How do we end the abuse?

Oh, did I mention writing? A whole bunch of blogs and articles to the local papers, magazines and what have you is too hard too miss. Don't be a one woman army though, get other writers to highlight the problem and MAKE it an issue :)

LOL Have I mentioned lately that I love you? Believe me, seeing abusive owners "accidently" going face first into a fish bowl would just tickle me pink! LOL I'm really interested in these other ideas. I've never heard of an animal watch. Could you tell me more?

I love you too (just don't let our partners catch wind of that ya...) The local cat watch was actually formed by cat lovers to take care of strays. They chip in to get cats err.. reproductively limited so that they don't have be put down (they worked that part out with animal control). The recent cases were about stray abusers, crazy S.O.Bs who tortured and sometimes murder cats. They setup watch groups and hidden cams to gather evidents and pressured enforcers to work. In your case, since you're targeting the pet industry, members can be organized to quietly gather information on stores and breeders. Create a high profile website (get members to actively promote on their blogs and stuff) to highlight as well as blacklist people. Make enough noise and people sit up and notice. It's important to work within, and with the law. Paperwork, legal advice, sponsors etc etc. It's hard to sue someone when he's blue from goldfish water... p.s. Just so you know, my day job is a web designer / developer... Do not abuse this info...

You know, I've often wished I could win the lottery so I could open a truly MASSIVE pet store/pet education center. Only appropriate pets from responsible, ethical breeders would be sold (no large birds, monkeys, wild animals, etc.), all animals would be cared for *properly* in the store, and potential owners would be carefully screened and educated before purchase. I'd show all these other stores how a petshop SHOULD be! LOL