now the Sweet Paws army is onto it. Q: Anything else that you can tell me about this legislation and what it’s designed to do? A: It will not prohibit consumers from getting a dog, cat or bunny from a breeder, animal shelter or rescue organization. And it wouldn’t stop a pet shop from teaming up with a shelter or rescue to provide animals in their store. Q: Anything else that you would like to share about this issue? What do you think are the major myths generated by supporters of the “puppy mills”? A: That these pups come from reputable breeders. They do not. It’s really the dogs that get left behind who really need our help. The ones that remain in these terrible breeding conditions. They breed as early as they can and as often as they can until they stop producing. I’ve had several people I know who have bought pets that came from “puppy mills.” I’ve never lectured them about this. But here’s my chance! Q: Do you think most Americans know what a “puppy mill” is or involves? A: No, I don’t think so. I think most people have heard of the term, but don’t know or are unaware of the horrendous conditions that these dogs are raised in. Most people lead such busy lives that they don’t know what’s going on in these “puppy mills.” Q: What are the most common problems that people can expect when they buy a dog that comes from a “puppy mill”? A: Health problems and behavioral issues. Q: And if readers want to find out more about why Massachusetts should ban “puppy mills”? A: They can contact me at marciabenson5@gmail. Or they should check out the Facebook page for the Mass. Coalition To End Puppy Mills.
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