Captain Planet And The Humane Society Of The United States Join Forces To Combat Puppy Mills!

The New Adventures of Captain Planet is giving kids a new slant on Mother's Day this year. On Mother's Day weekend, Captain Planet takes viewers inside a puppy mill -- where motherhood is strictly a dollars and cents proposition. In an episode titled, "101 Mutations," developed in close cooperation with The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the animated superhero and his Planeteers rescue the inmates of a puppy mill, and expose the cruelty inflicted on them.

For years, The HSUS has spearheaded efforts to improve conditions for the tens of thousands of dogs forced to endure years of captivity in these commercial dog breeding facilities -- where mother dogs are nothing more than puppy-making machines. They spend their whole lives in tiny cages, deprived of the human companionship that all dogs need. "The story behind that cute little puppy in the pet shop window is usually a pretty sad one," says Martha Armstrong, HSUS vice president for companion animals, "and we think it's a good thing that the creators of Captain Planet are letting kids know the real story."

"Being held prisoner in a puppy mill is no way to treat man's best friend," adds Armstrong, "and it's surely no way to treat a mother -- no matter how many feet she has." The HSUS strongly supports Captain Planet's approach -- to provide kids with information that enables them to make informed decisions. "We want kids to understand what's wrong with buying a dog from the pet shop -- because most pet shop puppies come from puppy mills," says Armstrong.

The airing of "101 Mutations" comes at a particularly significant time for the thousands of dogs trapped in the 5,000 puppy mills across the country. Recent scrutiny of these facilities by animal protection groups, the public, and Members of Congress has spurred the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to hold public workshops aimed at addressing the problem. The USDA is the federal agency responsible for enforcing the Animal Welfare Act which covers, among other things, the care of dogs bred and raised in puppy mills. "It is our hope that this enlightening episode will inspire both children and adults alike to speak out on behalf of dogs and puppies in puppy mills," says Armstrong.

The HSUS hopes that kids and their families will watch and learn from "101 Mutations" -- and that if they decide to bring a dog into the family, they will visit their local animal shelter.

Action: Let your voice be heard! Write your congressional representatives and let them know that you support legislation which requires humane treatment of dogs raised in puppy mills.

Note: The New Adventures of Captain Planet airs Sundays on TBS Superstation, and is syndicated nationwide via Turner Program Services (check local listings for time and channel). It is the number two animated weekly children's show in syndication and has received numerous awards, including three Environmental Media Awards, three Genesis Awards, and the Parent's Choice Award. A 30 second Captain Planet PSA promoting responsible pet ownership is available from TBS.

OR WRITE: